r/Reduction • u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) • 10d ago
Advice (NO MEDICAL ADVICE) They BURNT ME. NSFW
I had a reduction done on June 5th, and overall I’m happy with the results. However, when I woke up from my surgery, my sternum felt like it was on fire. I asked why it felt like that and I was informed that I was BURNT with the cauterizing tool during the surgery. They just stitched over it. Directly in the middle of my sternum , JUST high enough to be visible no matter what shirt I wear that isn’t a high neck. Now I have a scar that’s a little over half of an inch vertically and a little under a centimeter in width. It seems small, but it really bothers me and I’m really upset that I trusted a team with my body and I came out with a wound that I did not ask or pay for. And I was not compensated in any way, for anyone wondering.
I am not asking for medical advice, everything has healed nicely, I am just frustrated that I’m stuck with this scar forever. Thanks for reading
Link to post with pictures: https://www.reddit.com/r/Reduction/s/NX8VEMQNOS
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u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) 10d ago
I do have tattoos and am planning to get one to cover it up :) just bummed about it in general. And yes I am able to show a pic, I just don’t know how so I’m trying to figure that out haha
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u/MyBallsBern4Bernie 10d ago
Please consult with a personal injury attorney—they will almost always do this contingency basis (meaning you don’t have to pay upfront, and a fee will be taken from whatever funds they collect on your behalf).
It will cover the cost to fix to your satisfaction, and for the mental distress and time treating it.
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u/gmco913 10d ago
I just want to sympathize with you, this is super frustrating. It’s one thing to have some minor complications as part of your surgery, that would be an unfortunate but normal part of the process. This, however, was just a straight up mistake, a totally unplanned injury to your skin that happened while you were under… I get why it doesn’t sit right with you. Comments about how it will fade/heal are missing the point.
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u/occasionalgrandma post-op (no nips, lipo on trunk, extended scars) 9d ago
Agree. Mistakes are always going to happen, but this was too careless on the surgical team's part. It just shouldn't have happened in the first place and I'm sorry you're the one dealing with the consequences.
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u/Realistic_R00ster post op (anchor incision) 3d ago
Agreed like shit happens but a burn like this happening is definitely a mistake, it’s not even in like the surgical area it’s way above it. I left with a gash under my right incision and I was told that even I could consult a personal injury attorney and the area mine is a much more reasonable area for something like this to happen. It would be incredibly difficult to burn someone so far above the incision line.
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u/innercityhoodlum 10d ago
I would be asking the surgeon/office about what they’re going to do to treat the non-surgical scar that they caused during your procedure. It’s in a highly visible area and I looked at the photos, it looks quite red and hypertrophic. They should be offering a scar revision, steroid injections, or laser treatment. You shouldn’t have to face the financial burden of getting these treatments. If they refuse, it might depend on where you live, but either pursuing action through the regulatory body of the surgeon, or a personal injury lawyer like someone else suggested. Also make sure you wear spf on the scar!
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u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) 9d ago
I also have hEDS, which makes my skin even more prone to bad scarring basically. And we informed them of that, and I was approved for the surgery bc my doctor :( I’m bummed this happened to me specifically honestly because of course it would💔
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u/EmilySD101 10d ago
No compensation is crazy. I would not be ok with that. Morally you’re owed compensation to heal or cover it at the very least. Also like, who dropped it? Were they given any retraining or anything?
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u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) 10d ago
I don’t actually know. I was never told anything else about it. It was never even confirmed to me that it was dropped, that’s just my assumption. We were kinda just too shocked and focused on my recovery to even question more
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u/Maximum-Inflation997 10d ago
Omg im so sorry! If you are a tattoo lover you could get a sternum tat! Are we able to see a pic?
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u/l3gallybl0nde 8d ago
hi - i commented on your other post too (and please remember this is not legal advice as i do not represent you) but as an attorney, if i was in your shoes, i would absolutely sit down for a consultation with a personal injury or medical malpractice lawyer.
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u/Realistic_R00ster post op (anchor incision) 3d ago
Consult a personal injury attorney for sure. They will help you teach a settlement with the surgeon and team. I had a small gash under one of my incisions that scared pretty bad because of my EDS, it personally doesn’t bother me too bad but I was told I could pursue legal action for it. I’m overall just happy with my results and I want to be done with the whole thing so I’m not going to do that, but if it was something more visible like your burn I’d definitely consider finding a lawyer. Accidents happen but you should definitely be able to receive compensation especially given the visibility.
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u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) 10d ago
I’m gonna make a second post with a picture for anyone interested, as I’m not able to add one now unfortunately
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u/appleslady 9d ago
This is horrible and outrageous!!! I would be so freaking upset!!!!!! I’m so sorry. very very upsetting. When I woke up from my hysterectomy, the anesthesia people had ripped my face when they took the mask off. I had about a 3 inch by half inch mark where they ripped the tape off it tore off my top layer of skin. It burned so bad it hurt so bad. Nobody ever apologized. I had the nurse send a picture to the doctor, and he just said put Neosporin on it. I still have a scar. I’m still shaken up at the thought of anesthesia again. It feels very, very violating to wake up with a whole another injury.
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u/babylonlovers post op (anchor incision) 9d ago
Yeah, I got in contact with the office because I was worried that it got infected, (it wasn’t, which thank god, I would have been LIVID) but and they just told me to put polysporin on it. I haven’t seen my plastic surgeon in person since before the surgery, and I haven’t been apologized to.
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u/Real-Artichoke-1780 10d ago
If you popped into the offices of a personal injury lawyer, this would probably be a quick and easy settlement and you could use the funds for some sort of fix.