How Long Before Tissue Necrosis Heals After Breast Reduction?

Wound breakdown and tissue necrosis occasionally occurs following breast reduction surgery. Several factors contribute to this phenomena. These include the weight of the tissue that supports the blood supply to the nipple/areola complex, thinning of the skin secondary to constant gravitational forces, limited blood supply to the most distant portions of the skin flaps, and chronic bacterial colonization in the area of the folds beneath the breast. In addition to this, external factors such as cigarette smoking and steroid use may also contribute to wound breakdown and soft tissue necrosis.
Most cases of wound breakdown following breast reduction surgery can be managed with local wound care. This includes removal of the necrotic tissue and dressing changes. Some patients may require the use of a VAC, which shortens healing times by applying continuous suction to the wound. In severe cases, removal of the necrotic tissue followed by flap reconstruction or skin grafting may be necessary.
When wounds heal with dressing changes, they form granulation tissue in the base of the wound, which gradually decreases the size of the wound. Once this occurs, new skin forms around the margins of the wound and migrates in an inward direction eventually closing the wound. While this is occurring, the wound is pulling its edges together to ultimately decrease the size of the scar.
Wound healing times are entirely dependent upon the amount of tissue necrosis and wound healing characteristics of the patient. Occasionally, patients may need a scar revision once wound healing is complete, but this is uncommon. Even when wounds break down and patients undergo a prolonged period of would healing, they still report high satisfaction rates following breast reduction surgery.

Tissue necrosis can occur and when it does it is usually at the junction of the inverted T scar.  It is usually treated with dressing changes and debridement. Occasionally creams or liquids containing silver are used to decrease the healing time.

Thank you for the question.

This type of wound healing does occasionally occur after breast reduction surgery.

How long it will take to heal depends on the size of the world and the status of the underlying tissue. This may be anywhere from a few weeks to an additional month.

The important part of this process is close follow-up with your plastic surgeon, who may able to help with light debridement and/or  removal of foreign body (such as suture).

Best wishes.