I had a breast reduction done back in december and am pleased with the results other than one of my breasts is still open at the inverse T. It is still draining and bleeds fairly easily.
I have been using bactroban cream on the site for several weeks. My PS believes it may be fat necrosis. Just curious how long these types of things could take to heal, and if there are any other options to try and get the wound to heal quicker.
It is healing but EVER so slowly!
Answer: Recovery From Breast Reduction Is Dependent Upon the Amount of Tissue Necrosis & Patient's Wound Healing Characteristics
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.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Recovery From Breast Reduction Is Dependent Upon the Amount of Tissue Necrosis & Patient's Wound Healing Characteristics
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.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Typically within a month or two Good question. After a reduction some patients will develop delayed wound healing at the inverse T, and that can be at the skin level or deeper, at the fat level. The skin level leaves a superficial wound that heals over a month or two under most circumstances. you just need to keep it clean. The fat layer, when it undergoes fat necrosis, can drain and cause pain. this can sometimes get infected and may require additional therapy. If any concern please discuss with your surgeon for evaluation. In most scenarios it all heals on its own. -Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Typically within a month or two Good question. After a reduction some patients will develop delayed wound healing at the inverse T, and that can be at the skin level or deeper, at the fat level. The skin level leaves a superficial wound that heals over a month or two under most circumstances. you just need to keep it clean. The fat layer, when it undergoes fat necrosis, can drain and cause pain. this can sometimes get infected and may require additional therapy. If any concern please discuss with your surgeon for evaluation. In most scenarios it all heals on its own. -Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group
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February 9, 2015
Answer: Healing Following Breast Reduction Depends on the Type of Incision Made & the Patient's Healing Process
There are many ways to perform a breast reduction. One of the most common techniques employs an inverted T incision. The inverted T includes an incision around the areola (the dark tissue around the nipple); a vertical incision between the areola, and the incision at the crease of the breast, and then a longer incision along the crease of the breast. Where the vertical incision intersects with the incision in the breast crease, wound breakdown can occur. These corners are the most fragile parts of the repair and may have decreased blood supply. This point also supports the greater part of the remaining breast weight. The decreased blood supply comes from the fact that an incision has been made on both sides of the corner. These factors contribute to potential wound healing problems in this area. Wound breakdown in this area can be small or more extensive. These wounds are usually treated with daily cleansing and dressings. It is helpful to remove any tissue that is clearly dead. With this type of treatment, these wounds normally heal on their own. Unfortunately, it can take several weeks. In most cases, several weeks go by without much indication of healing. Once you see a pink rim of new skin forming around the edges then the healing process speeds up significantly. As new skin grows from the sides, the wound will shrink in size and the ultimate scar will normally be smaller than the wound was in the first place. After healing is complete, a scar revision may be possible to further diminish the size of the scar.
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CONTACT NOW February 9, 2015
Answer: Healing Following Breast Reduction Depends on the Type of Incision Made & the Patient's Healing Process
There are many ways to perform a breast reduction. One of the most common techniques employs an inverted T incision. The inverted T includes an incision around the areola (the dark tissue around the nipple); a vertical incision between the areola, and the incision at the crease of the breast, and then a longer incision along the crease of the breast. Where the vertical incision intersects with the incision in the breast crease, wound breakdown can occur. These corners are the most fragile parts of the repair and may have decreased blood supply. This point also supports the greater part of the remaining breast weight. The decreased blood supply comes from the fact that an incision has been made on both sides of the corner. These factors contribute to potential wound healing problems in this area. Wound breakdown in this area can be small or more extensive. These wounds are usually treated with daily cleansing and dressings. It is helpful to remove any tissue that is clearly dead. With this type of treatment, these wounds normally heal on their own. Unfortunately, it can take several weeks. In most cases, several weeks go by without much indication of healing. Once you see a pink rim of new skin forming around the edges then the healing process speeds up significantly. As new skin grows from the sides, the wound will shrink in size and the ultimate scar will normally be smaller than the wound was in the first place. After healing is complete, a scar revision may be possible to further diminish the size of the scar.
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May 29, 2017
Answer: Wound Healing after Breast Reduction? 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.
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Answer: Wound Healing after Breast Reduction? 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.
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April 15, 2009
Answer: Difficult to say without examining you It is hard to know exactly what is happening without an exam, but in general things should have healed up by now. If indeed there is some fat necrosis present, you may need a repeat trip to the OR and possibly excision of this necrotic tissue-- this will probably give you the best chance at a speedy recovery.
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Answer: Difficult to say without examining you It is hard to know exactly what is happening without an exam, but in general things should have healed up by now. If indeed there is some fat necrosis present, you may need a repeat trip to the OR and possibly excision of this necrotic tissue-- this will probably give you the best chance at a speedy recovery.
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