skin dying

[mouse31]

Since my skin dying is not "normal".  What are possible solutions?  My Plastic Surgeon says I will be fine and not to worry about it . The skin will eventually heal together, but will not look the same.   Oncologist is concerned and will not start chemo unless she signs off.  Second opinion by another plastic surgeon within the same group, says - would proceed with caution and have weekly visits with the plastic surgeon to watch for infection. I am completely hysterical because no one will give me an honest answer . I have already been delayed in chemo one month and am in stage 3.    The surgeons report from the initial surgeon shows the skin was pink and viable when she was done.  what do I do.  Get a third opinion,  hire an atty?  

[Mexico09]

I have dying skin at the flap sight.  It is about 2" long and just recently opened up an 1" and I can see into the cavity.  To make matters worse,  now I see about 2" away from that sight along the scar line, there is some oozing pus coming through in small areas within what I thought was a successful healing.

Yellow pus is in the cavity and my plastic surgeon told me to not worry about it and that it will take about 3 months now to heal.  I have been told to waterproof the area, not to clean it and to wear a horizontal Kotex pad and this isn't working for me as the pad does not draw the pus away from the sight so I bought some surgical gauze and a surgical pad to go over it and decided to use saran wrap and tape to keep it water proof.  I am just worried about it not closing up.   How does dying skin heal itself or do you think in three months I will need a skin graph.  This procedure was done with a hysterectomy and I now have urinary tract infection and passing some fluid vaginally.  Please can you give me some advice?  Thank you

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

One of the complications of flap surgery is loss of skin. No complication is normal or desired. BUT, they occur. That is why we advise patients they might occur. We many times do not know why skin flaps fail. We treat the loss and then help the patient get maximal results. I would be careful with chemotherapy and ask the oncologist for when the last possible moment is for treatment, then start at that time, and see the plastic surgeon religiously until it is healed or the chemo is done. Do what you have to do to preserve your life, even if it means losing the reconstruction. Your life is the important thing to you, and your loved ones.

                               arch s miller ms md facs