Is it normal for the scabbing on my breast to fall off at almost 3 week post OP? (photos)

Thank you very much for your question.Loss of pigment of the areola is something that can happen, especially in darker skinned individuals.  It usually does resolve slowly with time (on the order of months).  Keeping the area moist with either antibiotic ointment or vasoline may help.  If the color does not fully return, a tattoo to darken the area may be an option for you.And yes, scabs will fall off when they are ready to do so, and 3 weeks is an ok time for that to happen.For now, continue to follow up closely with your surgeon, and follow their recommendations.  Best of luck!

Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear of your wound healing difficulty.  Resolution of hypopigmentation issues takes several months, and I would recommend keeping the area clean and well-moisturized.  Should the pigmentation not return in full, tattooing of the remaining area can be performed.  Hope this helps. 

Thank you for the question and photos.  This is not uncommon for women to experience after surgery.  The color of your areolas should return to normal with time but there are instances that it wouldn't.  Contact you board-certified plastic surgeon regarding your options.  Best of luck. Dr. Michael Omidi.


An
in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess
your needs and provide true medical advice.

The color of your areola was lost a bit in parts, and this may be secondary to some ischemia of the areola. Many times the color comes back over time, but areas of mismatch may require tattooing.

Thanks for your question. Yes, this can happen, particularly if your skin is darkly pigmented. It's part of the healing process and often comes back without problems. The melanocytes that make pigment are "stunned" a bit during the surgery and so they don't make the pigment temporarily. I usually recommend keeping the site moisturized. Best wishes.

In person follow up is best with your surgeon>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are experiencing some delayed healing to your nipple as a result of your recent breast lift.  At this time, it is important to follow all of your surgeon's post operative instructions.  Give this a few months before deciding on any further definitive treatment.  Best Wishes.

HiThanks for the question.  Sorry about your problem.  You may have had a problem with the blood supply which lead to some loss of pigmentation in that area.  Unfortunately, its hard to say if the pigment will come back.  If it doesn't you have a couple options.  Might be possible to cut out that area and reshape the nipples. The other option is a tatoo in that area once all healed.  I would discuss this with your surgeon to see what they recommend as well.Good Luck

Dear snookiecee,

Thank you for your clinical post and
photographs. From the photographs it
appears that you are healing from a breast reduction or a mastopexy breast lift
with breast augmentation. Either way
there is certain areas around the areola and the trifurcation points under the
areola at the bottom of the breasts that are subject to vascular
challenges. This can lead to a relative ischemia
and scabbing that when the scab comes off part of the skin comes off with it
and this may lead to immediate hypopigmentation. This fleshy pink hypopigmented colour often
repigments over many months. The
hypopigmented white area can often respond with hyperpigmentation and excessive
melanin formation. There is no way to ensure
repigmentation will occur; however, keeping the skin moist, allowing to reepithelialize
and giving at least 1 year for repigmentation to occur is solid advice. I would seek out the advice of your operating
surgeon in the end of 1 year if there is still some relative hypopigmentation,
cosmetic tattooing can provide an excellent cosmetic blending of this area.

Although you read about skin grafting
as a solution, cosmetic tattooing I have found is much better for pigmentation
and colour notching in the nipple areola area after breast surgery.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto