Had to Be Opened Up Day 13 Post Op from Tummy Tuck Said I Had a Bleed Due To Too Much Activity?

I am 15 days post op from a tt (no muscle work, only skin) today. On day 8, I developed a fever & on day 9, my drains were removed due to infection. Day 13, I go to the doctor for swelling on my left side. Doctor can't remove any fluid and decides that he has to open me up again to see what is going on. Now I have an open wound 2 1/2" long and about 2" deep. They are telling me I had a 'bleed' due to too much activity? Is this common? And how long will an open wound of this size take to heal?

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by Time to do something for ME in Santa Rosa, CA

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Open Wound after Tummy Tuck?

I'm sorry to hear about the complication you have experienced after tummy tuck surgery. I'm glad to hear however that you are being followed closely by your plastic surgeon. You may be surprised at how well the open wound heals; this may take several weeks to do so however. I would suggest that you continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon, follow instructions regarding dressing changes, and understand that in the long run it is likely that you will have a very nice result.... more

Bleed and infection after tummy tuck.

It sounds as if your surgeon is giving you good care, since re-operation for swelling after infected drain removal is smart, aggressive care. Bleeding or seroma can occur with any tummy tuck patient, as can infection. Infection is much more rare than bleeding, which is much more rare than seroma, so you pretty much have had the bad-luck least-likely outcomes. Since your drains were removed due to fever and infection, there may have not been sufficient healing to prevent re-accumulation... more

Tummy Tuck

Fluid collections after a tummy tuck can come from different causes and unfortunately they are often a troubling complication. Whatever the reason the prompt treatment you seem to have received can minimize the eventual effect on your result. Stay in close follow up with your surgeon and when healed the larger appearing wounds often contract to a significantly smaller size. I wish you a speedy recovery. I hope this information is helpful.