My incision dehisced, causing a gaping wound. Is revision an option? (Photo)

Hi Moni1989G,
I am sorry that this happened to you--open wounds are unfortunate after a tummy tuck procedure.
In the short term, your surgeon and/or your wound care team should help determine how to get the wound healed. Specifically, the wound is large enough that your surgeon may elect to skin graft to get it healed and watertight.
Long term, I would suggest waiting a year for things to heal and settle before critically examining the result and determining whether a revision is necessary/possible. Ironically, the best revision option (if needed) would probably be another tummy tuck, plus or minus undermining the tissue below the scar to bring it upwards and get skin-to-skin closure.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

Dear Moni1989G,
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

As large and scary as that wound is, it will heal on its own. It may take several months. Any attempt to close the wound will make it worse. After it’s all healed you may benefit from a minor revision. Whatever you do, avoid the idea of trying to close it. It won’t work

I am so very sorry for your difficulty, but it appears you are healing slowly. Once healed, micro-needling might be helpful. For any revision, you will need to wait at least one year for all the swelling to subside and the tissue settle. You may be surprised how well the scar will look once healed. Keep in touch with your surgeon and start the discussion about revision. I'm sure your surgeon will do what is needed,

Sorry for the complication. Best to allow healing by secondary intention over next 3-6 months. Then allow scar maturation before considering a revision surgery.

These complications can happen during this procedure. There are a few risk factors that make the incidence of wound dehiscence greater. Number one is patients actively smoking cigarettes or a history of cigarette smoking. The second is obesity. The third is the surgeon pulling the tissues a bit too tight in an attempt to get a more impressive result.
At this point goal is to get the wound closed. I’m guessing your wound care doctor is using VAC or vacuum assisted closure. that is probably the fastest way to get this healed up. it may be possible to skin graft wound as well.
That wound looks pretty wide and I’m curious what went wrong with the procedure to have such a breakdown.
Once the wounds are completely healed you probably need to wait a year before having a revision procedure.
It’s important to let internal scar tissue mature before trying a second procedure.
Typically revision procedures are a little safer because the first procedure creates something called a delay affect with building new blood supply routes that are initially cut during the tummy tuck.
I suggest you follow up at appropriate intervals with your plastic surgeon to discuss your outcome progress and what can be done next with him or her.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD