United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Can anyone share any good tips and tricks for taking of the steri strips after surgery? We're having a tough time - our daughter makes it difficult to touch her near her scar (should make scar massage a fun ordeal)for more than a nano-second. Thanks.

We put warm wet washcloths on Ben's strips to soften them and then just peel a little at a time. I think the warm cloths feel good on the scar and he didn't mind us touching it so much. Good luck!

hi lisa - hope it goes well - warm compresses would be comforting...but most important, don't stress over it, another day or few won't hurt it. Scar massage should not be started until it is completely closed and then when you do start it just try a feather touch first - it's going to be sensitive... just relax and it'll all work out.

I don't know how old your child is but with Sam's first steri strips I had the PT help take them off. He was in an early intervention program at the time. I distracted him and she in doing the usual stuff with him was able to remove them. The second time, I just bathed him as normal and washed his hair and just made sure that a lot of warm water landed on the strips. After several days, they came off with almost no effort. I'm sure this time will be more of a challenge.

We just trimed them as they started loosening, and then after a couple of days they would be short enough and loose enough to get off. We were told to let them come off them selves anyway.Use a small pair of blunt tip scissors to trim the loose ends. LeeAnne

Gabrielle's just came of a week or so ago. I had to soak her several times in the tub. After a few days of soaking I pulled them off with lots of water while she was in the tub. I filled the tub with toys and bubles to keep her busy. She didn't like me coming anywhere near her scar. Good luck.