How Long Does It Take for Skin Necrosis to Heal?

Unfortunately, this is one of the complications that all of us have seen one time or another.  The good news is that it will heal, but it may leave a wider scar.  Following complete healing, if the scar is unacceptable after 6-9 months, your surgeon may consider a small revision.  By the way, congrats on the quitting!!

Hello dear Marine, thank you for your question
You have done very well when quitting smoking, it will help a lot in the recovery process that depending on other factors such as age, feeding, skin irritation, among others it can take between 6 to 12 months.I wish a speedy recovery .

Congratulations on your surgery ~ and quitting smoking!  I am sorry that you are having this issue, but it is not terribly uncommon, especially in a former smoker.  Continue to keep the area clean and follow all of your surgeons recommendations.  It may take several weeks to heal completely, so be patient.  As others have said, if the scar is not acceptable after it has been healed for 6-9 months, talk to your doctor about a possible revision.  Good luck!Sincerely,Dr. Michelle Spring

It’s good that you’ve had this examined by your surgeon and are following their care instructions as well as are continuing to avoid smoking. Depending on your healing rate, this should gradually form into scar tissue in about a month or two, since it’s not very big.

Hello,Thank you for your question. It sounds like you are doing everything right at this point and you can expect to continue to heal well under your surgeon's supervision. You may have a wider scar and consider a minor revision once you are completely healed- closer to one year post op.All the best 

HI Marinewife, Thank you for your question regarding how long will it take for an area of skin necrosis to heal after a tummy tuck in a smoker.  Healing rates are highly variable from patient to patient and the rate of healing depends on a variety of medical reasons.  In optimal conditions, small areas of skin necrosis can heal in about three weeks.  In poor conditions, it may take up to twelve weeks (or more) to heal an area of skin necrosis.  I would not concentrate on the average time it takes to heal from skin necrosis after a tummy tuck.  Instead, I would focus on ways to optimize healing.  Techniques to optimize healing after skin necrosis include hyperbaric oxygen and localized wound care, as suggested by your plastic surgeon.  Also, I would suggest taking a daily multi-vitamin, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, and iron pills.  I would suggest you eat or drink about 100 grams of protein a day.  You need to avoid all sources of nicotine and certainly stop smoking.  Good luck.  I hope that I have answered your questions about skin necrosis healing after a tummy tuck.  If you have any more questions about healing after a tummy tuck, please contact my office. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Unfortunately, patients occasionally suffer skin necrosis
following abdominoplasty.This situation
occurs for a variety of reasons including diabetes, collagen vascular diseases,
infection, tension on wound closure and vascular compromise.The incidence of skin necrosis following
surgery is higher in patients with history of cigarette smoking.Once
skin necrosis has occurred, treatment varies from patient to patient depending
upon the severity of the problem.Many
wounds require debridement, followed by dressing changes and eventual scar
revision.In some cases the necrotic
tissue may become infected and antibiotics may be required as well.When
patients have relatively small superficial wounds, the black scab will
eventually lift off the wound surface revealing granulation tissue.Once this has occurred the wound will
contract as the skin grows over the top.This process typically takes four to six weeks to reach completion. During
this period, it’s important that the wound be monitored by your plastic
surgeon.When this approach is taken
most small wounds heal nicely.

There are many factors that contribute to poor wound healing.  At this point, it is best to let the wound declare itself and to help prevent infection.  Keep up good nutrition, minimize trauma to the area and apply the creams or medications that your doctor prescribes.  The body is an amazing thing and you will be surprised what a few months of healing can do.  Hang in there.

 

Best of Luck.

Hi @MarineWife thanks for your quesiton!Despite carefully preserving blood supply to the tummy tuck skin, complications such as necrosis can still occur. The most common location is along the incision just under the belly button because this is farthest from the blood supply.
When this occurs it can be troubling to you as the patient but rest assured that this does heal and typically only requires some wound care such as an ointment/cream and gauze. After 4-6 weeks this is healed and a minor revision of the scar may be performed.
Best of luck,Dr. Chopra

This complication is not uncommon following such a procedure. Allow your body time to heal while continuing to apply the ointment your surgeon prescribed. This will allow for the scar to heal and improve in appearance on its own.  
If you are still displeased with its appearance in the 6-9 months post-op, after you’ve allowed your body enough time to recover completely, then you can discuss your options for a scar revision with your surgeon.