Dear fay,

The recommended way to remove the gauze is with phisoderm or other anticeptic type soap in warm water soaks. You can gently pull unit it comes dislodged.

I know it is too late, but the bandage or dressing should have been checked and changed often. I like changing bandages and dressings every 12 or 24 hours. The wounds stay cleaner and the dressings do not get stuck in the wound. OK, you didn't /t need that.

So here is what is happening. Pieces of the gauze have been incorporated into the wound, most likely.

However, these strings can be a source of irritation and infection.

As you fold the gauze bandage corners up to a ball, slowly squeeze and kind of pull the gauze right next to the wound. Sort of like pushing on a pimple, pulling the skin down away from the gauze. Do this very slowly, but firmly. Do not jerk it, because you do not want to break open the wound again.

If this does not work, then get a set of flat tweezers, the kind you pluck eye brows with can work. Pull on the gauze strands one at a time, until they are dislodged. If this doesn't work,

return to your doctor's office and ask them to remove it. They will use blunt dissection with instruments to separate the tissue from the gauze.