AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question Three weeks after breast reduction surgery I developed splits in the skin at incision site. They took out 1100 cc from left and 1150 from right breast. What is best way to heal these holes in the skin ? How long does it take usually for these holes to close on there own? Is it best to cover them up ? Very oozy white fluid coming out ?
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Sally,
I assume that you are still under the care of your PS; if not, you should contact him/her immmediately to re-establish care.
That being said, it sounds like you have either bilateral seromas (fluid collections), wound infections and/or fat necrosis of some of the remaining tissue after your reduction. Seromas are typically clear or straw-colored fluid but without fever, chills, or sweats; wound infections tend to be thicker white and/or blood-tinged and may be associated with other signs of infection (fever, elevated white blood cell count) and fat necrosis is similar to a seroma but is more yellowish fluid.
Regardless of exactly what it is, you need good wound care, which includes allowing adequate drainage. It may be advisable to reinsert drains (such as Penrose or tube-type drains) to make sure that whatever's in there can come out well. Irrigation may be indicated, and at some point you should be able to take showers (if you are not already). Once the fluid stops draining out, the holes will close on their own (normally, of course) and no other treatment or intervention is usually required to allow them to close. Once the fluid stops, the holes should close within a few weeks. If you have signs of infection, you may need some antibiotics.
So - contact your PS, make sure the fluid CAN come out, and once it settles down, the holes will typically close on their own.
