I'm 3 in a half weeks post op, and still doing my nipple dressings. They are both pretty pink in color and flattened out. My left nipple has a big loose scab that's hanging off one side. The nipple itself is still a scab. My right, looks good but is mostly one dry scab. I know not to pull any off but how did you guys go about covering them? How long before the scabs fell off? I'm having a hard time keeping the bandages on for a full day.

Also, when did you take a full on shower? I shower everyday but have still yet to get my insicions wet. There are still a few areas with the glue strips hanging onto old dried up blood/scabs. I'm nervous to get those parts wet.

I'm just hitting the three week mark myself. At week one, I had the sutured on nipple coverings take off. Then they were covered with an antibiotic/paste and covered for week two. At my two week check, my nipples were no longer covered on their own, I simply had a larger pad over each side of my chest. A few days later, I was able to remove the pads and everything completely from my one side (the other side had a complication, so I've continued to have it covered and padded extra and am wearing the compression vest). And just yesterday I was told I can shower. I was told everything could get wet and to gently wash the incisions and nipples with my fingers. I do not have any tape or anything on. It felt extremely vulnerable and scary showering I have to admit. But it was fine. In terms of skin care my doctor suggested vitamin e oil. Haven't started that yet, just got some from GNC that is supposed to be all natural/the most pure. My nipples are pink and flat as well, they look like they may be starting to scab...I've also noticed some of the dissolvable sutures still around them. To be honest I haven't examined them very closely yet...I'm a wimp when it comes to this kind of stuff so it's a slow process to become comfortable with the incisions and grafts. I know that must seem weird....to be grossed out in a way of something I did to not feel grossed out/disgusting anymore.

I had a lot of problems with my right nipple - the graft nearly rejected, so I had to wear coverings on it for longer than the left.  I think I wore the covering on the left one for about 4 weeks and the right one closer to 7 or 8 weeks.

My scabs were just about gone a week after having my drains taken out (which was six soggy-and-drugged-up-bed-ridden days after surgery.)  I was told to keep them moist with neosporin and gauze/medical tape for three weeks after the date of having drains out.