Does This Tummy Tuck Look Normal After 5 Weeks? (photo)

asked 7 months ago by Squishy
Latest answer by Timothy Fee, MD
Question viewed 822 times
Tags: 1 month post-op, healing, normal

I have had a lot of healing issues with this tummy tuck among other things like a drain tube breaking off inside me while trying to be extracted at 2 weeks. I am currently doing wet to dry dressing for a week. Does this look normal after 5 1/2 weeks?

Update: Rotated photo

9 answers to Does This Tummy Tuck Look Normal After 5 Weeks? (photo)

Wound healing

On the surface, I agree with the other doctors. However, I would not be surprised if there is some retained fluid or perhaps blood clot under the skin. Although this is not an emergency ( and may not even be present), it should be aspirated or drained to relieve pressure on the skin. Sometimes enough time will pass that a small opening may develop whereby this fluid will drain spontaneously. If this happens, do not panic as it is usually makes you feel better not worse. Stay close to your... more

Timothy Fee, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

www.coastalcosmetic.com

Does this look normal after tummy tuck?

You have suffered some wound separation from what appears to be a small area of skin necrosis (loss of blood supply to the skin). This is a risk after tummy tuck. Fortunately the area is rather narrow, so this should heal in on it's own over time...a few to several weeks. The eventual scar in this area may turn out to be satisfactory, but if it is wider or more prominent, it should be a simple procedure to revise it later when things have settled down and the skin has regained some... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Healing issues after tummy tuck, not the normal

With tummy tuck complications can happen, and your healing course is not normal. The separation could be caused by excessive tension, sensitivity to sutures, or possibly smoking. At five weeks things are not normal, though with the dressing program you are on the incsion will heal. Best of luck,

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Does This Tummy Tuck Look Normal After 5 Weeks? (photo)

Read each expert posters reply for therapy. But this is not what we hope for but it is very easy to treat. Good luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck wound

It looks like you are not healing in the middle portion. You should be doing some wound care in that area as directed by your plastic surgeon. He or she may also debride some of the necrotic tissue within the wound. With good wound care and time it should heal. You may need a scar revision later since it may heal with a wider scar than normal. Hopefully you do not smoke as this will inhibit healing and if you are diabetic make sure your blood sugars are under... more

Tiffany McCormack, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgeryrenotahoe.com

It appears that you have hematoma sand wound dehiscence

This can be caused by many things including infection ,blood clot and decreased blood supply to your skin. If you smoke or have diabetes it could also have contributed to your wound healing problem. Treatment should consist of local wound care and possible debridement of non-viable tissue. The wound will likely heal in from the bottom up resulting in a widened scar. This can be revised at a later time. Make sure you see your plastic surgeon regularly so... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

There has been some skin loss at the margin of this tummy tuck.

The black edge along the belt line indicates a narrow strip of skin loss. This is uncommon after an abdominoplasty but no rare. If the loss is small, the body might be able to remove and replace it with nothing more than dressing changes. If the loss is more substantial, your surgeon will need to remove the dead skin and treat the wound until it heals. A scar revision might be needed down the road.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Postoperative Tummy Tuck Issues

You have had a superficial skin loss or necrosis that has led to the death of the skin at the wound edge. It does not appear that there is an infection, but this should be watched closely for progression to an infection. Stay in close contact with your surgeon to ensure that this progresses to healing. Cleaning the area with betadine helps to dry out an eschar, but check with your doctor to get a formal opinion. Best of luck, Vincent Marin, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Normal Healing after Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. It seems that your picture is upside down. Nevertheless, it appears that you have superficial separation along the midportion of the abdominoplasty incision line. Unfortunately, this does occur relatively frequently after the tummy tuck surgery at 5 1/2 weeks postoperatively. There are a variety of ways to treat the area; this usually goes on to heal over the course of the next few weeks .I would suggests continued patience and follow up... more