What am I to do for a large arm lift wound separation? 4 weeks post op. (photos)

Sorry to hear your post op course has not been smooth. It is usual area for wound dehiscence in arm lift. The wound shows good granulation tissue which is a sign of healing. Ideally a wound should contract by 25% every week. Due to some factors would healing may be stalled. Daily moist dressing, good nutrition will help heal the wound. Keep in touch with your PS and dont worry it will heal eventually.

Thank you for your question.The wound appears clean and healthy. The yellow you are seeing is not pus that is fibrin, fibrin covers the healthy pink tissue underneath as the body heals itself. I would continue following with your PS. Things to do on your own would be to avoid smoking, keep the wound clean, and increase the protein in your diet to promote wound healing. Good luck.

Hello, Thank you for your inquiry what to do about your large arm wound after your arm lift.  Every plastic surgeon has different methods and thoughts in the treatment of wounds.  There is not just one way to treat a wound.  It is imperative that you follow up weekly with your plastic surgeon to determine the way he or she wants to treat your wound. Patient history (diabetes, smoking etc.) and physical examination are the keys to appropriate arm wound treatment. Though rare, if arm wounds like this occur in my practice, I would suggest wet to dry dressings with normal saline. I would avoid any tape on your skin.  It is only a matter of time before the tape starts irritating your skin and causing blisters.  After wound granulation tissue has been established, then I would suggest a special spray to stimulate granulation tissue.  Finally, I would suggest bacitracin to finally heal the wound.  In your case you may want to ask your surgeon about a wound VAC system.  In addition, you may want to consider hyperbaric oxygen to promote wound healing.  I would also suggest a daily multivitamin, extra vitamin C, and intake of at least 100 grams of protein or more a day.  Once the arm wound has healed, the residual arm scar can be revised.  Please try not to worry too much -- this wound will eventually heal. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding what to do about a large arm lift wound separation. If you have any more questions regarding the arm list or post-operative arm lift wound care, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Sorry to you are having a tough time of it after your arm lift.  Unfortunately, some wound separation or healing issues following an arm lift is not uncommon.  While a separation your size is not particularly common, it certainly does happen.  Your surgeon, through an in-person exam, would be able to best determine whether your wound is infected, but it is not uncommon for a large open wound to bleed easily or have a mucousy exudate once it begins to "granulate" as yours appears to be doing. Once you develop a wound, your body will begin creating a pink tissue called "granulation" that will fill the cavity.  This tissue is very rich in tiny blood vessels that will result in bleeding when touched.  There are bacteria that reside on the surface, and this may create a mucousy film, but does not mean there is an infection or that it is pus.Amazingly, the body will actually contract a large wound much more significantly than one would expect, and the wound will steadily decrease in size.  However, this is a slow process and requires patience.  A skin graft can be placed on a wound that has a nice granulation bed, resulting in fairly prompt healing.  However, a new wound is created that must heal where the skin graft is taken, and the cosmetic results of a skin graft may not be optimal and/or take a long time to improve.  A machine called a "VAC," in which a sponge and plastic draping is placed in the wound, hooked to a suction pump within a fanny pack, and changed every three days can also accelerate healing, but it is expensive and often requires home health visits to get started.Wrapping with an Ace wrap is one strategy to eliminate taping.  Also, putting fluffed gauze loosely on the wound and holding the bulk into place with an UnderArmor-like shirt is another one.Best of luck, and I hope you heal promptly so that you can enjoy your arm lift results!  Dr. Ghafoori

Sorry to here about your complication. This should heal with dressings but it is in a tricky area to dress and this can take months. It is rare to have to consider additional surgery (e.g. skin grafting) and once healed it is important that a contracture does not form. Hang in there and keep in touch with your PS. 

Thanks for your question regarding your arm lift! Sorry to hear your post-op recovery hasn't gone perfectly! Unfortunately, in these locations, some incision lines can break down. However, everything you are doing is helping your wound to heal. If it is not improving, you should see your surgeon again very soon. Sometimes, these wounds do appear to get worse before they get better. Hang in there, and it will improve!
Good luck, and speedy recovery

 Wounds can be discouraging, they take time to heal.  If your wound is getting worse you need to see your plastic surgeon sooner rather than later.  You have a granulating wound, which means the wound is showing sighs of healing.  I suggest keeping the wound moist at all times, and you can use simple vaseline and nonstick pads over the wound.  Wrap the arm with an ace wrap that you can wash and reuse, which will eliminate the tape.  Do Not wrap too tight or your hand will swell.  When the swelling goes down in the wound, you may be able to have the wound surgically closed. Good Luck and thank you for your question.