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How Long Does It Take for Skin Necrosis to Heal?

asked 1 year ago by MarineWife in Oceanside, CA
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 2,247 times
Tags: healing, necrosis

I have a small section of my incision (about 1/2 inch wide at the widest part, by 1 inch long) above my pubic area. I am a day shy of 3 weeks post-op from surgery and my doc said last week that I had an area where the skin was dieing, it is now black and he said to just put antibiotic ointment on it and it'll heal up. I think it is getting better, but was wondering ususally how long it takes for it to heal? I was a smoker, and quit 6 weeks prior to surgery and haven't smoked since. Thanks.

13 answers to How Long Does It Take for Skin Necrosis to Heal?

Skin Necrosis after Tummy Tuck Surgery?

I am sorry to hear about the complication you have experienced after tummy tuck surgery. The major principles here involve: removal of necrotic tissue, avoidance of damage to normal healthy tissue, treatment of infection if present, removal of any foreign body that may prevent healing ( exposed sutures), adequate nutrition/protein intake etc. Depending on the size of the wound it may take several additional weeks to heal/close (once the wound is free of unhealthy/necrotic... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Wound healing after surgery

There are many factors that contribute to poor wound healing. At this point, it is best to let the wound declare itself and to help prevent infection. Keep up good nutrition, minimize trauma to the area and apply the creams or medications that your doctor prescribes. The body is an amazing thing and you will be surprised what a few months of healing can do. Hang in there. Best of Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Skin Necrosis Post Tummy Tuck

This is a problem that can occur in smokers or immunocompromised (cancer) patients. It is important to allow the wound to declare its borders of healthy tissue. I recommend treating these with a silvadene cream until the dry necrotic tissue demarcates itself. I also recommend maintaining a flexed posture and preventing tension on the incision line, which can worsen the ischemic tissue. If there is any surround redness or fluid drainage, I would recommend... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Skin necrosis following tummy tuck

Unfortunately, this is one of the complications that all of us have seen one time or another. The good news is that it will heal, but it may leave a wider scar. Following complete healing, if the scar is unacceptable after 6-9 months, your surgeon may consider a small revision. By the way, congrats on the quitting!!

Michael Orseck, MD
Greenville Plastic Surgeon

www.orseckmd.com

Tissue necrosis heals slowly

Good for you! It's hard to stop smoking. Unfortunately, it caused what sounds like a small setback in your healing process. The size wound you describe should heal in 4-6 weeks, but take several more months to soften. If there is a black crust (eschar) on top as you describe it needs to be removed by your surgeon in the office. Daily dressing changes will keep the wound clean and help with the healing process. The area will contract as it heals and... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

How Long Does It Take for Skin Necrosis to Heal?

Very hard to give exact timing due to the size, depth your healing issues like a smoker. My guess is 3 months. From MIAMI Dr. darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Skin necrosis and smoking

Unfortunately, smoking is a gift that keeps on giving. I have had patients who stopped smoking for several months that had wound issue problems. Do not forget second hand smoke from smokers at home. A small area of necrosis may take 6-8 weeks to heal sometimes less.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Skin necrosis after Tummy Tuck

Unfortunately, whenever a Plastic Surgeon lifts and shifts skin, there is the risk of loss of blood circulation resulting in death of the skin (necrosis). Nicotine constricts the circulation to the skin and increases the risk of necrosis in Tummy Tucks, Face lifts, Breast reductions and mastopexies. Your area of necrosis does not appear to be large. The treatment is removal of dead tissue(debridement) and local wound care. In a healthy person all wounds close by a combination of... more

Richard L. Dolsky, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Healing of skin necrosis after tummy tuck

There are basically two ways to treat the necrotic skin. One is to continue doing what you are doing by applying ointment and letting the eschar or dead skin heal on its own (which may take 4-8 weeks). The other option is debriding the eschar which may accelerate the healing process of the tissue underneath.

Lawrence C. Lin, MD
Long Island Plastic Surgeon

Skin loss after tummy tuck

Skin loss or necrosis (skin death) is more common in individuals that smoke because of the constriction of the micro-circulation to the skin. When an are of necrosis occurs, the area should be cleaned and debrided of all the non vital tissue to reduce the infection risk. Healing can take a fairly long time, several weeks if the area is small to two to three months with wound care if large. Keep frequent visits with your surgeon who should help guide you through. Best of luck... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Healing of necrotic skin

If you have necrosis with an eschar (black, full thickness, dead skin), this area should be debrided before the wound can heal. The dead skin is an impediment to the basic method of spontaneous wound closure: contraction and re-epithelialization. Once the area is debrided, it will take about three weeks before you notice significant healing and then it depends on the local blood supply, the size of the wound, and the pliability of the surround soft tissue.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Skin Edge Necrosis After Tummy Tuck

The fact that you have some skin edge necrosis shows that your surgeon got you as tight as your tissues will allow, plus a little bit more. The skin necrosis will usually take care of it self with a little attention from the surgeon in the office. If may take 4 to 6 weeks and after several months it may require a little scar revision to make it look like the rest of the scar. Give it time and make sure to stay away from the smoking. Best Wishes Dr. Peterson... more

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Healing time for skin necrosis after tummy tuck

Sorry to hear about your setback. What you describe may take 2 to4 weeks to heal plus a few more months for the scar to improve. Keep following your surgeon's recommendations.