Is It Normal For Wounds To Still Be Leaking 6 Weeks Post Op? (photo)

We occasionally see patients who have prolonged serous
drainage from their wounds following breast reduction surgery. In the vast majority of patients this problem
resolves spontaneously. When this
situation arises it’s important to perform frequent dressing changes and
monitor for the development of infection. It’s also important to continue the use of compressive support garments.In
some cases prolonged drainage may indicate the presence of a seroma. For this reason it may be appropriate to
obtain an ultrasound and CT studies to confirm this diagnosis. The vast majority of patients who have seromas
after six weeks require CT guided drain placement. Failure to provide adequate drainage can
result in secondary complications such as wound breakdown and infection.For
this reason, it’s important to consult your plastic surgeon. This surgeon should be able to formulate a
treatment plan that addresses your drainage.

Wounds at the junction of the incision for this type of breast reduction can occur.  Good wound care will with time heal these wounds.  Make sure you have close follow up with your plastic surgeon.

Dr. ES

Breast reduction surgery removes a lot of breast tissue and a significant amount of breast and fat tissue.  The breast could have a little fat necrosis,  seroma fluid, open wounds     All are fairly normal and will heal.  Follow up with your doctor.

You are experienced a common issue at the T-junction point (where your vertical and horizontal scars meet). It seems to be very superficial and apparently you haven't developed an infection so far. 
It will subside with time (can be 2 weeks or 2 months). However I would recommend to see your nurse/surgeon once a week until they are healed properly. Clean the wound and changing the dressing every day or every other day with an Iodine swab. 

Thank you for the question and picture.

The superficial separation and associated drainage is not uncommon after breast reduction surgery.  If it does occur it tends to occur  at the junction of the vertical and horizontal incision lines. These areas generally go on to heal without sequelae. I would suggest you continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Congratulations on having undergone the procedure; it is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform.

Just from the photos, it looks like you developed some minor incision healing issues. If it is very superficial like the photo suggests, it often heals pretty well with time.  If it is a deeper issue than it may need debridment.  Follow closely with your surgeon.

This degree of drainage is within what I would generally consider acceptable after a procedure such as this as long as it is generally getting  better.  Obviously, the goal of this (and any other) procedure is a perfect recovery and result, but there is a lot of tension in the spots that are open and it is, therefore, not unheard of for the wounds to open and for some fluid to drain out, just as you describe.  I would agree that they should, in fact, continue to heal on their own and that you will have a nice result.  Your overall result, btw, and with the understanding this it is viewed from only one vantage point (called the "worm's eye view") looks very nice, so congrats on that!

You should, of course, remain in contact with your own surgeon - and I'm assuming that it is actually getting better.  If that is not the case, then you and he or she need to consider that there is retained suture material or something else causing the persistent drainage

I hope that this helps, and good luck,

Dr. E