How Long Until I Am "Out of the Woods" for Wound Separation?

I am 10 days post op. My tape has been removed and things look good so far. My question is how long after surgery does the potential complication of wound separation exist? My PS said I can start using lotions, but I'm rather nervous to touch anything, especially the area around the incisions.

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Minnesota9 in MN

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Wound healing issues

Usually by the time patients reach about two to three weeks out from surgery, they are usually out of the woods.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Wound healing after breast reduction

Congratulations on your surgery! In general, I place restrictions on my patients for 6 weeks after surgery. The reason for this is that scars take about that long to gain enough strength to prevent any separation. After this time, it is very rare to seen any incision line separation. Good luck!

Healing is not complete but well underway at 10 days

Hello, Thank you for the question. Many of the complications of any surgery can be seen early on within the first week or two including hematoma, infection, necrosis, etc. At 10 days out it sounds like you are healing very well and that you do not have any of the above healing issues. From this point on, barring accidents, you will unlikely see any of the above complications. Small issues such as sutures extrusion (spitting) may be seen for the first month but... more

When does wound separation occur

Wound separation is generally a consequence, not a cause. So, the initial postop period, of 4-6 weeks, is the time within which a patient is most likely to disrupt a wound or develop an infection. Lotion isn't essential so if you have anxiety about touching the area around the incision (and, if you do, please wash carefully and with soap!!), then don't. Keep up with followup visits and enjoy the result.

Hello

Usually after 3 weeks you are in the clear. You could apply lotion just not on your incision. Good luck.

SKIN LOTIONS AND WOUND SEPARATION

I do not recommend any skin lotion, until 8 months after surgery.... Best Dr. Vega / Tijuana, Mexico

Breast reduction solidly healed at three weeks.

Hi. If you are doing well at ten days, you are probably "out of the woods". We recommend wearing a sports bra for three week and applying BioCorneum scar ointment twice a day.

Wound Separation after Breast Reduction?

Congratulations on having undergone the breast reduction procedure; hopefully you'll be very pleased with the outcome of your procedure. Generally speaking, once patients are 4 to 6 weeks out of the procedure, incision line separation/wound healing problems are infrequent. I hope this helps.