Dealing with Skin Necrosis After Tummy Tuck

I had full abdominoplasty a little over a week ago. I am a non-smoker (never smoked ever), healthy 5'4" 130 pd mom of 4 kids. I developed skin/tissue necrosis in front. My PS cut out a big chunk of dead tissue, (4 in. long and 2 in. deep) and packed it, I'm to continue and follow up in a week. How is my skin going to grow back together if it is stuffed with gauze and so wide? Shouldn't I be on an anti-biotic? Very scared and unsure.

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abdomen skin necrosis

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by kpb in Missouri

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (1)

Abdominoplasty complication

You sound like a great candidate for an uneventful abdominoplasty. Not sure what went wrong but rest assured that the area of non healing will heal. Assuming you have no medical conditions (you didn't mention any) then in the course of the next 4-6 weeks you'll see huge improvements. What has to happen first is granulation tissues need to bud in the base of the tissue. You'll know because they're red. Once the entire base of the tissue is clean and budding, the wound will start to contract... more

Ask your surgeon to place a Wound VAC

The wound that your describe sounds like it fairly deep, and perhaps a full-thickness region of abdominoplasty flap necrosis. The classic method for healing such wounds includes sharp debridement and dressing changes with gauze. The wound will likely heal more quickly with the use of a Wound VAC. This special dressing is changed every few days by your MD, rather than daily. When the wound is ready, it can be eventually closed primarily, or with a skin graft.

Dealing with Flap Necrosis after a Tummy Tuck

Do not be scared. This is totally fixable but will take some time. Necrosis (death) of the lower tummy tuck skin (flap) occurs because there is not enough oxygenated blood flowing through it. Although it is most commonly seen in smokers (active or second hand), it is seen when there is too much tension on the wound, too much pressure on the skin (a tight garment or a prolonged period of being folded or leaning forward), diabetes, Lupus and others. The first thing that needs to be done is... more

Tummy tuck complications

It is very unusual for this to happen in a non-smoker. But once the dead tissue is debrided, dressing changes will help the wound heal without getting infected (you don't need antibiotics with an open wound as long as it is well debrided). You will take a long time to heal because of the tension in the area. A wound vac might be considered to speed the healing along. You are in for a longer process than you would want but it will eventually heal.

Open wounds after tummy tuck

Unfortunately, even with well planned surgeries in patients at low risk, problems can arise such as skin necrosis. Before the wound can heal, all dead tissue must be debrided (removed). Given the unexpected events that you suffered, packing of the wounds: 1) allows ongoing evaluation of the tissues to assess the need for ongoing debridement. 2) Furrthermore the gauze itself can act as a debriding agent. 3) Lastly,, keeping the wound open actually treats an infection in the sense that it... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Skin Necrosis following Tummy Tuck

Skin necrosis following a TT is fairly unusual in a nonsmoker, but it can occur. Patience, although difficult to achieve, is important. If there is no obvious infection, I would treat the wound conservatively, removing dead tissue only after it has demarcated. It may take a very long period of time, but a reasonably satisfactory result is ultimately possible.