incisions

[styleguru]

10. What are Steri-Strips(TM) or Surgi-Tape? Why do some surgeons use them and some don't?

Steri-Strip™ Skin Closure is a product made by 3M whereas surgi-tape is a generic term for adhesive medical paper tapes. These medical paper tapes cover your incisions and assist in scar flattening and fading. Many surgeons believe that they can significantly help produce minimal scarring. They can be left in place for long periods of time (barring you have no allergy to adhesives) and are used for a number of procedures.

Many times dissolvable and even non-dissolvable, permanent sutures are left within the tissue for either breast augmentation or breast lift (or a combination of the two) and incision is only covered with Steri-Strip™ adhesive skin closure tapes resulting in an almost non-existent scar in many patients.

Not all surgeons use Steri-Strip™ because not all surgeons believe in their use. Remember, all surgeons are going to be different and although I advocate the use of Steri-Strips™, your surgeon may not. Please speak to your surgeon regarding the use of these strips and inquire if he/she will be using them with your procedure.

[styleguru]

11. Can't my surgeon use fibrin tissue sealant (tissue glue) on my incisions?

Fibrin and other tissue glues are often used in face lift and abdominoplasty surgeries and some surgeons actually use it for breast augmentation and/or lifting procedures. Fibrin specifically has an antibiotic infused in the product to help cut down on infections. Tissue glue usually stays on the skin for 2 weeks or more and helps by sealing off blood vessels so there is no hematoma or other types of fluid hemorrhaging and keeps the skin together without the need for sutures,, or at least as many.

"Fibrin glue is composed of two separate solutions of fibrinogen and thrombin. When mixed together, these two solutions mimic the final stages of the clotting cascade to form a fibrin clot. Because the resulting fibrin patch is a good medium for microbial growth, the addition of antibiotics to one of the components of fibrin glue has been shown to reduce postoperative infections. " The Addition of Antibiotics to Fibrin Glue; DENNIS F. THOMPSON, PharmD, and TOM W. DAVIS, MD, Weatherford, Okla

Fibrin and other tissue glues are generally considered newer "ground" in cosmetic plastic surgery and you will find that not all surgeons are sold on the idea for various reasons. Please speak to your surgeon for his opinion specifically on the matter - he/she may or may not even have a general reason, and simply just doesn't use it.

[styleguru]

12. I just had my sutures removed and my incision line is opening back up? How can I tell if I have an infection?

If your incision line is reopening you need to tell your surgeon immediately. This can happen because of infection, rejection and incision failure due to numerous issues. If you have an infection you may notice weeping from the suture like that is colored or may give off an unpleasant odor. Although, just because wound is not weeping fluid doesn't mean you do not have an infection. It is also possible to weep clear fluid without there being an infection present. However, the longer you go without it being closed the higher your chances are in getting an infection.

Sometimes the wound edges do not adhere together correctly due to several reasons, one being compromised vascularization which can happen if you have poor circulations - especially if you smoke. If this is the case and the wound edges healed independently. The wound edges may need to be trimmed and re-sutured. Please discuss this with your surgeon and determine what he or she would do in the event this should happen.

[beautyparlour]

13. My surgeon gave me 2 sets of incisions, peri-areolar and inframammary. He/She said it was to help him/her place and situate the breast implants correctly. But my friends don't have four sets? What gives?

This happens when the surgeon is inexperienced or is faced with a difficult anatomy. More commonly the surgeon is inexperienced. There are entirely too many cases where the surgeon can insert, position and fill implants through one single scar in the navel, or two standard incision placements, much less four on the breasts. Determine how many incisions you will have beforehand because there is simply no reasons to have this many incisions other than unforeseen events.

However, you may be asked to choose an alternate incision placement in the event there are problems but usually an experienced surgeon is well practiced in the placement of implants through one or 2 standard incisions only, much less four incisions on the breasts. You deserve an explanation if this is the case.

[beautyparlour]

14. How long do I have to wait to use scar remedies on my incision lines?

You have to wait until the incision is closed. Repeat use of an unsterile product (which becomes tainted as soon as you keep sticking your finger in it or on it in an unsterile environment, your house) may lead to infection. Please ask your surgeon this question as you should not waiver from his instructions.

[beautyparlour]

15. I want to go larger (or need a revision) can my surgeon use my old incisions?

Yes, absolutely. There is no need to have additional incisions if you are only having removal/replacement with no lift.

[beautyparlour]

16. Is TUBA really scarless?

This approach is considered scarless because no scar is usually visible, but there is a scar -- hidden within the navel. It would be better defined as endoscopic.

[beautyparlour]

17. I keloid, which incision site is best for me?

Although this question should be addressed by your surgeon (and several second opinions), more than likely the armpit or the navel. However if you do not have the trans-ax or TUBA choices it is best to use a scar remedy product afterwards such as silicone sheeting as silicone sheeting has been shown to prevent and help remedy preexisting keloidal and hypertrophic scarring.

[beautyparlour]

18. If start to develop hypertrophic scarring what can be done about it?

Silicone Sheeting has been shown to significantly help prevent and lessen the appearance of keloidal and hypertrophic scarring. Such products which has shown excellent results can be bought from BioDermis.com. Several of our girls have used their product with much success and they even come in shapes and sizes which are procedure-specific (areola circles, mastopexy shapes, etc.)