Breast Lift Q&A

84%

WORTH IT RATING

219 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Lift Cost: $7,800

Learn about Breast Lift

1,232 people and 670 doctors are talking about Breast Lift

Get Free Email Updates

Incision Looks Infected 3 Weeks After Breast Lift- Opinion? (photo)

asked 6 months ago by everyday81
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 1,618 times
Tags: 3 weeks post-op, incision, infection, opinion, revision

Hi there, I need some advise on my breast. I had surgery oct 14 th, 2011 (almost 3 weeks ago), My incision doesn't look good, they getting worst. I called Dr. but then they told me that its fine and it heals that way. But I don't know what to think about that? Please help me, this is actually my second surgery, my first was 4 month ago, i wasn't happy with the result because they did areola lift ( that didn't help at all with my saggy breast) Now i had full lift. :(

11 answers to Incision Looks Infected 3 Weeks After Breast Lift- Opinion? (photo)

Possible breast lift infection?

I'm sorry you have had to undergo a second operation to achieve the degree of lift you wanted and apparently needed. Your incision does not look infected, but there are incompletely-healed areas that could become infected as they are still open and normal circulation is not yet restored to these areas, which is why they have had difficulty healing thus far. This is not uncommon, and your surgeon needs to not only reassure you, but give advice to keep this from turning into a problem... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Breast lift and wound problems

Is not uncommon to have problems with wounds after a breast lift. These rules may be due to a decreased blood supply in the flap to tension in the world are to both. Infection is the thing that you must be concerned with. Watching for drainage, redness or fever would be evidence of infection. Keeping the wound covered with antibiotic ointment may be a good idea. Letting this would heal on its own is the best way to deal with this type of would. Once its healed the scar can be revised to... more

Wendell Perry, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.wperrymd.com

Infected incision

It looks like your wound has broken down a little bit where there is the most tension, combined with a spitting suture. It does not look infected overall based on your photo- but you could use some wound care in that area. I would see your plastic surgeon and have them check for any deep suture that may need to be removed under the open area. Make sure your bra is not rubbing on or irritating the area and making things worse. Good luck!

Tiffany McCormack, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgeryrenotahoe.com

Healing problems after a breast lift

The 'T' pattern breast lift, or breast reduction can place tension at the junction of the T and when wound separations occur this is where we see them. They can indeed start with a suture abscess, or an infection in the closure. We cannot tell if there is an active infection so your surgeon should be seeing things frequently and helping you along. After healing a revision of the scar is likely. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Infection in scar from breat lift

Hi There is some wound break down in the scar and the area is inflamed. This is a relatively common complication. This does not look overtly infected. But if you get any pain, if the area feels hot to touch, if there is a lot of discharge, particularly foul-smelling discharge - please see your surgeon straightway.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Is My Breast Lift Incision Infected

Good Morning and thanks for the question and accompanying pictures. It does not appear that your breast incisions are infected, but rather you had a little skin breakdown and what you are seeing is a normal scab that forms in response to the injury. This is not an uncommon occurrence with a full breast lift, particularly in the area that you have shown. The increased redness around your wound is a normal response (inflammation) to the skin breakdown as the inflammation... more

Louis DeLuca, MD
Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drlouisdeluca.com

Breast Lift Infection?

Thank you for the question. It would be in your best interest to follow-up with your plastic surgeon for direct examination. You should have some peace of mind however that most likely you are not dealing with an infection but with superficial wound healing problems at the junction of the vertical and horizontal incisions. This is the area where blood flow is the most compromised and tension along the incision lines the greatest. Every surgeons' recommendations... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Skin loss after breast lift

Thank you for your question and photos. Although it is impossible to tell from photographs alone, it does not appear that your incisions are infected. You have some breakdown of the skin along the vertical incision and at the confluence of incisions. This occasionally happens with full breast lifts and, more commonly, with breast reductions. This is because this area has the poorest blood supply but the greatest tension. For these reasons, some of the skin does not survive and sloughs off.... more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Secondary healing

It looks as though you had some wound separation and areas that have delayed healing. Keep a close eye on them and do the wound care instructed by your surgeon. Follow closely with your surgeon. Often this heals with conservative care and does not usually need further surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Skin breakdown after breast lift

I am sorry to read that you have experienced a complication. Skin surface breakdown with secondary healing can occur after mastopexy. It is impossible to determine whether this is also infected without an examination. Any redness, swelling, prurient drainage or systemic changes such as fever would be indicative of infection. I encourage you to followup regularly with your plastic surgeon and call if these problems develop so they can be treated ASAP. Your surgeon can determine if the... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Wound separation following a breast lift

Though the lighting is not the best, it does not grossly appear as if your incision is infected. There is inflammation, wound separation and delayed healing - not uncommon occurrences in this area. Ultimately, it should close without major issues provided that an infection doesn't develop. Smoking or exposure to smoking can create/exacerbate this problem so if these apply to you - take note. You surgeon needs to keep a fairly close eye on this. If you start to see intense redness or... more