I had a reduction/uplift operation on 6th April on my non bc side - and still have a number of open wounds - mainly underneath the breast. It seems some of the stitches have come out to leave quite expanse of tissue. It is not infected (so far) but it is looks quite disconcerting to see open wounds. I’m going to the plastics dressings clinic twice a week and dressing them myself on the other days. I’m using Nugel to keep the wound moist as instructed by the nurses. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar problems - and how long it took for the wounds to heal, and also what you used to aid the healing.
victoria,
I have exactly the same as you! I had an uplift and reduction in my non bc breast on march 19th and im still dressing an open wound!! everytime i look at i cant imagine it every “coming together”. Mine was infected and ive just finished a course of anti biotics but its still a gaping hole! I see my onc on thurs and im hoping he can tell me whats happening! and to think i thought i was the only one with “holes” in their breasts!!!
Snap!! i had my reduction and uplift 26the March, and today i have been to have a dressing on my open wound and i am now on penicillin as it has become infected.
I am having more trouble with this op than i did when i had my mastectomy!..delighted with the size and pertness of it though…
Do let us know what your onc. says on Thursday…thanks
Julie, Deed - good to know at least I’m not alone. Can I ask - how did you know you had an infection? I’m conscious that this is likely given the openess of the wound.
Are you both also using moist dressings (aqucel and Nugel)?
I’m also interested in what your onc says on Thusday Deed.
I had a reduction mammoplasty on the 15th April. I have been to have it dressed countless times because it oozes greeny liquid and it smells ( sorry to be graphic) and I have a hole at the bottom.
The BCN said this was very common with this kind of surgery for two reasons- 1 the tension on the stitches caused by the amount of tissue and the movement on the breast and 2 because the seroma fluid ( the green ooze) finds the weakest place to leak out. She said to be patient and keep it clean and it will heal eventually. debx
That’s interesting what you say about the green liquid Midge. About a week after the op my wound starting literally pouring out with dark coloured liquid - which was probably what would have come out in the drainage bottle, as mine drainage tube fell out just after surgery and wasn’t replaced. The wound is dry now but sloughy and bright red (which apparently is a good sign).
Just home from the dressings clinic and I asked whether I should be having iodine patches. Apparently though they are quite an old treatment and there is evidence to show that some of the new generation applications speed up healing (I wish). So I’m still on the Nu-gel which is like a thick water filled paste that’s squeezed on to the wound and then acqua-cel gauzes are placed on the top. Next going back on Thursday!
I had my reduction and uplift last tuesday and went for my first dressing clinic yesterday. My breast is very swollen and mis-shapen and the suture line underneath is very red. My problem appears to be 2 fold, I am highly sensitive to dressings - there is a large area where the top layer of skin has been removed and ulcerated and the junction of sutures looks stretched with the swelling. Is this normal and how long did it take for you to notice the breakdown of the wound as I am terrified that this will happen to me especially with my dressing’s allergy and the horrendous swelling.
Many thanks,
My breast is still mis shapen and the stitches are very pulled at the swollen area under my arm pit ( had surgery 12 days ago). My main problem is the oozing so I can’t help with the redness or ulceration sorry.I am aware that this surgery does take a while to heal. The swelling is going down a little bit- I can now nearly put my arm against my side. good luck dx
hi girlies,
so glad to know that im not the only one struggling with the “good boob”. Mine has now been nearly 6 weeks and is sloughy. I put some seaweed dressing on it that draws out all the ooze. it started bleeding last week which is apparently a good sign but im wondering how the whole is going to fill in??? Im off to the prosthetic clinic tomorrow so will have a word with the bc nurses and report back!!
I was told bleeding was good as well. The seaweed dressings sound interesting. I asked about how the wound was meant to heal today as it looks like it will take ages. Apparently it heals from the edges and the whole area of the wound will gradually shrink. Well that’s the theory anyways - hope it works that way for all of us! I just feel so vulnerable with an open wound, knowing that it could so easily lead to an infection.
Thanks victoria, I feel so much better after reading your entry.I was beginning to think the bc nurses just tell you what you want to hear re: bleeding.
will update when i have spoken with the nurses tomorrow.
I have to ask, how long following surgery does the uplift look realistically like your recon. I am now just over 2 1/2 weeks post reduction/ uplift and my wonderful PS and team think it is a very good match and are extremely pleased with the result, I on the other hand feel it is still quite different and projects further than my recon and is much “perkier”.I know I am impatient but I can’t help how I feel with the result despite the positive attitude from the professionals.I just wonder how long I should wait before passing judgement and asking for more input! I am now on the waiting list for my nipple recon and tattoo and wonder whether this will make much of a difference.
Please help as I feel really down today,
Many thanks
I think it depends upon the kind of reconstruction that you have. Some are meant to give better results than others - particularly those involving transfer of your own tissue. In my case I simply had an implant following skin sparing mx and tissue expander. In a bra it looks more or less symmetrical but there is a difference without it on. I don’t think they will do more to the uplift side - so it may be asking to see if there’s anything that can be done on the recon side.
In my case there is a difference in shape - uplift is classic teardrop, where as recon side is more of a round shape and a bit flat in the centre. Hoping the nipple recon/tattoo will make a difference but not expecting miracles. I’m seeing my ps later this month - first time since the op. I may ask about the possibility of having implant changed for more of a teardrop shaped one which I know is a possibility.
I think though it is a good idea to raise your issues with your ps, or you will always be frustrated for not doing so. When I feel a bit down about the surgery - I always try to think of the women who haven’t been able to have recons, and that makes me feel grateful for what I do have. Not easy though.
On the uplift side, my wounds are now healing - much better this week. Still open but reducing.
Many thanks for your helpful and supportive comments. I had an immediate diep recon following my left mastectomy in oct 09. Everyone says what s briliant recon it is but as you can imagine it isn’t my own boob!
I found being lopsided really hard to take and was enthusiatic when my PS said he would do my reduction and uplift. I know it will never be a perfect match but was shocked when the dressings came off. I had forgotten how swollen the boob becomes following surgery and now today realise that over the next few weeks as it settles it may become more of a match., already in a bra it doesn’t look so different but still projects a fair bit more than my recon. I WILL wait and if in time, once it has settled, it is still quite different, I will speak to my PS and put my view across as he is so nice and just wants to make things better for us.
I am usually quite upbeat - now - about what’s happened, and as you so rightly put it, there are people who through no fault of theirs have not been able to undergo recons like us, I really do wish that I could wave a magic wand and make it right for all in this awful BC Club.