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 I recently had a procedure to have my benign (raised) mole excised right above my lip. The surgery was successful but upon the stitches being removed I noticed an indentation or gap in the middle of the incision. It is not too deep. My question is, after applying some silicone gel I notice that the gap is starting to fill in, is this natural collagen filling up the scar? Or is it just dead skin that will come out when I wash or scrub the scar leaving behind the indentation. Thanks!
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Tony,
It is, of course, hard for me to say for sure but, in general, when wounds pull apart a bit (if that's what happened) they heal by two methods: 1) contraction of surrounding tissue AND 2) addition of collagen tissue that fills in the space. The collagen turns into scar tissue over time.
That being said, just as when you skin your knee, there is always a little fluid that accumulates, and thickens a bit with time, with the healing underneath.
So - I would not scrub that area too hard. There's lots of healing going on - contraction, and new tissue being put down. I would keep it moist with something like Aquaphor and allow it to heal on its own.
And you should, obviously, call your PS about this. I'm happy to help but, particularly in the early post-op period, the care must be directed by the surgeon in question.
