Breast Reduction Q&A
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How Can I Speed Up the Healing of an Open Spot After Breast Reduction?

asked 9 months ago by Jazzy T in Westland, MI
Latest answer by Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Question viewed 449 times
Tags: healing, sore

I'm 5 weeks post surgery and I have a small open spot on the incision line on my right breast. The area always has a litte bright red bleed. Itdoesn't appear to be infected. I have been keeping it clean with soap and water and applying an antiboctic cream and covering it with a pantyliner (gauze always sticks to the wound). I just need to know is there something else that I should/could be using to help speed up the healing? Is Silver Nitrate something that will help assist with the healing?

7 answers to How Can I Speed Up the Healing of an Open Spot After Breast Reduction?

+1

Non healing area on breast may represent a deep suture coming through the skin

Most probably you have a deep suture coming through the skin which is impeding full healing. You should contact your plastic surgeon who can inspect the area and make the appropriate recommendations which may include removing the suture if one is present. With removal of this suture, healing should be very quick.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+1

How Can I Speed Up the Healing of an Open Spot After Breast Reduction?

Your open spot will heal - you cannot keep it from healing - no matter what you do or don't put on it. There is really only one frequently-seen cause for a wound not to heal: the presence of sutures at the site. When dissolving sutures become exposed and contaminated they will cause drainage and will keep the wound from closing. See your surgeon to make sure a suture below the surface isn't keeping the open area from closing. Good luck!
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Open spot after breast reduction

We tend not to see open areas after a short scar reduction, though a few at the 'T" of a very large reduction occur,often beginning with a spit suture. This will sound like heresy, though after many years of practice we have found that daily cleaning with soap and water and a dry cover, no ointments, produce the fastest healing. I know it is not the typical answer, no xeroform, bacitracin, etc., just cover it, telfa if things stick, but the open spot will close... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Slow healing after breast reduction

It is common to have small areas that can be slow to heal, following breast reduction. I would not advise silver nitrate, I reserve this for wounds that are overgranulating (florid, red, raised wounds). You simply need to keep it clean and use a non-stick dressing. It is important to stay healthy and maintain a good diet and keep a positive outlook as I think this will be of more benefit than any topical dressings. Good luck. Jonathan Staiano
Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing of an open spot

When there are small areas that take a little longer to heal, the best thing to do is to keep them clean and moist. Vaseline is great. Silver nitrate is used for wounds that are stuck and not progressing. It irritates the wound. Irritation makes things worse in a normally healing wound so unless your surgeon feels that there is a need for it, avoid using silver nitrate sticks. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Small open area after breast reduction

I would suggest keeping it clean with soap and water as you are doing, keeping it "greasy" with an antibiotic ointment (I tend to prefer the ointments rather than the cream as you are using, but it may not make any difference) such as bacitracin or polysporin, using a non-adherent material to cover it (such as xeroform or adaptic or a telfa pad), and wait for it to heal. Signs of infection would be increasing redness of the normal skin surrounding the open area. more
Robert M. Grenley, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction wound

It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things. “Small open wounds" do occur after breast reduction surgery and may take several weeks/months to completely heal. Sometimes removing a slowly dissolving stitch (foreign body” may allow the world to heal more quickly. My only other suggestion would be to use sterile non-stick dressings (for example adaptic or xeroform) as opposed to the panty liner. Silver nitrate is probably not necessary at this... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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