Does Injecting Steroids at Time of Surgery Increase Chance of Necrosis?

I had a tummy tuck and umbilicus scar revision 3.5 weeks ago to remove hypertrophic scars. The doctor injected steroids at time of surgery to reduce scarring. The new surgery bled considerably in the first 24 hours. It was 36 hours before a nurse would see me. I am now seeing a nurse twice a week to check progress. Will more tissue die or is the worst over?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by Cosmoquery in australia

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Steriods do not cause or increase necrosis

From the picture you have umbilicus necrosis and that is the reason for the incision openning . This will heal over time and there is not much to do except local wound care. Please continue to see your doctor .

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Steroids and surgery

Steroid injections will not increase chance of necrosis, but as noted can slow healing. This is a good thing when the healing is too aggressive like in hypertrophic scars, but bad if the wound is open. Local care of the area should ultimately lead to healing, but very likely scars will be thick again.

Steriod Injections to Prevent Scarring

Steroids are commonly used to prevent excessive scarring during or after surgery. However, this can result in delayed healing, but not normally necrosis. It appears that you have areas of necrosis at both the belly button and along the scar. Fortunately the worst is likely over, but you will probably need a revision of the umbilicus once all of this has healed. The area will probably heal as a flat scar and then a revision could be performed to attempt the creation of the new belly... more

Necrosis After Revision and Steroid Injection

Any sort of steroid injection is designed to blunt the natural inflammatory response that occurs with healing. In doing so, it takes longer to heal, but can help prevent increased scarring. However, it can cause delayed wound healing and lead to open wounds at times. Whether this is the direct cause of the necrosis around your belly button is unknown, but the good thing is that even when the belly button has healing issues, when it is all said and done, it usually still... more

Dead Belly Butoon after Re-Do Tummy Tuck

Surgery involves scarring and a slightly diminished blood supply. Each time surgery is repeated on the same areas the results get diminished because of scarring. It appears as if ALL your scars (Breast and Tummy Tuck are widened) and that you have had complete loss of the belly button as well as an area on your ? right lower incision (which needs to be surgically cleaned - debrided). Injecting corticosteroids into the wound / scars greatly impedes proper wound healing and is usually... more