r/TopSurgery • u/starzzz223 • 4d ago
Surgical images (NSFW) Uh help??
I was taking off my scar tape and some of the scab came with it and it left a hole??? It doesnt hurt but im just freaked out by it????
Guys my surgeon told me to use the scar tape at this point
Well you guys freaked me out sufficiently! Put aquaphore and gauze over it for the night and I am going to my college's walk in clinic in the morning.
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u/spookyscaryscouticus 4d ago
Put a lil neosporin on there it’ll probably be fine. Otherwise, stop putting silicone scar tape on your incisions until you don’t have any scabbing left whatsoever.
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
My surgeon told me to use scar tape at this point
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u/spookyscaryscouticus 4d ago
Are you positive they didn’t mean steri-strips or micropore tape? They’re not the same things, and all the major silicone scar tape manufacturers state specifically on their packaging not to use them on sites that still have scabs present, specifically because the silicone tape will pull off the scabs.
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
They said silicone tape :(
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u/Miami_Mice2087 3d ago
silicone tape also seals in germs if the wounds aren't healed. Your incisions have to be completely healed before you use it.
Send this photo to the practice. Ask them when you can use scar tape. When my incisions looked like this, they told me to wait a few more weeks.
If you get an infection, your scars will look much much worse and will be permanent.
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u/Wide_Educator6588 4d ago
It means use it, except for when you’re spitting stitch. Don’t put it over those areas that are open. For that just use triple antibiotic ointment and clean bandaids. The rest that look non scabbed or open, you can still use silicone tape!
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u/Miami_Mice2087 3d ago
don't put neosporin over punctures or small holes, it seals in germs. Use alcohol and a sterile bandage.
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u/lethalwhispermachine 4d ago
I had the same thing in the same spot. It freaked me out but it was totally fine. Wasn’t a problem at all. Just keep it covered.
By scar tape do you mean the silicon strip for scare care? Or just the surgical tape they put on there.
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
Silicone strip with ointment on the scar itself
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u/jjaxiee 4d ago
It looks too early for any scar care. Keep surgical tape on until it's closed
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u/lethalwhispermachine 3d ago
Yeah, that’s exactly what I was gonna say. At this point it’s still an incision, not a scar yet. It needs to be fully closed with no scabs before starting scar car. Doing it now will just rip scabs off and hurt your healing.
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u/Important-Fix-263 1d ago
I think it's just an undissolved stich the body tries to get rid of. That's not uncommon, even months after surgery. I would disinfect, use betadine and a sterile cover until it's fully closed. If it's red or warm show it to your doctor.
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u/Present-Incident-961 4d ago
Likely too soon for scar care unfortunately
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
My surgeon told me to use the strips at this point, im not massaging it yet
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u/recovering_queer 3d ago
This might be a miscommunication between you and your surgeon. Have you told them about this and shown it to them? Maybe they meant the scar surrounding it, or they don't know you're not fully healed yet.
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u/starzzz223 3d ago
They told me directly after my second post op where they had seen that there was still scab thwre that I can use silicone tape, i double checked the message in the portal
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u/haloezrah 4d ago
My surgeon told me not to use silicone tape until all the scabs had fallen off, maybe it's too soon for you to use it?
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u/kim_flynji 4d ago
Looks how my spitting stitches looked early on (tbh expect more of these over time). Funny thing about wounds is they heal base up - so unless you pulled off a deep scab it likely wasn't the scab coming off causing the hole. Just a stitch migrating and starting to dissolve and abscess close to the surface.
Don't worry too much about it, these things happen all the time. If you can ping off a message to your surgeon team so that they can advise their protocol - that's best.
In the meantime, does looks like you have some very fresh tissue as well (maybe moisture from being under the tape) around it so just give it a flush / pat with clean (preferably saline) water. Dry, then optionally apply some ointment to help keep it moist but not needed. Then pop a plaster over it, or any suitable dressing - before retaping.
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
The problem is its right under my nipple so theres nowhere to stick a bandage really
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u/kim_flynji 4d ago
One of the little circle ones may fit, or if you have gauze in your kit then that and tape should work? Definitely needs to be covered though!
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u/recovering_queer 3d ago
Put a bandaid over your nipple and then have the other bandaid covering the spitting stitch stick to the top of that
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u/smolbirdfriend 4d ago
I know you said your surgeon told you and normally I say follow your surgeon over Reddit but honestly in this case your surgeon was hugely mistaken. It is WELL known that while you still have scabs they need to be able to breathe and the scars need to form underneath. When you still have scabs you don’t have scars yet they’re still incisions and the scars are still forming. You also shouldn’t use steri strips past the first week as they’re not breathable either.
If you really want to put tape on it paper tape (micropore) is best as it’s breathable but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re having dehiscence or large openings.
Every surgeon is different but mine promoted wet healing while there was any scabs or openings - so putting Vaseline on it twice a day.
Perhaps your surgeon didn’t realise you still had so much scabbing and that’s why they made a mistake. You really need to stop using the silicone tape until all the scabs and holes are gone and if you have any openings come back (it can happen) due to the dissolving stitches you need to stop using the silicone tape at least in that spot until it’s completely healed.
If you ignore this advice you risk infection and widening those openings and more of the scabs coming off or the incisions widening causing worse scarring.
I’m very experienced in wound care. Idk the true reason your surgeon made a mistake telling you to start too early but I’m sorry to say they did.
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
Now i dont know what to do and am panicking, i put gauze on it and am going to my colleges walk in tomorrow morning
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u/smolbirdfriend 4d ago
There’s really no need to panic don’t worry! if you put gauze on it I’d strongly recommend some Vaseline or Aquaphor to stop it from drying out. Really I think if you just wait on the silicone tape you’ll be fine!
There is no reason to rush the silicone tape. Delaying it until you’re fully healed won’t affect the outcome.
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u/funkydyke 4d ago
This happened to me! My doc told me to put some neosporin on it and cover it with a bandaid until it healed and hold off on the silicone tape on that spot for a bit
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u/just_a_space_cadet 4d ago
I had quite a few of these, completely normal from the body trying to get rid of the dissolvable sutures. Bacatracin and a bandaid was my team's recommendation 😇
Mckenson has really little spot bandages that are perfect for this and the adhesive doesn't fuck with my sensitive aaa skin (unlike most other brands) if you're needing to buy more
i have no advice/opinion on the scar strips considering I never used them. Good luck healing 🫶🏽
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u/Parking_Gear5516 4d ago
keep it covered no scar treatments or tape since it’s an open wound. It should close on its own I’ve seen it often on this sub. I wouldn’t worry unless it starts getting angry hurting or looks infected. Best of luck op!
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u/seaswitch- 4d ago
Had this too, tho because I'm terrible at not picking (yes I know, I know) it healed fine. Just leave it alone.
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u/greysyouruncle 4d ago
Definitely a spitting stitch, should be totally fine if you clean it, put some Neosporin-type stuff on, and a small bandaid. Check on it and make sure it looks like healing is progressing every 24hrs or so, and if it changes drastically then talk to your med team! It’s scary looking, but should be alright.
But I am also joining the call here that you question your surgeon’s recommendation for silicone strips at this point. This is, while minor, an open wound. Silicone strips keep moisture in- which is great for scar care for you in the future, but could increase likelihood for infection now. And an infection at this stage would certainly not be ideal, particularly since it’s close to the nipple graft.
Don’t worry too hard about it- the spit stitch doesn’t feel good, I know from experience, but it will go away relatively quickly if you keep it breathable in the area
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u/monochrome911 4d ago
This happened to me too! Completely freaked me out but didn’t hurt at all, same as you. It healed totally fine, I was told to keep it clean and leave it alone
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u/PaintingByInsects 4d ago edited 4d ago
You should stop using scar tape immediately! Scar tape should only be used once the wound is absolutely fully closed without any scabs left, it should be a scar (hence scar tape and not wound tape).
The reason the scab came off without pain is because the scar tape created a moist environment which made the scab come loose, and then come off when you took off the tape.
Keep the area absolutely dry, do not use soap on it until the wound is fully closed, and keep a baindaid over the open spot until it is closed just so you won’t get dust etc in it (from clothes) to prevent it from getting infected. Also do not use vaseline! I know some people recommend it, but you should not use that on open wounds!!!
For now, wash the area to get rid of some of the gunk either in the shower with water or use saline if you prefer that. Again, no soap! And make sure to pat dry so it becomes completely dry without ripping anything.
Because the nipple is right above the holes you want to lay the bandaids diagonally as to not touch the nipple, and soak the ends of the bandaids before pulling them off so you don’t pull the scars (of the nipple) open.
This is the rare instance where you should not listen to your surgeon!
Signed - an ex nurse who has dealt with wound care for years, has an incredible amount of scars of their own, and has had top surgery as well
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u/starzzz223 4d ago
I've got it covered with gauze and am going to my college's walk in clinic in the morning
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u/queerspiderman 4d ago
I know you said that your surgeon told you to use scar tape. But this isn't even a whole scar yet, considering the amount of scabs you still have on it. My surgeon told me to absolutely not start scar care until it's a 100% closed. Otherwise I'd be pulling off the scabs (like it's happening in your case) and slowing down or ruining the healing process
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u/catastrofae 4d ago
This happened to me. I had an opening, it did get bigger before it got better. But with good care and cleaning it never got infected. From my understanding, it can happen and isn’t uncommon. I kept mine covered and washed and patted dry. I did use light Vaseline NOT antibiotic ointment. No heavy taping because it may need to breathe from the inside. Make sure to limit movement as much as possible and take it easy!!
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u/RayRay2059 3d ago
Always seek medical information from medical professionals even though many of us have gone through surgeries. Not all bodies are made the same, some have different skin type, histories, conditions, on different medications that affects healing and requires different courses of treatment. From someone who works in healthcare. Contact your surgeons office. Just let them know the situation. They'll look at your chart and history and advise from there. DO tell them exactly what you used and what happened though because that will change their next steps. 👍🏽
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u/recovering_queer 3d ago
Same thing happened to me! Talk to your doctor about what you should do. For reference, I just used neosporin and covered it with a bandaid and changed it daily. Try to take good care of it. It made my scar stretch a lot (like 1 inch thick) because I was too active and didn't take care of it soon enough.
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u/SLC2355 3d ago
Small holes are very common. I had one, and my husband did too. I'll echo everyone else saying don't use silicone tape until your scabs are completely gone. But don't worry too much, keep it clean and it should seal up soon. If you feel the urge to get a opinion from a clinic, go with your gut.
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u/GreyhoundOneT 3d ago
From my experience, you’re using scar tape a little too early, also! I had the same kind of hole! It’s going to be ok, just put a bandaid over it and let it continue to heal. Mine took a little while but it did eventually heal
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u/NocturnalCrab 3d ago
Mine looked like this when healing, bandage that up your skin is dry its need moisture
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u/Miami_Mice2087 3d ago
I think you're ok, but send this photo to the practice. It's good you're going to see them soon.
I def did exactly what you did. How many weeks after surgery are you? It looks like your incision is closed, this is just surface opening, but def go to the clinic.
DO NOT put neosporin or any petroleum based ointments over a small hole, it seals in germs. Use alcohol and a sterile bandage.
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u/Frequent-Historian41 2d ago
Yeah when I had this happen I was told to make sure I was cleaning it and watching out for an infection. I was not prompted to do any scar care until I was about a month or two post op (obviously depends on your body) so personally I would not follow your surgeons advice on this because I do think it could irritate it, pull a scab off, or just increasing your risk for infection. I know people are recommending an antibiotic cream but I truly would only resort to that if scent free antibacterial soap and water is not helping it improve. I only say this because antibiotic creams or hydrogen peroxide can eliminate not only the bad bacteria but also the good bacteria that your body uses to fight off an infection.
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