Opening at incision

Mell
on 8/6/13 4:48 am
I just got back from a follow up and at the "T" of my anchor cut the incision has opened a bit. He told me to put ointment and gauze and we would watch it. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Overall I am healing ok, I am kind of over it and trying to keep a positive out look. I still have my drains 2 weeks out due to some bleeding I had but I hope to return to work next week.
I would like to say Thank You, I have learned so much from all your posts and you all have really helped me with the stages of recovery.

Mell
Start weight: 320
At surgery:  300
Current:      185
Goal:           175

Crazeru
on 8/6/13 5:28 am

Follow your docs orders.  Although, I'd go in the shower with the gauze on and let it come off in the shower.  Once it starts to heal, the scab comes off when you pull off the gauze.  If the shower softens it up, it doesn't always come off so that it has to scab back over.   The scab just hardens back up.  You do want to keep it wrapped so no dirt/germs get in to cause an infection.  Depending on how large the opening is, you might want to wait until it's totally scabbed over and ready to fall off before returning to work.  You can use raw honey to help it heal, but then the gauze really sticks to everything.

Chris
HW/225 - 5'1" ~ SW/205/after surgery 215 ~ CW/145~ BMI-25.8~Normal BMI 132 ~DS Dr Rabkin 4/17/08
Plastics in Monterrey - See Group on OH Dr Sauceda Jan 13, 2011
LBL, BL, small thigh lift, arms & a full facelift on 1/17/11
UBL 1/21/13
Love my Body by Sauceda

Cinn
on 8/6/13 5:46 am - MI

I'm 8 weeks out and still healing from incision openings. I had to be reopened for a removal of a seroma, and the top of by incision by my butt crack has been opened the entire time. It's healing up and almost closed now. It's a pain but keep ointment and gauze going.


 

RNY: 9/3/2008     LBL: 6/5/2013

emelar
on 8/6/13 6:41 am - TX

That's an area of high tension, and these minor openings seem pretty common.  I'm like cinn. I had an incision right above the butt crack take its own sweet time to close up.  But I just kept ointment and gauze on it and waited it out.  It wasn't hurting; just draining a little bit.  It closed up fine and you can't even see any difference now between where it was and the rest of the incision.

jeterway
on 8/6/13 11:22 am

I used a product that my PS gave me on a slight opening that I had on my leg.  It is petroleum infused gauze that also contains bismuth - it is messy to use but it keeps the incision nice and moist and promotes healing.  I didn't have to worry about scabs forming and ripping them off.  He gave me a bunch to use but I needed a few more.  I loved them so much I now keep them on hand in my first aid kit. I got them on amazon :

Xeroform Petrolatum Gauze Dressing 2" x 2" Patch BOX: 25

Sorry for the large print - copied it from amazon.  They come in all sorts of sizes and can be cut as needed.  Wonderful stuff.

 


Southernsleever
on 8/6/13 4:42 pm

I didn't do ointment but just gauze and i have two more recent openings on my lips. Just let them scab over and then DONT TOUCH THEM. Not even to flick off that dry skin looking stuff. I would think ointment on them would keep the scab from forming and thus the wound from closing but do what you and your surgeon think is best. Mine close up in a day or so usually. 

 

5'6" Start-276 Goal-150  Weight loss   Preop=5  Month 1=25  Month 2=10  Month 3=14  Month 4=3 Month 5=7  Month 6=9 Month 7=7 Month 8=Month 9=9 Month 10=7 Month 11=5 Month 12=5 Month 13=3 Month 14=4    

 

Southernsleever
on 8/6/13 4:43 pm

HIPS! HIPS not lips. Grrr wet fingernail polish! 

 

5'6" Start-276 Goal-150  Weight loss   Preop=5  Month 1=25  Month 2=10  Month 3=14  Month 4=3 Month 5=7  Month 6=9 Month 7=7 Month 8=Month 9=9 Month 10=7 Month 11=5 Month 12=5 Month 13=3 Month 14=4    

 

PSoftGirl
on 8/9/13 1:32 am - Alpharetta, GA

thanks for the clarification....i was sooo confused!

HW 366 (2004) * HW Pre-OP 271 (VSG) * CW 157 * GW 145

VSG - Dr. Paul Macik (Atlanta, GA) - 7/09

Post MWL Plastics with Dr. Peter Fisher (San Antonio, TX) 12/13

godzilla
on 8/6/13 10:14 pm - Israel
Suggestion: take a pic every day after your shower and if you get real concerned, email or call your PS to update further treatment.
My scab at T-line went from slough to gangrene the size of a dime.
Every body reacts and heals differently.
Good luck. I am happy to call you and talk to you if you pm me your number and when best to call you. Israel is seven hours later than NY.
Mikimi in Israel
Mell
on 8/7/13 2:30 am
Thank you all for your help! I think looking at it hurts more than the actual pain, I need to get my head around it.

Mell
Start weight: 320
At surgery:  300
Current:      185
Goal:           175

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