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Breast Reduction- Albuquerque NM
I've seen quite a few questions about incisions opening up, so thought I would share my experience with that. Most people don't have the same problem I did, having breathing issues and the medication used for that (prednisone) causing a problem with wound healing. I ended up with about a 5 inch by 2.5 inch by 1 inch deep hole where the T intersection is on the right side. It never got infected, but had some scary looking dead tissue. A much smaller wound happened on the left side. Dr. Morehouse recommended using Silvadine Cream and menstrual pads to dress the wound. I got advise from a wound specialist nurse and came up with a more elaborate wound care routine. She used a small sterile scissors and trimmed most of the dead tissue away. She only needed to do this once.I don't recommend trying this at home!!! She was really helpful to me and I think helped me avoid a second surgery.
Here is the routine the wound nurse and I came up with:
Cleaning wound with sterile saline (I got syringes of this from the wound nurse)
Using clean gloves to mush silvadine cream into a sterile cause. I just got these at the pharmacy. Then I gently pushed the gauze lightly into the wound. I used just my gloved fingers to do this, but the nurse used a sterile qtip to push the gauze in.
Then I put a nonstick sterile 4x4 inch telfa pad over that and a sterile 4x4 inch gauze over that. I had quite a bit of drainage for about a month, needed 4x4 gauze so that so bra wouldn't get yucky.
I did the same thing on the left side, except it was much smaller, so I just used a dab of silvadine cream on the 2x2 gauze.
I wore a really soft Bali bra over both dressings day and night, so didn't need any tape to keep dressings in place.
I did this dressing change 3 times a day for about one month.
The wound nurse would give me supplies and to check for infection about once or twice a week. About 2 weeks after the hole opened up, Dr. Morehouse put a couple of sutures in to close the hole a bit faster. He was considering a second surgery, but decided it was healing so nicely that it wouldn't be needed.
I took showers, just used baby shampoo for my hair and as a body wash while incision and hole were healing.
I used Arnica Cream for the bruised areas and Neosporin on the incision until scar tissue formed. After that, PS recommended A and D ointment on the incision. I couldn't keep using that because of the smell. Fish oil on a 40 inch long incision right under my nose. Didn't work. I found another scar cream on Amazon that is expensive, but I like better.
I'll try to post a picture of what scar looks like if I can figure out how to take and import the picture.
Once I got a routine down and had all the supplies I needed, it really wasn't that bad. I felt like I was doing all I could to make healing happen and prevent an infection. If you have access to a wound care nurse (there was one at my primary care Dr's office) I would recommend taking advantage of that help.
Hope this helps anyone else who has trouble with their wound healing!
Here is the routine the wound nurse and I came up with:
Cleaning wound with sterile saline (I got syringes of this from the wound nurse)
Using clean gloves to mush silvadine cream into a sterile cause. I just got these at the pharmacy. Then I gently pushed the gauze lightly into the wound. I used just my gloved fingers to do this, but the nurse used a sterile qtip to push the gauze in.
Then I put a nonstick sterile 4x4 inch telfa pad over that and a sterile 4x4 inch gauze over that. I had quite a bit of drainage for about a month, needed 4x4 gauze so that so bra wouldn't get yucky.
I did the same thing on the left side, except it was much smaller, so I just used a dab of silvadine cream on the 2x2 gauze.
I wore a really soft Bali bra over both dressings day and night, so didn't need any tape to keep dressings in place.
I did this dressing change 3 times a day for about one month.
The wound nurse would give me supplies and to check for infection about once or twice a week. About 2 weeks after the hole opened up, Dr. Morehouse put a couple of sutures in to close the hole a bit faster. He was considering a second surgery, but decided it was healing so nicely that it wouldn't be needed.
I took showers, just used baby shampoo for my hair and as a body wash while incision and hole were healing.
I used Arnica Cream for the bruised areas and Neosporin on the incision until scar tissue formed. After that, PS recommended A and D ointment on the incision. I couldn't keep using that because of the smell. Fish oil on a 40 inch long incision right under my nose. Didn't work. I found another scar cream on Amazon that is expensive, but I like better.
I'll try to post a picture of what scar looks like if I can figure out how to take and import the picture.
Once I got a routine down and had all the supplies I needed, it really wasn't that bad. I felt like I was doing all I could to make healing happen and prevent an infection. If you have access to a wound care nurse (there was one at my primary care Dr's office) I would recommend taking advantage of that help.
Hope this helps anyone else who has trouble with their wound healing!
Breast Reduction- Albuquerque, NM
Went to see the nurse practitioner at the breast care center yesterday. I had some questions about when it is ok to have a mammogram after the surgery. I guess it depends on how quickly the tenderness goes away. In my case they want to wait until about 9 months after the surgery.
I also have several small hard lumps near the incision, about the size of a small pea. She said it was a small amount of scar tissue that formed around a stitch. Also, the entire incision on the right side is redder than the left. She said that is due to the increased inflammation where the hole opened up. She said that would even out eventually..
I have five relatives who have had breast cancer, so I have been compliant with getting exams and mammograms. Wondering if it will be any less of a bother now that I don't have enormous breasts to try and squish flat. :) I sometimes wondered if the techs used to think, Oh No, going to be a long day when they saw those huge things.
So, only small concerns.. So sorry to hear about people who have had serious complications or who have gone through this whole experience and been really unhappy with the results.
I also have several small hard lumps near the incision, about the size of a small pea. She said it was a small amount of scar tissue that formed around a stitch. Also, the entire incision on the right side is redder than the left. She said that is due to the increased inflammation where the hole opened up. She said that would even out eventually..
I have five relatives who have had breast cancer, so I have been compliant with getting exams and mammograms. Wondering if it will be any less of a bother now that I don't have enormous breasts to try and squish flat. :) I sometimes wondered if the techs used to think, Oh No, going to be a long day when they saw those huge things.
So, only small concerns.. So sorry to hear about people who have had serious complications or who have gone through this whole experience and been really unhappy with the results.
Breast Reduction- Albuquerque, NM
Today is exactly 3 months since the surgery. I have completely healed from the two major complications I had as a result of the surgery, breathing problems and the wound opening up. The scar where the wound opened up is completely closed over, but is more red, thick and edges not smooth. Luckily it is hard to see as it is right under my breast, so not really visible. I still get some irritation where the bottom band of my bra rubs on the incision. I really don't have any complaints at all because I have such relief from the pain of carrying around those huge, heavy, pendulous breasts around every minute of every day for decades.
I feel astonishingly better in so many ways. Dr. Morehouse removed breast tissue from under my arms. I didn't even realize how much better I would feel from just that. No more sore armpits, no more pins and needles along the inside of both arms! I have been going to physical therapy for back issues for several months. When I was able to go back a couple of weeks ago, he was so surprised how much better my posture, core strength and balance is now compared to before the surgery. He thought I might have lost some ground after being sick for a couple of months. He was very surprised at all the improvements..
Here are some of the other miscellaneous things I've noticed; don't have to lean on anything to put my pants on, easier to reach things on the floor, don't have to use my arms to cradle my breasts when I walk to prevent swinging, clothes meant for women actually fit, I can wear shirts that have a waist, my bathing suit has a built in bra that my breasts actually fit in, instead of hanging under the bra, I don't feel like I'm suffocating when I lie down at night, can tie my shoes without juggling huge breasts around, wearing pajamas around the house without a bra doesn't give me or anybody else nightmares, can eat without every stray crumb ending up sitting on a prominent shelf..
Actually feel like a whole new, improved self. Was definitely worth all the worry, embarrassment, complications, initial discomforts. I look back at photos of my mother, grandmother, great grandmother who all had the same problem and wish that they had the opportunity that I have had to feel so much better.
Really glad that I had a great surgeon, and his staff were all the best, very kind and gentle.. It has been the single most significant improvement in my life in so many ways.
I feel astonishingly better in so many ways. Dr. Morehouse removed breast tissue from under my arms. I didn't even realize how much better I would feel from just that. No more sore armpits, no more pins and needles along the inside of both arms! I have been going to physical therapy for back issues for several months. When I was able to go back a couple of weeks ago, he was so surprised how much better my posture, core strength and balance is now compared to before the surgery. He thought I might have lost some ground after being sick for a couple of months. He was very surprised at all the improvements..
Here are some of the other miscellaneous things I've noticed; don't have to lean on anything to put my pants on, easier to reach things on the floor, don't have to use my arms to cradle my breasts when I walk to prevent swinging, clothes meant for women actually fit, I can wear shirts that have a waist, my bathing suit has a built in bra that my breasts actually fit in, instead of hanging under the bra, I don't feel like I'm suffocating when I lie down at night, can tie my shoes without juggling huge breasts around, wearing pajamas around the house without a bra doesn't give me or anybody else nightmares, can eat without every stray crumb ending up sitting on a prominent shelf..
Actually feel like a whole new, improved self. Was definitely worth all the worry, embarrassment, complications, initial discomforts. I look back at photos of my mother, grandmother, great grandmother who all had the same problem and wish that they had the opportunity that I have had to feel so much better.
Really glad that I had a great surgeon, and his staff were all the best, very kind and gentle.. It has been the single most significant improvement in my life in so many ways.
Provider Review
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
5400 Gibson Boulevard S.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dr. Morehouse very fast talking, but very personable and straightforward. He was very direct about what to expect, side effects, how procedure is done, what recovery is like, etc. I felt immediate relief from shoulder and neck pain, and everything I do all day long is easier, dressing, walking, housework, excercising, etc. I did have some serious complications, breathing problems after the surgery and opening of the T portion of the incision due to medications taken for my lung problems. It is now 2 1/2 months after the surgery and incision closed up, still a little tender here and there and bottom band of bra sometimes irritates the incision. I experimented with creams and found one for bruising I like and one for the incision that works for me. I was surprised that I actually had more sensation in both nipples than before the surgery. Dr warned me that loss of sensation was a possible negative outcome, but I had the opposite result. Realize now that I actually had quite a bit of numbness for quite a few years before the surgery. I was hesitant to have this surgery because I have several female relatives with breast cancer. I didn't want to have 2 surgeries. I didn't know until the surgery consultation that the surgery actually decreases a woman's chances of getting breast CA.. Despite the complications and discomforts, this has made such an amazing improvement in my quality of life, that I am so happy that I did it. Would also highly recommend Dr Morehouse and his very kind staff.