6 months post tummy tuck, scar is still red and raw and getting reoccurring sores. What can I do? (photos)

Thank you for your question. It is common that some of the dissolvable sutures do not dissolve completely and try to work themselves out. They tend to make little opening and may have a little discharge. In regards to the redness of the scar, that's normal. Scars take about 1-1.5 years to fully mature and go through some changes. Some Surgeons will recommend the use of IPL lasers to help treat the color of a scar and the use of scar creams. I would suggest following up with your Surgeon and following their recommendations. Best of luck to you.

Hello @megangoldhawk, thank you for your question and showing your pictures. Scarring has a maturation cycle of approximately one to one and a half years depending on the patient's skin. An examination would give you more information about what can be done. Please have in mind that the scar takes different features depending on the process inherent to the patient's health and skin condition. I link a video to shed more light. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Dear megangoldhawk,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation. You may have suture abscesses. When the underlying suture material is removed these areas tend to heal nicely with minimal home care.

You need to go back to your surgeon. If areas are not healing, the residual sutures may need to be removed.

Hi megangoldhawk, sorry to hear about your complicated course after surgery. It's not uncommon for the incisions to still be red and raw at this point. It takes up to a year for the final scar result, and sometimes even longer for those with more pigment in their skin. It's hard to tell based on that picture alone, but it can certainly be an inflammatory reaction to the stitches underneath.

Sometimes the absorbable sutures used during this procedure can get contaminated. when they do they create a small abscess that usually eventually leads to drainage and a small wound. Wounds will not heal if they contain contaminated foreign material so the suture material should be removed whenever you have an opening for infection in your incision line. It’s possible that during your period of sepsis some of your suture material may have been seated with bacteria that is now intermittently showing as clinical infections depending on if your main system is able to hold the bacteria under control or not.
Eventually the suture material will dissolve in the process eventually does come to an end.
Well it may be frustrating you need to be working with your plastic surgeon each time he develop an opening and have the surgeon clean up the wound and make sure there’s no suture material in the area.
This happens to some people and while frustrating it needs to be managed and does eventually come to an end.
Continue following up with your provider.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi megangoldhawk. You seem to have hypertrophic scarring. It may be due to genetic factors or it may be caused by sutures that want to come out. It is hard to tell from the pictures and the history what is causing the problem but I recommend seeing a plastic surgeon to evaluate it. It may need to be excised or may need Kenalog injection.