Tummy tuck surgical dehiscence- how will this heal? (Photo)

Question

I am 25 days PO from an abdominoplasty with lipo (mons and love handles) and rector repair and on day 19 PO he opened the incision to drain a lot of clotting and blood that had developed and very nasty odor. The would is now wide open, I am cleaning it twice a day with a Dakin solution, filling it with some Norml ointment, covering it with a few 4x4 and am seeing my PS every few days. taking 150 Clindamycin qid. The rest of my incision looks fine. How is this going to heal?

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

You
will have to perform daily dressing changes until it heals which can takes
weeks to months. Then, you can have a cosmetic scar revision when the tissues
are healthy and soft. At some point, if the wound becomes clean and healthier
appearing, your surgeon can consider delayed closure over a drain to help speed
up the process accepting a risk of recurrent infection or dehiscence. Be
patient and hang in there, it will heal. Thanks for sharing.

Ayman Hakki, MD · Answer

Your case warrants specialized care. These things do happen you and your surgeon are coping with it well. When ever I have had this happen I often refer my patients to a university hospital wound care center. This would make sense if you have insurance. If you were my daughter I would use a wound vac system and have you up and going in no time. If your surgeon is board certified on plastic surgery and has previlages at a local university hospital you are in good hands. If not talk to her, or him, and ask for a referral.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

Sorry to hear about this problem.  You are doing all the right things but time will have to take its course for the wound to heal by secondary intention.  This might mean several months with a wound of this size and I would expect that scar revision would be indicated at some point down the road.  Best of luck to you.

Ernest Layton, MD · Answer

I am so sorry to see that you are healing like this.  It will take sometimes several months with this large of an opening to heal completely, but it will heal with time.  You will need to be seen for regular debridements of the wound and be on antibiotics.  Sometimes do wet to dry dressings.  The wound will heal and close from the inside out.  Good luck with everything.

Tummy tuck surgical dehiscence- how will this heal? (Photo)

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Tummy tuck surgical dehiscence- how will this heal? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Tummy tuck surgical dehiscence

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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