Concerned about my surgery wound, mystery solved ...

Team, I am concerned about my surgery wound. It has almost completely healed, and a new section of scab fell off today. In that section, which is the lowest portion of my suture line, the outer skin is completely healed over. But I can see through the outer layer and see that the inner layer has not healed together. Also, I can poke on the outer layer and feel that the inner layer has a gap. I will call my Dr. tomorrow morning, but I would appreciate it if anyone has any insight into this problem. Perhaps it is common?? Or at least not unheard of?? I am 19 days post-op with a "mini" open RNY. The suture line is about 4 or 5 inches long and the "gap" is at the bottom 1/2 to 3/4 inch , and is about 1/4 inch wide. Joe

Sounds normal but calling the doctor sounds like a good idea to be sure.  Better safe than sorry.

Thanks, Joe. I appreciate the feedback. My wife told me that the surgeon's PA said that this could happen. I will call them tomorrow morning.

I have no idea, but sounds like a look-see by the surgeon is in order. Good luck Jay

Joe, Sounds fairly normal… Are you wearing a compression garment or Abdominal binder still? That’ll keep some of the stress off of the incision To allow it to heal faster. DailyHealing Compression Garments

It could be an incisional hernia in the making.

Call to the doc is your best bet. Hope all is well. Best Wishes- Dx

Joe.... sound good to call the doc....and keep those hillbille fingers out of there, Gawd only knows where you hands have been,,,, Your fingers are probabely covered with SF popcyles at 19 days out.... ok, if its not red swelling or have fever all is probabely ok...but don;t touch it.... Russ

Okay, I saw the doc and everything is normal. Here's the deal: Sometimes during WLS when the doc is closing the skin incision, a portion of fat is caught in the area. The fat may not have its blood supply anymore and so it essentially liquefies in place, which delays the healing of the skin. Two things can happen: a. The liquid fat may be absorbed into the skin, and the skin will eventually grow into the space and heal completely. b. The liquid fat may break through the thin skin covering and ooze out. Again, the skin can then grow into the space and heal completely. However, the doc said this second scenario can really scare the **** out of people because they start leaking this oily, yellow goo. So, the doc just made a small incision in the thin skin covering, squeezed out the goo, and covered it with gauze. I may leak a little for the next few hours, but everythiing is fine.  She showed me some of the stuff she squeezed out, and it looked just like liquid butter. I would say just like popcorn butter, but that is too discusting so I won't say it.  :-) Thanks to all *****ad and/or responded. Leaky Joe

AH HAH!   That seems like my drain hole.  Same thing... six weeks out and this wound keeps on losing the scab and looks like pus or the liquid b utter... interesting... Think I might bake a call to the clinic today...

So much learning so little time. Thanks for sharing the explanation so we all can sound more sophisticated at our next family gatherings. Now aren't you glad you didn't carterize the wound with a SF popsicle??