Are my incision lines normal looking for a month post op? (photos)

Question

I have an incredible surgeon and he advised me that this week I could remove my steri strips ( a little over a month post op) they started to curl up and catch on my bra on Sunday.Monday I took the steri strips off.I'm worriee they may not be closed all the way! They have been off for two days now and I have covered them with a large band aid and each morning I wake up and there is a little blodd and yellow discharge, mainly from the right incision, underneath the band aid.No pain or fever.

Barbara L. Persons, MD, FACS · Answer

To start, I think ultimately your wounds will heal fine. I am a little concerned about the picture on the right--a physical exam in person would help allay my concerns. It seems superficial, and that only the top epidermal layer of skin has not closed perfectly/immediately. Still, with any type of implant we are all very, very careful because infection is a real problem with implants--so definitely see your surgeon in person.Ultimately, I think things will be okay for you. Everyone heals differently, every type of skin reacts to suture differently, and in the end our human bodies often overcome the inherent challenge of surgical intervention. Talk to your surgeon about covering things up, washing, patting dry etc...sounds like a month out is a bit long for steristrips. Protecting the skin is helpful, but the adhesive of bandaids can be irritating as well. Sometimes a simple well placed pieve of nonadhesive gauze works well.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry and excellent pictures.  I would make sure your plastic surgeon knows about these wounds, especially the one on the right picture.  You do not appear to have cellulitis (redness), but you need supervised woundcare instructions.  Good Luck

William Townley, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi there. From the photos, it looks as if there is some minor wound gaping (dehiscence). Discharge from the wound one month post breast augmentation is not normal and I would go see your PS to make sure everything is OK.

Neal Handel, MD · Answer

You appear to have some delayed healing.
This is not too uncommon after breast surgery. I do not think it will be a significant
problem. It will take time for the incisions to fully heal, and if the scars
are wider than desired, they can be revised at the appropriate time. In my experience
these kinds of wounds heal faster if they are kept dry. I would not apply ointments
or creams and if you can expose to sunlight that may also help.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

but they should heal with tender loving care to your wounds.  Let your surgeon know so you can follow your surgeon's instructions as to how best to treat this.  As you are a month out, its very unlikely for something bad to happen at this point but your wounds will heal and hopefully the scar will be satisfactory to you.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

From your photos, left incision seems to be closed.  Right incision seems to have a small dehiscence (separation).  It does not seem to have any surrounding infection.  However, it would be best to be evaluated by your plastic surgeon.

Jules Walters, MD · Answer

You are experiencing some wound healing at your incisions.  Your surgeon would want to be aware of these findings.  Please contact him/her today.

William C. Rigano, MD (retired) · Answer

For a periareolar incision at one month?  That is not normal. The right looks superficial and overall will likely heal fine. It may have had a lot of pull or friction on the surface.The left looks to be healing with a small focal area of skin loss. At one month, I expect scars to be well healed in healthy, nonsmoking women.See your surgeon for care.

Thomas M. DeWire Sr., MD (retired) · Answer

Firegirl5,These wounds show at least superficial separation. Because there is not a lot of drainage, that is likely all that is going on. However, these open areas may not heal as nicely as wounds that heal straightaway without separation. Reaction to superficial sutures is the usual cause of this phenomenon, but your surgeon should see you to evaluate this, and perhaps make some suggestions to allow this to finish healing.  I hope that this helps.

Are my incision lines normal looking for a month post op? (photos)

Answers (9)

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