Healing necrosis 2 weeks post op breast reduction - approximately how long will it need to heal? (Photos)

HEALING AFTER BREAST SURGERY, AUGMENTATION, LIFTS1.    pain is variable2.    it takes 2-3 months for implants to settle and muscles to relax3.    celebrex, motrin, and muscle relaxers can help4.    massage and stretching may help5.    everyone heals differently6.    4-7 days off from work is commonHEALING OF SENSORY NERVES: Tingling, burning or shooting pains, which will disappear with time and should not alarm you, indicate regeneration of the sensory nerves. If these sensations cause pain, repeated, local self-massage helps.ASYMMETRY: The two breasts commonly heal quite differently. One breast may swell more, feel more uncomfortable, or have a different initial shape. After complete healing, they will be more similar and natural. You must have patience, but if this causes concern, ask questions of the doctor or the nursing staff.SHAPE AND CONTOUR: The final shape of your breasts will start to look its best approximately three (3) months after surgery. It takes time for the skin and muscle to stretch and relax around the new implant. The breast will often look higher, firmer, and “less natural” in the first three (3) months. It can take up to a year to see your final result.FOLLOW-UP EXAMS: These are generally done in 1 week, 2 to 3 weeks, 3 to 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months to 1 year, and 1-2 year intervals. In our office we include all of your follow up appointments in the initial surgical fee.There are a number of variations to the healing process with incisions, implant placement and settling, pain, swelling, bruising and any other response to procedures. The best thing to do with questions and concerns during t he healing process is to visit your surgeon and have the area examined to determine whether or not healing is progressing as it should. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs and I am sorry to see your areolar necrosis issues.  Unfortunately this will take a few months for the area of separation to fill in and be completely healed, as well as the color start to resemble that of normal skin.  It does appear that your tissues are responding well, but maintain close follow up with your surgeon to ensure no further issues. Best wishes. 

Congrats on your surgery.  Although you are having some healing issues, long term you should be pleased with your result.I would continue with your follow ups with your PS and continue with the recommendations.  I would agree at this point I would continue with watchful waiting and allow the area to heal it by itself.  Daily dressing changes will help.Good luck.

Congratulations on what appears to be an excellent breast lift/reduction, possibly with augmentation.  The suture lines look great.  You should ultimately have a very good result and more than likely, a great improvement over the overly large and overly ptotic pre-existing breasts.Your partial skin and subcutaneous loss in the upper inner quadrant of the left breast will heal in from the nipple areolar tissue below.  More than likely, you will have minimal to no scar tissue, but you may in fact lose some of the pigment.  The complete healing can take up to 90 days.If you were my patient, I would plan to tattoo any of the nipple areolar complex that had lost pigment, and this technique can also eliminate the appearance of any circumareolar scar that may exist.  

You are right this is necrosis of the nipple and areolar complex.  Based on the photos, it looks like a dry eschar and there is no obvious sign of infection under the dark scab.  I would also recommend leaving it and letting this sort itself out.  It will take time...cant predict with certainty but you are looking at a week or two before there is more improvement.  The complete healing and scarring of that area may take longer than that unfortunately.  You best weapon and to keep that area clean and dry, keep in close contact with your plastic surgeon and PATIENCE.  You cannot and should not hurry this process goos chance you will make it worse.  Hope this helps.

Keep up with the wound treatments.It will take several weeks to close and heal. Then you will need scar treatments to minimize the scar.

The breast, like most parts of your body, takes two weeks to fully begin healing.  After another 3-4 weeks you will begin to notice the area contract significantly.  I would recommend close follow-up to help minimize any areola asymmetry.

Your wounds should heal within a few weeks on your current regimen.  The area may stay firm and have some indentation for some time so no revisions for at least 6 months.  That will give time for the pigment to return which can take up to one year and may never come back completely.

Take care,

Dr. Z

Thanks for the photos and question.  Keep doing your current wound care regimen.  The areas are healing in appropriately and it is going to take some time.  Continue to follow your surgeon's recommendations.  Take care.Timothy A. Janiga MD, FACS

Thank you for your question and photos. Keep doing what you are doing. Follow your surgeon's recommendations.  It will take several more weeks for the tissue to slough off. It will take longer for your pigmentation to change. Unfortunately your pigmentation in the area of necrosis may be different in the future. Only time will tell. Good luck. DrMaz