Wound problems after surgery abroad: what to do back home
Many people travel for cosmetic surgery. When the wound starts to open or becomes infected after you fly home, the surgeon who operated is far away and it can be hard to know where to turn. Here is a practical plan.
First: is this an emergency?
Go to an emergency department straight away if you have any of these:
- High fever, shivering or feeling very unwell
- Redness or swelling that is spreading quickly
- Severe pain out of proportion to what you see
- Grey, black or blistering skin, or skin that feels numb around the wound
- Calf pain or swelling, chest pain or breathlessness
These can be signs of serious infection or a blood clot and should not wait for a clinic appointment.
If it is not an emergency, act early anyway
A small opening or a little discharge can become a larger wound within days, especially after long flights, in hot weather or if compression garments are not fitting properly. Early assessment usually means simpler treatment.
What to gather before your appointment
- The operation note or discharge summary, including what was done and the date
- A list of medicines you were given, especially antibiotics and blood thinners
- Any culture or blood test results
- Photos of the wound from the day of discharge onwards, if you have them
- The name and contact details of your surgeon and clinic
Do not worry if you do not have everything. We can still assess and treat the wound.
Keep your surgeon informed
It is good practice to tell the surgeon who operated about the problem. Many are glad to share information. Our role is to care for the wound in front of us. We do not judge where you had your surgery or why.
Common problems we see
- Wound separation (dehiscence) after tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift or breast surgery
- Infection, sometimes with resistant bacteria
- Seroma or haematoma that has not been drained
- Areas of dead skin (necrosis) along the incision or around the nipple or belly button
- Exposed or infected implants or mesh
- Slow-healing wounds after liposuction or BBL
How we treat these wounds
Assessment includes a wound swab and, when needed, blood tests and imaging. Treatment may include debridement of dead tissue, targeted antibiotics, negative pressure wound therapy (VAC) and, once the wound is clean, closure using the patient's own surrounding tissue wherever possible. Throughout, we try to protect the cosmetic result you travelled for.
Contact us
Our team is based at Dubai London Hospital, Jumeirah, led by plastic surgeon Dr Sanjay Parashar. Send us a photo and a short description on WhatsApp and we will advise on the next step.
Send a photo and a short description and our team will advise on the next step.
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This article gives general information and does not replace medical advice. Treatment decisions are made only after an in-person examination. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department.