Scar tissue and injection therapy with pics

[PaulSW]

I have posted here before regarding my scar tissue post gyne surgery which I later had an open revision for (2 years later)

I have recently had Kenalog (adrocort) injections and though other may be interested in the results I have included some before photos here.

[PaulSW]

The injection was 15ml in many spots and increased the scar tisssue in volume which I was expecting.

Below is immediately post injection

[PaulSW]

After 3 weeks the scar tissue had reduced by 50% in my estimation and had softened significantly.

I have just had a second round of injections and will happily post further pictures if people are interested.

[gynoginge]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the photos; you may have posted up exactly what I've been searching the web for for days now.

I just want to make sure this is what I think it is, though, since I haven't found many answers (I'll be taking pics and asking the doctors etc when I have a bit more time).

I'm 6 weeks post-op myself, and one side of my chest is fine but the other has this hard lump under it. It feels like internal scar tissue - I've ruled out hematoma and 99% sure it's not seroma - so is this what you had? Internal scarring around the centre of the breast, I mean, as opposed to external scarring on the nipple incision or wherever. I just can't seem to find info on it anywhere!

Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

The buildup of scar tissue can occur after any gyne surgery -- even without hematoma, seroma, etc.  It is usually centered just below the nipple.

It is not unusual for there to be swelling, too.  Therefore, I generally wait for at least 4-6 months after surgery before injecting a cortisone type of medication.  Prior to that, you may be just injecting into swelling which would go down on its own in any case.  BTW, massage may help to reduce swelling.

Once a decision is made for cortisone injections, I space them 6-8 weeks apart -- to give the medication full time to work.  Usually only 1-2 injection sessions are necessary.

Dr Jacobs