I have a serious infection in my Tummy Tuck incision and I'm on antibiotics. When will it be safe for me to fly home? (photo)

Question

I was operated on April 2nd, 2014 and finally figured out why there was a wound separation on my tummy tuck incision. I have two bacterias on the incision: acinetobacter baumannii complex and E. coli. The surgeon that is caring for me has prescribed cephalosporin antibiotic every 8 hrs for 7 days(started 4/19). I am in Venezuela and will be flying back to Miami (my home) on April 28th. Will this be sufficient time to kill the bacteria? Can I fly like this? I am so depressed and worried.

Gaurav Bharti, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a serious problem and is one of the many reasons why having plastic surgery abroad is risky.  Your open wound will likely require dressing changes for a period of time and will need to heal from the inside out.  Your course of your antibiotics will be determined by your surgeon and the cultures that he performed.  I agree in that you must formulate some sort of follow up with a plastic surgeon in the United States.  This can be tricky having had your surgery abroad.  Good luckGaurav Bharti

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your complication.  Often, wound separation and wound infection have a component of insufficient blood supply.  Regardless, it sounds like you may be on the road to recovery.  Obviously you will have to return home to Miami at some point and you will also need a plastic surgeon at home to continue your care.  I would discuss this with your plastic surgeon in Venezuela regarding finding someone that can continue your treatment at home.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Adolfo Sesto, MD · Answer

For what you are telling your surgeon is right on track of this bacterias, and have you on the correct medical a treatment.This "venezuelan surgeon" is a good and honest doctor, not only identified the bacterias but also is covering you with the correct antibiotics.I do not recommend you to go back to Miami till you finish your treatment, because doctors in Miami will scare you and will not accept you as patient just for obvious reasons :you got surgery abroad. They do not like that.An honest  plastic surgeon in the US will tell you, and the public, that in their contract for surgery they also establish the possibility of getting bacterias. They even have lots of cases but they prefer to scare the patients that decide to go abroad for surgery only for marketing and economical reasons.

Gordon Lewis, MD · Answer

I am sorry you are having trouble.  From the picture you sent, it is hard to tell how much infection you currently have.  Is there redness of your abdomen?, do you have fevers, is there pus coming from the wound?  etc.  If you do have any systemic signs of infection, I would delay returning until you are certain you have good follow up arranged.  This is going to to be your hard part.  When you return, you are not going to have a surgeon to turn to .  I would suggest getting on the phone and making sure you have someone who will take care of your issues when you do return.  It will not be easy to find someone and you wil have to pay them for their time. This is is biggest issue with medical tourism.  Most of the time, these cosmetic surgeies go well, but when the don't there is no one to fix the issue.

I have a serious infection in my Tummy Tuck incision and I'm on antibiotics. When will it be safe for me to fly home? (photo)

Answers (4)

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