Advice on removing dressing

I'm sorry to report that the stick is the worst thing about my surgery! Welcome and hope your surgery went well. I've found a damp flannel or just a slight rub with my damp finger eased it but it did take a few weeks to go especially as one dressing was stuck in my armpit which was quite numb following surgery. I got a little red in area but was advised not to put cream on wound area until at least a couple of weeks after. It does take a while to go. Wearing slightly older tops helped so as not to ruin them. good luck x

Hello Chelle1309. When I had a lumpectomy & sentinel node biopsy I was told to leave the top dressing on and not remove it myself. When  I returned for an appointment with the consultant around 10 days later to get the biopsy/op results one of the doctors removed the dressing then - pulled it off quickly like you would a normal plaster - and checked that everything was healing OK. Hopefully your op went well but you might want to give your nurse a call to check that it is OK for you to remove the dressing bearing in mind your op was quite recent as you don't want to risk pulling the stitches or getting an infection x

Like LalaLou, I was told to leave the top dressings unless they fell off themselves as the first check up appointment would remove them for me and assess whether I needed another dressing or not. And then for the butterfly stitches, leave until they fall off naturally. My top dressings were completely waterproof so it helped having them on as I could shower normally

Thought I would clarify my situation for ease. my wound was internally stitched and then glued. I had steri strips on top to hold. then I had a dressing over each. on top of that I had a pressure wad which I had to leave on for 48 hours. the top dressing could have come off them but I left for a few days to make sure. was told the steri strips would come off by themselves due to showering etc but not to soak boob under shower or in bath. I didn't have a follow up appointment as they didn't want people in hospital due to covid and unless it was red and sore ie infected then it would be fine.

I think it depends on hospital and surgeon what they like to do etc so all I would say is maybe double check with breast nurse or clinic if unsure.

Thank you, Breat care nurse has confirmed I am ok to take off as it’s causing me irritation, I’m just wondering easiest way to take off without pulling the stitches as seems stuck firm!  I know I have to leave the sterri strips on.

slowly ... 

maybe take a painkiller first to take edge off. I got my partner to do it so I could rest my arm on his shoulder as achy to keep arm up. good luck x

Thank you, wish I had read your comment about painkillers before I did it . 
My mom helped me and we have done it but think painkillers might have helped!
Thanks everyone x

Glad you managed to remove it. I was so scared of taking mine off when told to. A friend who had hers removed by the nurse said that she rolled it off which seemed to work to some extent. I happened to have some sterile pre-injection swabs and they worked a treat when I rubbed them round the edges of the sticky dressing to loosen the stickiness.