How Long Does It Take for Skin Necrosis to Heal?

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.