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Open Wound under breast

By serbeck73 on 21 Jun 2011

Open Wound under breast

I'm having a hard time healing this open wound I have under my right breast. My lift was done May 17th and it has been about 2 1/2 weeks since the area opened after the scab feel off early. My doctor told me to cover it with triple antibiotic ointment and don't wear a bra at night,but not much has changed. I go back tomorrow for a checkup. Anyone have other ideas? Thanks,Becky

Comments (152)

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Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 22 Jun 2011

Just keep it clean, dry and make sure nothing rubs on this area.  Keep a close eye and watch for any odor or puss from the area. 

If your doctor is checking you tomorrow that is good.  These things can take some time to heal. 

Lacibeth 18 Jul 2011
I had breast reduction on Jun 23rd. I have an open wound under my right breast also. Your's looks way better than mine. My Dr. Has me putting hydrovase gel by elta and covering it with gauze. I just have to clean it twice a day and apply more gel and dressing. It does take a long time for open wounds to heal. Hope this info helps and hope you heal up well!
Lacibeth 18 Jul 2011
I had breast reduction on jun 23rd. I also have an open wound under my right breast. Yours looks alot better than mine. My dr has me using hydrovase gel by elta. I have to change the dressing twice daily. He also doesn't recommend triple antibiotic because he finds it makes welts. He tells his pts to use bactracin ointment. It does take long for these types of wounds to heal.
serbeck73 20 Jul 2011
Okay, so after I posted the picture and question, the area got even bigger. I was so upset and felt like it was never going to heal. I finally tried another idea and unbelievably it WORKED!
I started putting a kotex pad underneath and it helped keep the wound dry and clean. The pad absorbed any moisture and kept it dry.I started with an overnight pad,cut it in half, and taped it under my breast. I changed it when needed, usually twice a day. I let the area get air at night by not wearing a bra and within 2 weeks it was healed. I had also used regular pads but I would suggest not using a panty liner for it had stuck to the wound a little.
Thanks for the emails and I hope this helps anyone with the same problem.
Becky
taykayla 11 Jan 2012
im going through this now and i been trying everything you guys are saying and nothings helping mine is a lot worse then what your posting its even infected but my doctor is not doing anything and said i will be just fine. I have been put on 2 rounds of antibiotics and neither one of them has helped me. i dont know what to do anymore.
ladybug987 11 Jan 2012
You are entitled to get a second opinion. That is what I did and I felt much relieved with additional information and recommendations. The suggestions the second doctor made resolved my problems. I saw my surgeon today and told her what I had gone through and what I did. She said she had known I was going to be okay, but she really hadn't had all my information. Once I got recommendations from the second surgeon, I began to heal and am doing well now.
NC Laura 2 Mar 2012
Hi Ladybug987; can you share what the first doctor had you do compared to the second doctor. At 3 wks, I started with a couple split stitiches that turned into a hole the size of an eraser; PS said to use little antibiotic ointment and cover. Then 5 days later it split further and the hole has now grew to quarter size. Doesn't appear infected. PS is treating with silver cel covering and gauze. Told me to shower, dry and place on it daily. She assured me she sees this all the time. Of course, when i see a hole the size of a quarter under my breast...it will never be normal healing to me.
mari2222 2 Mar 2012
The first doctor told me to apply antibiotic. All my sutures opened I had a benelli lift and there was too much tension. I am dark and I stayed with horrible keloid scarring. This surgery was to fix those scars and unfortunately the scars widened which is risk of revision nd some are getting keloid again. Keeping it dry worked better but every case is different I'm allergic to everything so ointments were out. Be patient most people have good healing all the girls in my office hv gone thRough this and have no scars so don't stress too much you will heal.
ladybug987 2 Mar 2012
The first doctor (my PS) told me to use antibiotic ointment. She put on quite a lot. She did not specify what kind of antibiotic ointment and I have always used triple antibiotic. The second doctor advised me not to use antibiotic ointment since the irritation under my breast could be due either to the triple antibiotic or to a recurrence of a previous fungus infection.

It sounds to me as though many of us are not realistic in our expectations post op. Both surgeons told me they have had cases that take 6 months to a year or possibly even more to heal! Seems like this area does not heal like some other areas of the body do.
NC Laura 3 Mar 2012
After reading all the post...I do somewhat feel better. And I did have high expectations of healing fast because of good health and non smoker. lol I never even considered having open wounds. I might have gone over board with the triple antibiotic thinking more in better. I am following her last instruction to the T except I will add using kotex pad because I do think my bra rides up at night.
mari2222 3 Mar 2012
I really recommend sports bra target has the best champion cami bra no elastic in the bottom regular bra irritate the wound healing process http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/mobile_product_detail.jsp?tcin=13793420&keywords=sport%20bras
ladybug987 3 Mar 2012
I am wearing a Fruit of the Loom t-shirt bra. No elastic. Very comfortable! My PS says I could wear an underwire bra now (I'm a D cup), but I am happy with these.
Lacibeth 24 Jul 2011
Yes.. My dr used unscented pantyliners. Mine is still open but looks so much better since my last post. Glad you found something that helped!
torontogirl 30 Aug 2011
Yes I am going thru the same things now. looks the same as becky s under my right breast.i am very worry that i am not healing fast enought .i am 17 days after my breast lift and yesterday saw the open wound and i ask my doc can he stitched again and he said that it will heal inself .becky can u pls tell me how the scar look in that place where the wound was?is it much bigger ?pls and thank you
torontogirl 30 Aug 2011
i had my lift 17 days ago and i also have open wound under my right breast i am so upset and the healing is slower .backy can u pls tell me hows the scar looking now when the wound was? i am happy 2 hear that u are ok now thank you
gail259 30 Aug 2011
Unfortunatlet i have the same problem.
I had my uplift on the 12 Aug and my bandages removed last wed 24th, i went back to see my PS the next day as i noticed it was red and weeping and my bra was stained.
It was cleaned and dressed and i was told not to worry as the internal stitches can wiggle through the skin and cause this problem. I am dressing it my self and it doesnt look much different i am also on antibiotics as a precaution.
Any advice to help me through this would be great, thanks
serbeck73 30 Aug 2011
My healing time was at least 7 weeks and I didn't really start to heal until I used feminine pads. I did NOT use pantyliners. I had my procedure done on the 17th of May and I had to bear through 95+ degree days so I needed something to hold the moisture. Don't put any ointment on it for it will not dry and heal. Keep me posted on your progress girls!
torontogirl 30 Aug 2011
thank you guys i was worried that it only happened 2 me .i have doc appt today and i think he will remove my stitches but i am scared becouse what if it opens even more?I really dont know what 2 think about this anymore and i wish before the surgery someone told me what can happen.maybe the surgery wasnt that good a idea after all :(i will keep u posted ,thanks a lot
serbeck73 30 Aug 2011
torontogirl,
My scar is not as big as I thought it would be.And I don't think that the scar is any bigger then the rest of the area underneath. Though my doctor said that he can clean up the area by cutting and tightening the skin in the office, as well as around the areola (if needed). Talk to your doctor and see what he/she says.Please let me know and post a pic if you can.
torontogirl 30 Aug 2011
just got back from my doc office not so good news .he said becouse of the opening it will take longer 4-5 weeks 2 heal.I am soo upset right now ,i just want this to be over,cant move my hands much,tired of resting :( i will post a pict when he removes the stitches.thanks and wish best of luck for everyone who is going thru same thing .
serbeck73 30 Aug 2011
I got myself all worked up when this happened to me also.But please put a pad on it during the day and do not wear a bra at night so it can air out. I used Kotex nighttime pads and they kept me dry. It is very frustrating and upsetting but believe me that it will get better. I have the dissolvable stitches and when an area opened, I cut the stitch out myself and it then started to heal. My body didn't do well the the stitch and I fell into the 2-5% range that has this problem. torontogirl, it has been over 3 months and it's now that I feel almost fully recovered. Think positive and I would like to see a pic when you have time.
And remember...it takes time =)
Beck
torontogirl 31 Aug 2011
thank you becky i will try it 4 sure .it makes sense that the area should be dry and it should get some air but yesterday my doc had something else 2 say just wished they were more helpful.he said i should wear well supported bra all the time and change my gaze 2 a day and put 3 antibiotics on the gaze (that stuff is like a vaseline) but what u say makes more sense.becky when u put kotex pads on it did u use anything to clean the open area like alkohol or polysporin before u put pad on dear? thank you
serbeck73 31 Aug 2011
You want it to stay dry so putting any antibiotic will not help.My doctor told me the same thing and I just did it on my own! Use soap and water to keep the area clean and dry, then tape the pad to your breast. Don't use panytliners because for me, I found it stuck to the wound and with regular pads it didn't stick once. Also,leave the area alone! You should change it 2x a day.
Like I said, I'm about 10 weeks post op and I have been wearing underwire bras for a few weeks now. I was bummed that it took me a while to find out what worked for me otherwise I feel I would have healed quicker....Good Luck!
gail259 31 Aug 2011
My ps gave me post opp dressings which seal the area so it is not open to anything in the air but i have been changing it every day, using the sterile water they gave me and also sterile swabs to dry the area.I think mine is lookin worse and i am going to out patients in the morrning and get them to have another look as this is getting me down. ;(
Covington4512 14 Sep 2011
Ladies I too am having the same problem,my wound looks very similar but more opened. I had a breast reduction Aug 17th went home 1 week later had a wound separation underneath one breast and caught infection,my doctor put me on antibiotics and told me to keep the are clean and dry by using wet to dry method with saline water Its taking long to heal and gauze sticks to the wound so I will try the pads today.I don't understand why Im taking so long to heal.Good Luck to all of you with healing

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