2 wks post-TT,Necrosis and bruising now??
So I had a Hernia repair and tummy tuck on January 19th. It did not go entirely well. I ended up having a "bleeder" on the inside of my abdomen and was re-opened 8 hours after the original surgery. They found the "pumper" and cauterized it, sewed me back up and back to recovery I went for the second time. I stayed 3 nights in the hospital. I went back to work (part-time) on day 13. I actually feel pretty darn good. Now for my big issue......................
Where the vertical incision meets the horizontal incision I have developed necrosis (dead skin). This was actually present during my hospital skin. The black skin is 3/4" wide tapering to about 1/8" (just below the belly button) and approximately 3 inches long. The widest part (the 3/4" wide) is right where the vertical incision meet's the horizontal incision. My surgeon looked at it on Monday the 1st of Feb. He said we would wait until next week (the 9th) to decide what to do. He said if it scab's and looks like it will slough off on it's own, then we will let it do that. If it doesn't look like that will happen, then he will have to scrub it off and start wound care.
So, now on to my question: Last night when I took my binder off my husband and I both noticed that the skin on both sides of this vertical "dead" skin is starting to darken. It looks "purply" to me. Do you think I could actually be starting to bruise there, 2 weeks after surgery? I am so scared of the dead skin spreadiing. I already have an appt for next Wed, and trying to get in sooner is not going to stop the skin from dying, so I won't be trying to get an appt any sooner. But I am curious if anyone else has seen signs of bruising 2 weeks after getting home.
And that's my story. Thanks for any input you might have.
Where the vertical incision meets the horizontal incision I have developed necrosis (dead skin). This was actually present during my hospital skin. The black skin is 3/4" wide tapering to about 1/8" (just below the belly button) and approximately 3 inches long. The widest part (the 3/4" wide) is right where the vertical incision meet's the horizontal incision. My surgeon looked at it on Monday the 1st of Feb. He said we would wait until next week (the 9th) to decide what to do. He said if it scab's and looks like it will slough off on it's own, then we will let it do that. If it doesn't look like that will happen, then he will have to scrub it off and start wound care.
So, now on to my question: Last night when I took my binder off my husband and I both noticed that the skin on both sides of this vertical "dead" skin is starting to darken. It looks "purply" to me. Do you think I could actually be starting to bruise there, 2 weeks after surgery? I am so scared of the dead skin spreadiing. I already have an appt for next Wed, and trying to get in sooner is not going to stop the skin from dying, so I won't be trying to get an appt any sooner. But I am curious if anyone else has seen signs of bruising 2 weeks after getting home.
And that's my story. Thanks for any input you might have.
Sorry for all your issues. Well, it may be that the purple skin is suffering venous congestion or low blood flow. If you push on it and it blanches or turns white, that's the case. A bruise will not blanch. Only your doc can tell you if this is a problem or not. MAy jus be a part of the healing process.
Necrosis after the "T" tummy tuck is not that ucommon, and it requires a LOT of patience as it closes up.
Keep us posted and hang in there !
Necrosis after the "T" tummy tuck is not that ucommon, and it requires a LOT of patience as it closes up.
Keep us posted and hang in there !
John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Plastic Surgery
Houston, Texas
www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com
Plastic Surgery
Houston, Texas
www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com
My reverse TT incision... almost ALL of it... turned necrotic and after several rounds of the PS having to cut out the dead skin and tissue, I ended up with a large triangular crater in my belly that, at the deepest point, reached the muscle fascia. I watched as the area gradually turned from red to purple and then to black. I, too, hoped it was bruising (especially since i take a pretty hefty dose of coumadin), but ti was not.
It took 6 months for the wound to heal up (because of insurance/financial issues and traveling for work, having a wound vac (and needing to have a home health care person change it twice per week) was not possible until the wound had healed about halfway on its own... so I never bothered), and now -- although the scarring is less than I had feared it would be -- I have a T-shaped scar that looks like a burn scar.
If the blood flow to the area is compromised, there is nothing you can do to stop the skin and underlying tissue from dying (and the only thing the surgeon can do is cut it out. I was told NOT to use a binder or otherwise put heavy pressure on that area because it could further inhibit blood flow and cause an increase in the area affected by the necrosis, so you should definitely at least call your surgeon and ask about that even before your appointment!
Hope it's just a small area you have to deal with. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM.
Lora
It took 6 months for the wound to heal up (because of insurance/financial issues and traveling for work, having a wound vac (and needing to have a home health care person change it twice per week) was not possible until the wound had healed about halfway on its own... so I never bothered), and now -- although the scarring is less than I had feared it would be -- I have a T-shaped scar that looks like a burn scar.
If the blood flow to the area is compromised, there is nothing you can do to stop the skin and underlying tissue from dying (and the only thing the surgeon can do is cut it out. I was told NOT to use a binder or otherwise put heavy pressure on that area because it could further inhibit blood flow and cause an increase in the area affected by the necrosis, so you should definitely at least call your surgeon and ask about that even before your appointment!
Hope it's just a small area you have to deal with. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Oh my Lora, that sounds like the absolutely worst case scenario. I am so glad to hear that it did eventually heal. I can deal with a bad scar, I just dread the time and pain of the wound care.
I am still hopeful.
That is interesting about the binder. I would have thought that using the binder would make the skin press to the underlying muscle, thus sort of "making" it re-connect. I will certainly check with my surgeon.
Thank you for replying.
Fran
I am still hopeful.
That is interesting about the binder. I would have thought that using the binder would make the skin press to the underlying muscle, thus sort of "making" it re-connect. I will certainly check with my surgeon.
Thank you for replying.
Fran
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