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Bathing 6 Weeks After Breast Reduction
You should contact your surgeon for these types of questions as practices do vary. Also you should be provided with clear post-operative instructions. In our Dublin practice we have patients wait until after their bandages are removed at their first post-operative appointment before showering. We advise all patients to refrain from soaking in a bathtub until 2 weeks post-operative and soaking in pools, lakes, or rivers until 4 weeks post-op to minimize risk of infection. Additionally, as an alternative to delaying washing your hair or washing in the sink you may be able to find a local salon that will wash your hair for less than the price of a haircut.
Clinical Context
Incisions need time to seal before they can safely get wet. Sutures or skin glue close the surface fairly quickly, but the tissue underneath takes longer to heal. Running shower water drains away and poses little risk once bandages are off, while soaking in a bathtub, pool, lake, or river lets water and bacteria sit against the incision longer, raising the chance of irritation or infection. This is why surgeons often allow showering sooner than full soaking.
