Can I or should I still wear my binder and garment 3 weeks post op with open wound or can I get another skin flap issue?

Question

I am 3 weeks post tummy tuck and last week started having issues with lack of blood supply to the middle of the incision line and had some discoloration and an open wound. I started not wearing the binder for most of the day and the discoloration went away. My PS did the debridement and now I started packing the open wound 2x a day. My PS indicated the skin has already declared itself of what is dead skin and what is alive so it doesn't matter if I wear the compression and binder again.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Since you've had wound breakdown and skin loss I would be very leery of using a garment. This compression garment may further decreased the circulation and either delay your healing or allow the wound to progress.

Robert N. Severinac, MD · Answer

I would recommend not wearing the binder any longer.  What may seem to be declared on the skin surface may actually be a much larger area within the fat above this area.  Play it safe. I don't think your ultimate result will be affected because your not wearing the garment.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,It seems as though you answered  you own question when you noticed that the discoloration went away when you stopped using your binder. Although the area of necrosis of skin has 'declared itself', there is still a larger area of injury, including the subcutaneous layer that you or your surgeon cannot assess.Another question might be asked, what good is the binder doing? I'm not sure I can be convinced that it's doing anything worth while at this point. From my perspective, the risk/benefit profile does not warrant its usage. Glad your surgeon got on the debridement and saline dressings.  Now you should see granulation tissue forming, and before long contraction of the wound.Best of luck!

Mark Mitchell Jones, MD · Answer

Normally you can wear the garment, just be sure that it is not too constrictive. Usually garments are work till at least 6 weeks post op for maximum results.

Paul Silverstein, MD (retired) · Answer

First -follow your surgeon's advice, since he is responsible for caring for the opening in your incision.Since the opening, as you said, is from lack of blood supply to the skin edges, it makes more sense NOT to wear the compression garment, because it only puts more pressure on the wound, which will further decrease the blood supply, an thereby slow down healing.

Can I or should I still wear my binder and garment 3 weeks post op with open wound or can I get another skin flap issue?

Answers (5)

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