A shower is usually fine after 24 hours; a soak is not.
MedlinePlus guidance on closed surgical wounds says it is usually OK to shower after 24 hours, prefers showers over baths so the wound does not soak, and warns that soaking can make a wound reopen or become infected. Gentle running water and patting dry is the pattern; no scrubbing the wound and no picking at scabs. Some surgical teams are stricter, advising you to keep the wound dry for several days, particularly with certain dressings or tricky locations. Your own discharge instructions overrule any general rule. Pools, hot tubs, baths, and open water all wait until the wound is fully sealed.
What to do
Common questions
When can I get my stitches wet?
For most closed surgical wounds, a shower is fine after about 24 hours, but soaking is not. MedlinePlus says it is usually OK to shower after 24 hours, that showers beat baths because the wound does not soak, and that soaking a wound can cause it to reopen or become infected. Pat the area dry afterward rather than rubbing it. Two caveats matter. First, some teams give stricter instructions: some NHS units advise keeping a wound dry for up to seven days, especially over joints, on the face, or with certain dressings. Your discharge instructions always win over general guidance. Second, baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, and the sea are different from a shower: submerging the wound is off until it is fully sealed and your team agrees, typically a couple of weeks. Signs the water timing went wrong are the same as infection signs generally: spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a fever. If you see those, contact your surgical team or GP the same day.