Our skin is amazing, able to stretch and grow with us or shrink as we lose weight or have children. Unfortunately, sometimes our skin stretches pretty far and doesn’t always bounce back. This can mean unwanted folds which can cause discomfort in the form of rashes and infections, called intertrigo. Longwood Plastic Surgery may have your intertrigo solution so you can enjoy the skin you’re in again.
What is Intertrigo?
The human body is amazing, but it can have its difficulties, one of which is the formation of rashes in skin folds. This is intertrigo, and it is common in areas like the underarms, beneath large breasts, in the folds of the abdomen—particularly post-childbirth or after significant weight loss—or around the groin. It may be itchy, reddened and raw, or painful. If the skin within a fold rubs together, it can trap moisture from sweat and lead to skin infections.
What Treatment is Best for Intertrigo?
That depends on the location of the rash. For women who suffer intertrigo beneath the breasts, a breast reduction can minimize the amount of skin-to-skin contact, reduce trapped moisture, and allow air flow to the area, which typically clears up intertrigo. With smaller breasts, it’s entirely possible any intertrigo issues clear up and never return.
For people with significant weight loss, women who’ve given birth, or those with skin that folds over in the abdominal area, a tummy tuck may be the way to go. Abdominoplasty tightens the abdominal wall muscles that may have stretched or weakened after pregnancy, and removes excess skin to tighten the abdomen for a flattering torso free of the folds that contribute to intertrigo. For individuals who have more than just excess skin, including excessive fat a modified tummy tuck procedure called a panniculectomy may be better suited to address intertrigo.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Ideal candidates for a breast reduction are those whose breasts are fully developed who have realistic expectations about the physical relief and aesthetic improvements that are possible with the procedure. The best tummy tuck candidates are patients in relatively good shape who struggle with a large abdominal fat deposit that’s resistant to diet and exercise or loose abdominal skin. A consultation at Longwood Plastic Surgery is the best place to get started.
What is the Procedure and Recovery Like?
Each of these procedures is a fairly extensive treatment that does require a couple of weeks of recovery time at a minimum. Any lingering intertrigo will need to be fully healed before undergoing the procedures.
Breast reduction patients will feel a literal weight taken off their chest, and depending on the type of incisions made, it will require a support bra for the duration of recovery. The smaller breasts and freer airflow in the inframammary fold help prevent future instances of intertrigo.
Abdominoplasty or panniculectomy recovery depends on the extent of the procedure and the individual patient’s health prior to the procedure. Some patients require only a couple of weeks rest while others may need 3-4 weeks before returning to work. Clean, dry bandages minimize the risk of new rashes, and the flatter physique with tighter skin will also help prevent future intertrigo from developing.
Intertrigo is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and you don’t have to live with it. The Longwood Plastic Surgery staff are here to help, from initial treatment of the rash through the procedures that will keep your skin dry and rash-free. We’re with you the whole way.
“This practice is easy to find, has parking and the people are friendly, from the receptionists to the doctors. The waiting time is not too long and it seems that you get results. I have used this practice, as represented by Dr. Donald Morris, for quite a few times and I would recommend it to others. What I had done there were reconstructive surgery after breast cancer and double mastectomy and also a tummy tuck.”
Take the Next Step
Interested in learning about a tummy tuck or breast reduction? Schedule your consultation with Longwood Plastic Surgery today by calling our Brookline office at (617) 383-6250. We serve the Brookline and Greater Boston area with distinction.