Dealing With Necrosis After Masectomy and Reconstruction

Margot62

Hello All,

It’s been a week for me today. I had hoped to be feeling better, and while some things are easier—like getting out of bed—I’m still pretty weak. Some days you feel like you are in no mans land, where you’re not getting better but not getting worse. Today is that day.

I had left breast masectomy with recon. And a right breast lift. The pathology reports show I’m clear of cancer. The tumor was 8 mm. I had two drains with very little drainage so one was removed last week.

The bad news is that I have necrosis in a small area on the reconstructed breast. Unless it springs back to life by tomorrow, I have to undergo surgery again Thursday to get the area removed. I’m obviously upset, but will do what I have to do.

Anyone have experience with this? How far will I be set back on my road to recovery?

Hope April surgery girls and guys are doing well.

My thoughts are with you all

SpecialK

What size is the area of necrosis? A penny, dime, quarter? I had extensive necrosis bilaterally after bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and it takes quite a while to heal, not sure a week is long enough to tell if you can heal with additional surgical intervention. Has your surgeon given you any topical ointment, like Silvadene?

Margot62

Thanks so much for your reply!

My skin necrosis is the size of a nickel. The silvedean cream has helped. It is now more green than black.

I really don’t feel up to more surgery at this point. Since the cream seems to be helping, I’m hoping we canwait and see how things go for another week.

I can’t find much info about this problem. Can you tell me your story and what you know about necrosis?

Thank you so much. I’m truly scared... and exhausted.

Dayna1234

Can can anyone tell me how their necrosis was dealt with? I have it the size of a half a palm. It is big and black and hard like a shell. I am 3 weeks post-op and I don't know what to expect coming up. Please respond and tell me whatever your story was. thank you.

Moderators

Dear Dayna1234,

Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that you are dealing with this post-op complication. Here is some information from our main site about Necrosis related to Mastectomy.I you do not receive any timely responses you can reach out to individuals on this thread via private message and use the search function in the tool bar to search other posts that contain the word necrosis. We hope you get some resolution quickly. Please stay connected here for support.

The Mods

Dayna1234

Hi hi. I am 3 weeks out from double mastectomy reconstruction and have large black necrosis area nearly size of palm. Can you give me some advise or expectations please? I have had 8 sessions of hyperbaric chamber and am applying nitroglycerin cream.I hope you are doing well