Slow healing, 9 weeks post TT with lipo. What do you think is going on? (photos)

Question

I am 9 weeks post TT and feel so swollen. I had splitting suctures so my healing has been slow. The latest is pain on the sides of my waitst.the left side is swollen but my the wound is fully healed. What do you think is going on?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello. Great question. I am sorry for your post operative difficulties. It is not uncommon for wound dehiscence to occur post op. Keep following your surgeon's post op instructions.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The suture abscesses can be treated by your surgeon in the office.  They tend to heal well with minimal home care once the suture material is removed.  Occasional discomfort is not unexpected as you are still healing, however if it is severe or constant an evaluation by your surgeon is needed. I encourage you to meet with your surgeon to discuss your concerns.

Ben Brown, MD (license emergency restriction) · Answer

Hello Aries69,
Thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that things haven't been progressing as smoothly as you had hoped after your tummy tuck surgery.
It appears that you still have superficial (shallow) openings in your skin along the incision as well as discoloration. From the photos it appears as if these issues are concentrated mostly in the center of the incision, beneath your bellybutton. This is the tightest area of the abdominoplasty closure and is often the area where delays in incision healing occur. Color changes and shininess of the skin can indicate that the blood supply to the skin is reduced because of stretch, and this can take time to resolve.
From your description it sounds like you have experience spitting of sutures from beneath your skin. It appears that you may be experiencing a different suture-related issue known as a stitch abscess. Sutures, being foreign bodies, tend to induce some degree of reaction from your body; sometimes, your body reacts strongly and forms a small pocket of pus around these that can erupt spontaneously, causing a wound.
I recommend you return to your plastic surgeon for an in-person examination regarding these concerns.

Slow healing, 9 weeks post TT with lipo. What do you think is going on? (photos)

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Slow healing, 9 weeks post TT with lipo. What do you think is going on? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.