Onset of necrosis after TT - timeline?

Skin necrosis can occur after abdominoplasty if the blood supply to the skin flap is compromised. This can occur with over-dissection or aggressive upper abdominal liposuction.

Evidence of necrosis will become apparent in the early post operative period. Discoloration is an early sign which can eventually progress to tissue loss. Outside of the first few weeks, new onset skin necrosis is unlikely without outside insult (i.e. compression).

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Hopefully, one does not see or experience skin necrosis after tummy tuck. If one does, yes, it becomes apparent over the early post-surgical course, days and progressively by one to two weeks after surgery becomes more well defined. By two weeks after abdominoplasty, if wound edges well approximated, pink, and alive, necrosis is unlikely. Still, numbness of the abdominoplasty flap is important to be aware of. Patients may not feel injurious stimuli, such as heat. Avoid burning or otherwise injuring the numb skin which may result in necrosis later after abdominoplasty.

Hello and thank you for your question.
Skin necrosis is a gradual process that occurs shortly after surgery. Initial signs include mottling of the skin that progresses over the following days to a deep purple hue. Eventually, with full thickness necrosis, the tissue becomes black and leathery consistent with an eschar. These changes typically occur within the first week or two after surgery.