In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Immersion with steristrips
January 3, 2011

Question

Is there any leniency at all about immersing with steristrips on? A student of mine has had back surgery, and she has just been waiting and waiting to go to the mikvah. She got her period four days after the operation.

I’m pessimistic here because she isn’t allowed to remove the steristrips; they have to come off on their own.

Any constructive suggestions? Many, many thanks.

Answer

Usually, the purpose of steristrips is to help keep a laceration together. After the incision has healed sufficiently (usually in the range of ten days), the steristrips no longer have much of a function to perform.

We suggest that your student consult her physician about the possibility of removing the steristrips at a certain point by gently soaking in water (or perhaps another medically approved method) and then get back to us or another local halachic authority with that information. The section of our website designed for medical professionals, Jewish Women’s Health, has printable articles suited for physicians if she’d like to provide hers with some context. The most relevant article is Medical Devices as Barriers to Mikveh Immersion.
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