It started at PO day 17 with a little white stringy pus coming out and now two days later it is a white cream cheese looking substance in the incision under the scab. I called my doctor before they closed for their Christmas holiday and my doctors 3 week vacation and the nurse called in Keflex for me and told me to call after the Holidays if it doesn't get better. Should I worry about the white stuff and that it is just opening more? Should I be worried about the opening and the white stuff?
Answer: Localized drainage from tummy tuck incision
Thanks for providing photos. Based on the photos, you have a small opening of your incision where the whitish drainage is coming from. It's probably devitalized tissues underneath the skin. You do have small and limited amount of redness at edge of the incision. It's good to quantify it by using a marking pen to outline the edge of the redness and see if it's expanding. The small opening should heal with proper local wound care. You should have your surgeon looking at it to make sure it's a minor delayed wound healing and nothing major. Typically when a surgeon goes on vacation, there is another surgeon who's "covering" for the vacationing surgeon. If the wound is separating more or redness is expanding then you should be seen sooner rather than later. What you are experiencing is not uncommon with an Inverted-T scar and usually appears near the T junction. The reason to see your surgeon is to make sure that there is nothing else going on beneath the skin.
Best Wishes,
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Localized drainage from tummy tuck incision
Thanks for providing photos. Based on the photos, you have a small opening of your incision where the whitish drainage is coming from. It's probably devitalized tissues underneath the skin. You do have small and limited amount of redness at edge of the incision. It's good to quantify it by using a marking pen to outline the edge of the redness and see if it's expanding. The small opening should heal with proper local wound care. You should have your surgeon looking at it to make sure it's a minor delayed wound healing and nothing major. Typically when a surgeon goes on vacation, there is another surgeon who's "covering" for the vacationing surgeon. If the wound is separating more or redness is expanding then you should be seen sooner rather than later. What you are experiencing is not uncommon with an Inverted-T scar and usually appears near the T junction. The reason to see your surgeon is to make sure that there is nothing else going on beneath the skin.
Best Wishes,
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Incision opening after 19 days Thank you for your questions and sharing your pictures. This does not look too serious. However, the incision looks like it is opening up. It is very important to keep your incisions clean and covered to avoid serious infection. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certifiedPlastic surgeonHoffman EstatesBarringtonOakbrookChicago
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Incision opening after 19 days Thank you for your questions and sharing your pictures. This does not look too serious. However, the incision looks like it is opening up. It is very important to keep your incisions clean and covered to avoid serious infection. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certifiedPlastic surgeonHoffman EstatesBarringtonOakbrookChicago
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April 21, 2016
Answer: Superficial Wound Breakdown Your pictures suggest superficial wound breakdown. Wound breakdown can be seen following abdominoplasty surgery for a variety of reasons. It’s often related to poor blood supply to the skin flaps, excess tension on the wound closure, fluid collections, primary infections and patient non-compliance. Each of these factors can significantly increase the potential for this type of problem.Once this type of problem has developed, aggressive local wound care is indicated.This may require surgical debridement and dressing changes.In some cases, a VAC suction system may be indicated as well.If infection is present, antibiotics may also be necessary.With appropriate local wound care, this type of wound should heal without difficulty.Initially granulation tissue will grow in the base of the wound.Eventually the skin will grow over the top of the granulation tissue in an inward direction as the wound margins pull themselves together.Unfortunately, this might take several months to occur and a touch up scar revision may be necessary as well.It’s important that you maintain close contact with your plastic surgeon.Your surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.
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Answer: Superficial Wound Breakdown Your pictures suggest superficial wound breakdown. Wound breakdown can be seen following abdominoplasty surgery for a variety of reasons. It’s often related to poor blood supply to the skin flaps, excess tension on the wound closure, fluid collections, primary infections and patient non-compliance. Each of these factors can significantly increase the potential for this type of problem.Once this type of problem has developed, aggressive local wound care is indicated.This may require surgical debridement and dressing changes.In some cases, a VAC suction system may be indicated as well.If infection is present, antibiotics may also be necessary.With appropriate local wound care, this type of wound should heal without difficulty.Initially granulation tissue will grow in the base of the wound.Eventually the skin will grow over the top of the granulation tissue in an inward direction as the wound margins pull themselves together.Unfortunately, this might take several months to occur and a touch up scar revision may be necessary as well.It’s important that you maintain close contact with your plastic surgeon.Your surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.
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December 29, 2012
Answer: Pus Coming out of my Tummy Tuck Incision and Doctor on Vacation
Optimal medical care is provided by the ready availability of the healthcare provider. In cases where the patient has had a surgical procedure, a physician knowledgable in the same specialty should examine the patient when the patient notes a post-operative complication.
All plastic surgeons have a colleague backing them up when they are not available or out of town.
You should ask to be referred to that person for evaluation and treatment now, even though as many colleagues have noted, the problem is not uncommon and usually heals fine. But it does require in person evaluation, and it is possible that a more serious infection could result if this local area is not opened and cleaned up, of either a stitch or some small amount of devitalized skin or fat.
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Answer: Pus Coming out of my Tummy Tuck Incision and Doctor on Vacation
Optimal medical care is provided by the ready availability of the healthcare provider. In cases where the patient has had a surgical procedure, a physician knowledgable in the same specialty should examine the patient when the patient notes a post-operative complication.
All plastic surgeons have a colleague backing them up when they are not available or out of town.
You should ask to be referred to that person for evaluation and treatment now, even though as many colleagues have noted, the problem is not uncommon and usually heals fine. But it does require in person evaluation, and it is possible that a more serious infection could result if this local area is not opened and cleaned up, of either a stitch or some small amount of devitalized skin or fat.
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May 6, 2015
Answer: My Incision is Opening at 19 Days Post Operation with White Pus and Now White Cream Cheese Look Inside the Wound?
You have skin edge necrosis that needs in person medical attention. I "hope" your chosen doc has a cross cover doc not just a nurse. DEMAND to be seen by a doctor!
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Answer: My Incision is Opening at 19 Days Post Operation with White Pus and Now White Cream Cheese Look Inside the Wound?
You have skin edge necrosis that needs in person medical attention. I "hope" your chosen doc has a cross cover doc not just a nurse. DEMAND to be seen by a doctor!
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