If you had arthroscopic surgery, you may remove your surgical dressing three days after surgery. At that time, you may remove any gauze covering the surgical incision(s). Under this gauze, you may have smaller adhesive strips over the incisions. Leave these strips in place and do not try to peel them off. It is normal to have some dried blood or bruising around your incisions. You may shower three days after surgery, but do not take a bath or submerge your incisions in water. You may gently clean around your surgical incisions with a clean washcloth, soap, and water. Do not scrub or rub over your incisions. Gently pat the area dry afterwards. Do not put any alcohol, cream, lotion, antibiotic ointment, or other cleaning products or medications around your surgical incisions or sutures. Once you resume regular showers, the exposed adhesive strips may begin to peel off and can become caught on clothing. If you would like, you may cover your incisions with clean dry gauze and tape (these items are available at your local pharmacy).

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If you surgery required longer incisions, you should leave surgical dressing in place until your first post-operative follow-up appointment. You should keep your surgical dressing clean and dry at all times. You may shower three days after surgery, but do not take a bath or submerge your incisions in water. While showering, you should cover the operate area with a garbage bag or kitchen plastic wrap to keep it dry. If your dressing does become wet or soiled, you may replace it with a dressing of clean dry gauze and tape (these items are available at your local pharmacy). Do not put any alcohol, cream, lotion, antibiotic ointment, or other cleaning products or medications around your surgical incisions or sutures.

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If you are unsure which type of surgery/incisions you had, this information will be included in the paperwork you receive after surgery. The nurse in the recovery room will go over these instructions with you before you go home after surgery.

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If you had shoulder surgery, to clean under your arm while showering, let your arm dangle at your side and lean forward at your waist so that your arm falls away from your body. Do not lean to the side. Do not attempt to lift your arm away from your side. Take care not to lose your balance in the shower.