My left incision seems fine whereas my right incision is having some sort of white discharge. I took these photos after the shower, since the steri strips are wet you are able to see through them. I dried them with a blow dryer after taking these photos, as I was instructed to by my PS. I am unable to ask my PS in person because I live out of town. There is 0 pain or heat around the incision or breast. Also, I was put on antibiotics after my surgery, but have already completed them.
July 27, 2018
Answer: Postoperative infections Hello and thank you for your question. The most common first sign of an infection after surgery is redness that starts to spread from the surgical site onto the surrounding skin. Heat, swelling, and increasing pain are the next most common signs. If you do not have these signs, infection is not likely. When Steri-Strips stay on your skin for longer than 10-14 days, it is not uncommon to see a discharge coming from underneath them. The outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum), which normally gets washed off during showers, tends to build up under the Steri-Strips and eventually works its way out in the form of what looks like discharge. I typically see my postoperative patients at 2 weeks and remove the Steri-Strips from all the incisions at that point. However, every surgeon has different postoperative protocols and instructions. In your case it would be best to call your surgeon's office and describe both your concern and what you see (send the photos to your surgeon), and then follow the advice of your surgeon.
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July 27, 2018
Answer: Postoperative infections Hello and thank you for your question. The most common first sign of an infection after surgery is redness that starts to spread from the surgical site onto the surrounding skin. Heat, swelling, and increasing pain are the next most common signs. If you do not have these signs, infection is not likely. When Steri-Strips stay on your skin for longer than 10-14 days, it is not uncommon to see a discharge coming from underneath them. The outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum), which normally gets washed off during showers, tends to build up under the Steri-Strips and eventually works its way out in the form of what looks like discharge. I typically see my postoperative patients at 2 weeks and remove the Steri-Strips from all the incisions at that point. However, every surgeon has different postoperative protocols and instructions. In your case it would be best to call your surgeon's office and describe both your concern and what you see (send the photos to your surgeon), and then follow the advice of your surgeon.
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July 26, 2018
Answer: Breast Augmentation Recovery MangoQueen. I appreciate your concern, however it is best to have your incisions and wounds evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon in your area. It appears from your photographs that there are no signs of infection, and sometimes Steri-Strips can actually cause the discharge that you are describing. At the least, contact the plastic surgeon who performed the surgery. Good luck.
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July 26, 2018
Answer: Breast Augmentation Recovery MangoQueen. I appreciate your concern, however it is best to have your incisions and wounds evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon in your area. It appears from your photographs that there are no signs of infection, and sometimes Steri-Strips can actually cause the discharge that you are describing. At the least, contact the plastic surgeon who performed the surgery. Good luck.
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