Itchy scar and redness around the scar 6 months after umbilical hernia repair surgery. Is this normal?

Question

I had an umbilical hernia repair done without mesh about 6 months ago. 6 weeks after surgery, surgeon said that incision waa healing nice but that i had lots of fluid built up. Sergeon said it would go away on its own. Well.. 6 months later i am experiencing redness all around belly and scar and itchiness all over belly. Especially where scar is. Still lots of fluis as well and pain. Is this normal?

Sheila S. Nazarian, MD · Answer

Although it can take up to a year for a scar to resolve, what you describe sounds unusual. Perhaps get a second opinion from another board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist in your area.My best,
Dr. Sheila Nazarian
@drsheilanazarian on Instagram

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear sryan67,

Thank you for your clinical post.  It will be helpful to have a photograph of
the abdominal area of your incision as the incisional approach to hernia repair
can differ between surgeons.  In general,
after 6 months fluid and swelling should have resolved and you want to ensure
that there was no chronic fluid build up or seroma.  Redness and itchiness of the abdominal wall
is very unusual and a photograph and dermatologic assessment should be part of
your care plan.  A scar that is red and
itchy 6 months after surgery can happen especially if you tend towards a
hypertrophic raised and irritated scar. 
There are many, many scar treatments that work well to eliminate this
including injection of a Triamcinolone, pulse dye laser and intense pulsed
light lasers and topical silicone gel with pressure.  Generally with these advanced techniques one
can flatten every scar that is raised and remove the redness.

At this point in time, it would be
important to seek out a plastic surgeon’s office or dermatologist’s office who
has all these modalities to treat scars and ensure that you treat your scar
aggressively to end up with a flat white asymptomatic incisional approach.

I would also seek out a dermatologist
for the abdominal itching although if there is no redness or rash lesions often
reinnervation, discomfort and dysesthesia can account for the itching and
generally, however, this would have resolved by now so medical attention would
be helpful.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Itchy scar and redness around the scar 6 months after umbilical hernia repair surgery. Is this normal?

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Itchy scar and redness around the scar 6 months after umbilical hernia repair surgery. Is this normal?

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