5 week since breast reduction and I have a slight split! What do I do

This is not an uncommon occurrence after breast reduction surgery.  I would consult your plastic surgeon as far was what he/she wants you to do with dressing changes.  I usually recommend to my patients silvadene cream to the area and cover it.  Change the dressing once a daily and wash the area completely in the shower.  The area generally heals with out much issues.  I also advise my patients to wear a good support bra to help take the tension of the incisions.  Hope that helps.

Wow - this is almost a first!  16 excellent surgeons answers, and all agree - plus me.

The base of a breast reduction with an inverted T pattern has tension, less blood supply temporarily, and buried dissolving stitches.  This means that if there is a healing problem with the surgery, it is almost always here.

Topical dressings and cleaning as recommended by your surgeons and his/her nurse will allow it to heal without further surgery. Keeping it clean avoids infection.  It usually heals with normal and not bad scars.  If it resulted in a poor scar once healed, it can be touched up later in the office under local anaesthesia.

My advice is to work with your surgeon and their office in caring for it well, and it will be fine.

All the best.

Howard Webster

As mentioned in the other posts, this is not an unusual location to have delayed healing.  You may continue to shower and dress this area with antibiotic ointment and gauze.  It should continue to improve and fully heal over several weeks.  Continue close follow up with your surgeon.

This is a classic location for wound healing issues. Good wound care under the direction of your plastic surgeon should achieve wound healing and an acceptable cosmetic result.

good morning!

it appears that you have had some wound breakdown which can happen after breast reduction surgery.  It sounds like you are doing all the right things such as keeping it clean and changing the dressings as needed.  Trying to close these wounds or doing a scar revision too early can result in an infection.  In patients with this issues and breast implants, this problem can be of greater concern.

Patience, wound care, and communication with your PS are key to resolving this problem- it will be several more weeks until this resolves, but should heal itself over time

 

I hope this helps
 

Opening in the junction of the horizontal and vertical incision in a breast reduction is a common complication. Wound care and time will allow it to heal without complications.

The "T-junction", where the vertical and horizontal incisions meet, is the most common place to have delayed healing. This area is under tension and the blood supply has been compromised as a normal part of the procedure. Keeping a clean moist environment is the best way to get it to heal. Breast support is also important. Be certain to keep following up with your plastic surgeon, and let them know if the areas becomes more red, swollen, painful or shows any other signs of infection.

Delayed healing at the T after a breast reduction is quite common. It happens because the greatest amount of tension on the skin occurs at that point.  Treatment involves keeping it clean with a wound cleanser and moist with antibiotic ointment or a hydrogel. Moist wound healing is much faster. Letting it dry up is not the best way to manage a wound. Best wishes on your recovery.

These type of superficial incision line separations and/or wound healing problems are not uncommon after breast reduction/lifting surgery. These areas generally go on to heal without long-term sequelae. Best to follow your own plastic surgeon's  recommendations as opposed to online consultants who do not know your precise situation and who are not responsible for your care.

 Best wishes;  hopefully you will be very pleased with the long-term outcome of the procedure performed.

are  very common.  Follow the instructions of your surgeon and it should still end up healing fine.  And moist wounds do heal faster than dry wounds do avoid letting it dry out to a scab.