Tomorrow I will be having an appointment with my plastic surgeon to discuss re-revising my scar.
My original scoliosis scar (closed using dissolvable sutures) split open at 10 days post op, leaving a very unpleasant looking scar over an inch wide. We assumed it was due to infection. It had to be left open because it was a little infected so took 2 months to close completely. I requested a referral to a plastic surgeon from my scoli surgeon when the scar was about a year old- the surgeon removed the scar tissue and reclosed it using dissolvable stitches as that generally gives the tidiest appearance.
What I discovered once again at 10 days post op is that the original problem was caused not by an infection, but by a sensitivity/allergy to the dissolvable stitches. It opened up again. this time, not as wide. It also got a little infected, and of course couldn't be closed immediately. That one took a month to close fully.
It's been about 6 months since my scar revision, and I'm once again a candidate for the procedure. So tomorrow I will be discussing what closure method we can try this time. I'm guessing he'll probably go for normal stitches. Won't be quite so perfect, but a few little extra suture holes is much better than what I've got now- a big (though a good deal smaller than the original) very brightly colored, fiberous feeling recessed scar... And will also be taking care of scheduling the procedure. I'd hoped to get it out of the way before returning to school, but the scar wouldn't have been old enough to redo. The pain of the procedure is pretty minimal. It's sore but not too bad. The worst part will be not being able to shower properly for a full week.
This is what it looks like now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/100_1965.jpg
My original scoliosis scar (closed using dissolvable sutures) split open at 10 days post op, leaving a very unpleasant looking scar over an inch wide. We assumed it was due to infection. It had to be left open because it was a little infected so took 2 months to close completely. I requested a referral to a plastic surgeon from my scoli surgeon when the scar was about a year old- the surgeon removed the scar tissue and reclosed it using dissolvable stitches as that generally gives the tidiest appearance.
What I discovered once again at 10 days post op is that the original problem was caused not by an infection, but by a sensitivity/allergy to the dissolvable stitches. It opened up again. this time, not as wide. It also got a little infected, and of course couldn't be closed immediately. That one took a month to close fully.
It's been about 6 months since my scar revision, and I'm once again a candidate for the procedure. So tomorrow I will be discussing what closure method we can try this time. I'm guessing he'll probably go for normal stitches. Won't be quite so perfect, but a few little extra suture holes is much better than what I've got now- a big (though a good deal smaller than the original) very brightly colored, fiberous feeling recessed scar... And will also be taking care of scheduling the procedure. I'd hoped to get it out of the way before returning to school, but the scar wouldn't have been old enough to redo. The pain of the procedure is pretty minimal. It's sore but not too bad. The worst part will be not being able to shower properly for a full week.
This is what it looks like now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/100_1965.jpg
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