Dog ears or flaps

Nulyte

Hi Ladies- I've heard the term dog ears or fat flaps -- now I'm confused. Does the surgeon leave these on purpose in case you decide later to have recon? Or can the surgeon make a "neat" incision/scar meaning relatively flat and then you can never have reconstruction? I met my surgeon and she didn't address any of these issues and the next time I see her is surgery morning

Smurfette26

I didn't want reconstruction and my surgeon did a very neat job. No flaps or dog ears. I'm really happy with the result.

ravzari

They're not left on purpose.

Most times it's because it can be difficult to determine, especially on a patient who is overweight, how tight to make the incision stitches; too tight and you risk irritation and the wound bursting open (complete with breaking the stitches in the process), too loose and you can end up with dog ears. Most surgeons will err on the side of caution, as dog ears can be easily revised.

No surgeon tries for dog ears, as they're considered a 'complication', but they happen sometimes if the surgeon leaves too much in an effort to not make the incision stitching too tight.

They're much more common in patients who are overweight, but can happen to anyone regardless of weight; they're just pockets of fatty tissue and can be easily dealt with, usually just with local anesthetic, by the plastic surgeon.

Mine did tell me that fixing the small one I have will make the scar longer, but I'd rather have a longer scar and no dog ear than a shorter scar and a weird little bit of flesh poking out. One side is flat and just fine, the other side has a very small dog ear; not a big deal, it's likely going to be revised in January.

glennie19

Nulyte: Dog ears are not left on purpose. HOWEVER: If you do not want recon,, be very clear with your surgeon, that you do not want excess skin left "just in case". Mine did and I don't appreciate it as it will take another surgery to remove it. We did not have this discussion, he just assumed I would have recon. If you want to be flat,, say so on the day of surgery, ,or before. Even if you go flat and decide later that you want recon,, it can be done according to the PS that I consulted about removing the excess skin.