Incision Revision???

HI, Just had my 2nd PM impanted on May 2nd. My other posts describe a bout with pericardial effusion (now abating well) and issues with my EP. I decided to switch EP's and 1st give the same group a try but another location in the metroplex in which I live. This new EP saw I was upset with a rediculous amount of "puckering" in the new incision - not even scar tissue has developed yet. I told him I was not ready yet to wear turtlenecks in the summer :-0 He's agreed to redo the incision (next Tuesday) and thinks that the PM will also sit better in my chest after it is done - will be more comfortable then. Has anyone else been disatisfied with what I call a botch job on the incision? I've had 4! abdominal incisions done on top of one another and still haven't had this problem and the two anterior (front approach) spinal surgeries I've had in the neck area barely even show a very slight line - now that's what I call good surgeon skills! Is is normal for an EP to not consider aesthetics when making a PM incision? Would like to hear about other people's experiences. Thanks.

4 Comments

It's just two weeks old...

by golden_snitch - 2011-05-15 06:05:03

Hi!

I don't understand what you mean by "puckering", but I'd not let them open an incision again that is only two weeks old, unless there was an infection. There is still a chance that it heals well and feels more comfortable after a couple of weeks.

Also, how a scar heals does not only depend on how well the surgeon does his/her job. Especially young people tend to develop keloids, I have been told. Also, I have scars in other areas which are very thin, but the pacer scar is in an area of constant movement (arm/shoulder), and this is the reason why it sometimes does not heal so well (said my doc).

For me, a scar is a scar. I'd never let anyone re-do the incision for aesthetic reasons. For me, aesthetic reasons don't justify the risk of infection that goes along with opening the incision again.
The scar is something that belongs to me, and if people stare, I just let them stare. I have had my pacer scar re-opened six times in 11 years due to pacer issues. It does not look very nice, but hey, it was opened six times.

Best wishes
Inga

not happy either!

by sue uk - 2011-05-15 07:05:06

HI
lhad my PM done 5wks ago and my chest looks horrible. l am just not healing up,like you l have others to compare it to l had open heart surgery so have a real big one but its a nice flat scar,had tumour removed from my neck and all you can see is a tiny white line. l think it is down to the skill of the surgeon {or lack of}. But what do you do? l certainly dont want to look like this forever {l am 54] still want to look good{ish}. Not had my follow up appointment yet but my GP is quite disgusted with the mess they have made, but is another incision the answer? could make things worse.
The surgeon who was supposed to do me was called away and the doc's l was left with were inexperienced they didnt give me enough sedation{if any} and l was in agony throughout,l could feel absolutely everything. l am not a "baby"but it was the worst thing l have ever had done.So l am left with my unsightly lump,still lots of "pulling" and "stinging"going on inside and still sore on the outside but too scared to do anything about it.

PM Aesthetics

by donb - 2011-05-15 12:05:04

Hi, I'd like to swap my shoulder scar from rotor cuff repair for the terrible workmanship on my left chest. I've had 6 surgeries on my left chest in 18 years and I would never post a picture in our Photo Gallery. It's a mess as I usually develop Keloid scarring. My present PM on my right chest is hardly noticeable (Differant Surgeon). I finally had a Plastic Surgeon do the last restoration on my left chest but as a 79 year old man, guess he just thought (sooooo). He did lift my left boob up 1 inch to get enough skin. So now I'm "Right Boob Low" donb

Response to Snitch & Voltage Issue

by Yakkwak - 2011-05-16 01:05:41

Thanks for the feedback all. The puckering I was referring to is like the top of a draw string - you pull a thread too tightly and the substrate (skin in this case) is drawn together to form ruffles/ridges. The new EP says that this effect will NOT go away. I'm not exaggerating, it looks terrible. I don't mind a scar - have lots of them, it's the texture, the three-D effect part of it that I thought was unnecessary. Snitch, you're right about risking an infection here. Last year I survived the dreaded MRSA infection so am aware of what I'm risking. Am soooo sorry you had to be opened up so many times!!!!! Sue uk - I can't imagine going through all this crap and not having enough sedation! And I was complaining earlier about them not giving me enough pain meds. Guess there is always someone else who is suffering more. On top of all this, I woke up this AM with a terrible "knocking" feeling in my chest - the heart area. It kept up for several hours so I called my EP. He had me go immediately to the ER and had the Medtronic Rep. meet me there. He reprogrammed me so that I have now gone from (I think this is right) 4 volts down to 2 volts in my lower lead - right ventrical chamber. He kept changing the voltage and I quit feeling the knocking/tapping at around 2 volts. Guess something like having leads & PM replaced is a process that often requires "tweaking". Blessings.

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