Foul Odor/Incision site from Tummy Tuck? - Anyone??

my abdominoplasty and paniculectomy was Feb 13th. To date, recovery is smooth. An area about 2 inches in length ( at the end of incision, nearest hip) has been a little oozy for about 1 week. By little, i mean hardly but a speck on a gauze I'd keep over it..But enough that as of yesterday the steri-strip tape was super loose over that area..so i just removed the steristrip and have that area covered w/ gauze.. The area is super pink ( like a new incision would look I'd think) but the foul odor is awful. I googled and heard that it could be a sign of an infection...but could it still be infected, if i don't have a fever, or anything? If anyone else knows..or experienced this I'd be appreciative.. i've happen to have an appt tomorrow w/ my surgeon at 330pm..so I know I can ask..but ...wanted to ask all you folks too..

Do not wait until tomorrow ! Call the surgeon's office immediately and let them know whats going on... Go to ER if you have to. Infections can kill ! You are in my prayers. VAL

I had the "Bad smell" it was under the steri strips. My Doc said it was from the dried blood. Man it smelled awful! And I had a small infection site too, that also smelled. It will go away in time, I also took the steri strips off early to get rid of the smell. But only where things were closed up underneath. Good luck Grace TT rev. 9/11/06

Glad you are seeing the Dr tomorrow. When I had an infection, my doctor's nurse always ask me about the smell when I called. Seems that is a sign of infection. I had an infection, but no smell. It is not a good sign. Please keep us posted.

I had that foul smell as well after my tt and thigh lift coming from incisions. The Doctor said that as long as the area was just pink and not bright red, and also that I didn't have fevers/ chills or extensive leaking that was weird colored it was probably just the fat "necrosis" I think is what they called it. It just smells. I also had a mild skin infection that they put me on antibiodics for. It never hurts to go see the Dr. but it really doesn't sound like you have anything to be concerned about. Good Luck

hi all. and thanks for the replies... I did wait and go see the MD this afternoon at my regularly scheduled appt. It is a superficial infection on the skin ( about 5 inches of my 11 in*****ision) and I felt relieved to hear that it was superficial. He did tell me to keep an eye on it. He didn't give me an antibiotic, which I think I would have preferred, but Germans do things a little differently regarding medical care, and he was spot on regarding telling me how to keep the area dry and now before putting my garment on..after i shower, keeping it off for about 1 hour and just let a lot of air get to my incision..He said he feels that will do the trick and really help with the infection.. I believe moisture was getting under my steristrips, and helped cause the problem. He removed all of the steristrips, and hopefully I'm on the road to recovery now :>

I think it is probably an infection. I had an infection with my rny in one of the portals. It started out just red and hot and I had called the doctor but by the time he called back, I had gotten in the shower and all of a sudden there was this unbelievably disgusting smell and I saw all this junk just coming out. Boy did it feel better once that happened. I never had a fever with it either. You'll be fine once get an anitbiotic. Feel better.