Plastic Surgery/tummy tuck

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Expert: Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS - 3/30/2009


Question
Hi.

My wife has just gone through another tummy tuck because the first one went really bad the skin was dyeing from the inside out they had to open the wound which was a gaping hole, it took several months to heal and healed with a large 4-5 long 3-4 wide, but none the less 2 years later its seems to be happening again its been 4 days since the surgery and it happening again emotionally she as well as myself are freaking out the doctor says it has to play out and see what happens some skin on top is already pulling away. we really don't know what to do this will be the 2nd go around. any advise anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Answer
from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com

Hi Luis,

I am obviously very sorry that you and your wife had to go through this once, and now appear to be doing so again.  I don't have any magic wands to wave, but I do have a few thoughts.

Does she have any underlying medical problems that could be causing or contributing to this?  These could include diabetes, lupus, etc., or conditions such as smoking, which can also be associated with poor wound healing.  If so, those should be brought under control to the greatest extent possible.

For the time being, though, I'm afraid that you have little choice but to do what the doctor has said; ie, let it play out.  Once it's cleaned up (which will take several weeks or longer) you should consider a VAC pump that can pull the skin edges together.  You have to wear it for 23 hours a days, but it sounds like it will be the best approach in this case.  Of course, this is just a thought; I can only say so much without being able to examine her, etc.

Once this one is healed, you'll have to consider very carefully whether it's worth doing anything else, unless you can come up with some kind of  fixable situation or diagnosis.

Again, I'm very sorry about this -

Dr. E
www.bodysculpture.com

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Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS

Expertise

Dr. Engler has answered over 3100 questions as a volunteer expert for AllExperts. His expertise includes breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts, skin cancers, cysts, 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"), and his discussion of breast implants, also on YouTube is "How to Choose a Breast Implant." His website is www.bodysculpture.com. Thanks for "Likiing" Dr. Engler on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Alan-M-Engler-MD-New-York-Plastic-Surgery-and-Aesthetics/107206405967267?ref=ts&__a=8

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 (BA, Russian Studies) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (MD). 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, and is a Special Lecturer in the Department of Dermatology at Columbia University in New York. He has admitting privileges at Beth Israel Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center, both in New York.

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