In my practice, breast cancer reconstruction patients should wait at least 10 days prior to getting the incisions wet. The drainage tubes are normally removed on day 7 when there is less than 24 cc of serosanguinous fluid output. The sutures are left intact for at least 10-14 days. My patients are instructed to keep the incisions dry free of water, sweat, or powders until at least day 10. Oral antibiotics are used for the first week as well, until the Jackson-Pratt drains are removed.
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