One of the first things many people want after surgery is a shower. But knowing when it’s safe can be confusing — especially when you have an incision, bandage, surgical glue, Steri-Strips, staples, or stitches to think about.
When you can shower after surgery depends on your procedure, how your incision was closed, and your surgeon’s instructions. Some people are allowed to shower within a day or two, while others need to keep the surgical area dry longer.
The important distinction is also showering versus soaking. Even when your surgical team says a shower is okay, you may need to avoid baths, pools, and hot tubs until the incision has healed further.
For some procedures, patients may be allowed to shower within the first day or two after surgery. For others, the incision or dressing needs to remain dry longer.
Your timing may depend on:
Your discharge paperwork may tell you exactly when you can shower. If it doesn't — or the instructions aren't clear — contact your surgical team before getting the incision wet.
Sometimes, but being allowed to shower doesn't necessarily mean you should treat the incision like normal skin yet.
If your surgical team says the incision can get wet, you may be instructed to let water run gently over the area rather than directing strong water pressure at it.
You may also be told to avoid scrubbing the incision and to gently pat the area dry afterward.
The instructions can differ depending on how the wound was closed and covered, so follow the instructions you received rather than assuming all surgical incisions should be treated the same way.
Surgical skin glue is commonly used to close or protect some incisions.
Depending on your procedure and your surgeon's instructions, you may be allowed to shower while the glue is still in place.
If you are cleared to shower, avoid scrubbing, picking, or peeling the glue. Let it come off according to the instructions from your surgical team.
If the glue starts lifting or you're unsure whether the incision can get wet, ask your surgical team rather than removing it yourself.
Steri-Strips are small adhesive strips that may be placed across an incision.
Some patients are allowed to shower with them in place after a specified period, but instructions vary.
If your surgical team says showering is okay, avoid pulling the strips off or scrubbing over them. Follow your instructions for drying the area and for when the strips should be removed or allowed to fall off on their own.
Having stitches or staples doesn't automatically tell you when showering is safe.
The answer depends on the incision, procedure, dressing, and instructions from your surgical team.
If you weren't given clear directions about getting the area wet, ask before showering rather than relying only on how the incision looks.
This is another reason there isn't one universal shower rule.
Some dressings are designed to remain in place during a shower. Others need to stay completely dry or be removed at a particular time.
Your discharge instructions should tell you:
Don't remove a surgical dressing early simply because you want to shower unless your surgical team has told you it's okay.
Your first shower may feel different from a normal one.
Even if your incision is ready to get wet, you may still be recovering from anesthesia, pain medication, weakness, or reduced activity. Standing for a long time or moving around a slippery bathroom can be harder than expected.
For the first few showers, it may help to:
If you feel dizzy, faint, or unstable, don't push through the shower just because your incision is technically cleared to get wet.
This is one of those recovery milestones where being allowed to do something and being ready to do it comfortably aren't always the same thing.
A bath is different from a shower because it submerges the incision in water.
Even after showering is allowed, you may need to wait longer before soaking in a bathtub.
The same generally applies to swimming pools and hot tubs.
Your surgical team can tell you when the incision has healed enough for submersion based on your procedure and recovery.
Don't panic.
What to do depends on your incision, dressing, and how much water exposure occurred.
If your instructions required the area to stay dry and it accidentally became wet, follow any wound-care directions you've been given. If a dressing is soaked, loose, or no longer protecting the incision — or you're simply unsure what to do — contact your surgical team for guidance.
As you begin showering and caring for the incision, you'll naturally start noticing how it changes.
Some changes are part of normal healing, while others may need attention.
Contact your surgical team if you notice concerning changes such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, the incision opening, worsening pain around the wound, fever, or other symptoms your discharge instructions tell you to report.
For a broader look at what healing can look like, see Good Signs of Healing After Surgery.
Check your discharge instructions first.
If they don't clearly answer the question, contact your surgeon's office or surgical facility and ask:
“When can I shower, and can my incision and dressing get wet?”
Those are actually two separate questions, and asking both can prevent a lot of confusion.
You can also ask whether there are any restrictions related to your particular dressing, glue, Steri-Strips, stitches, staples, or drains.
Not sure what comes next?
Recovery doesn't always happen in a straight line. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Recovery Roadmap to understand the stages of healing and know what to expect after surgery.
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There isn't one universal answer for when you can shower after surgery. Some people are allowed to shower within a day or two, while others need to keep their incision or dressing dry longer.
Your procedure, incision closure, dressing, and surgeon's instructions all matter.
And remember: showering is not the same as soaking. You may be cleared to shower well before you're cleared for a bath, pool, or hot tub.
Follow the wound-care instructions from your surgical team. If they don't clearly say when you can shower or whether your incision can get wet, ask before doing it.
Recovery doesn't always happen in a straight line. The free SurgiNav Surgery Recovery Roadmap walks you through the stages of healing so you know what to expect and when to reach out to your care team.
Download the Free Surgery Recovery RoadmapThis article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
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Educational information only. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.