Hi,

I got told I could have that op and i decided against it. They said I would be severely disfigured and even if they had done that op with skin graphs that it may never heal properly thus causing bigger problems.

Why have they decided to go for this major op? I take it you've had this for years and are getting a lot of problems?

xx

I have had hs since 2007. Right now it is at its worse in the groin area and buttocks. Very, very painful. They are now talking about surgery and skin grafts. It sounds painful and I'm wondering if this will put an end to it.

Hi I have had multiple surgeries I'm a stage three the first surgeon I saw told me skin graph was the only way to go ... I actually was going to do the surgery until I went to my preopp and had no clue what body part we were doing and when I spk to the surgeon in the hall way he had no idea who I was. I then decided to seek out someone else that is where I found my surgeon he's a plastic surgeon but wow he is ammmaaaaazzzzzoiiiiinnnnggggg he had a background in HS ... A passion for it he has done both my arm my legs under both breast and hip to hip .... Each surgery was out patient with very minimal down time.

I've been considering this as well under my arms. The infections have been getting progressively worse and the smell is even unbearable to me and those around. I honestly just want the infections to clear up. I don't think that they will but the main problem is under my arms. It's spread before to my side but has since settled in that area.

So sorry to hear that. I've had mine for about 6-7 years now. I too get them in my groin and bum.

I have seen someone who had a very bad case in his armpit and they removed it and did a skin graph. The poor bloke couldn't lift his arm up and was constantly bleeding and having puss come out. After that op it really helped him.

I've had many ops 2 sinus gland removals and 4 drainages in my groin. I'm going for my 7th soon to have 2 more sinuses removed in my bum. What I have noticed over the years is this, if I have a swelling up in one area and a swelling in another when they only drain or remove one of the sinuses - the other one that was also swelled up is usually the next one that will cause a lot of pain and a bad infection. However, when they have removed the sinuses without there being another flare up elsewhere at the same time, I have relief and no flare ups elsewhere.

I'm now taking a range of vitamins and especially immune boosters like vitamin C and zinc as well as shark liver oil. I also take vitamin D as that's good for the skin as well as vitamin E. I get tired a lot because of H.S so I take B50 complex and vitamin A.

I would say if you go ahead, after the operation make sure they put you on a course of antibiotics to make sure all the infection is gone. Every time I had an op and wasn't prescribed antibiotics afterwards - it caused openings etc. the times I did have them, I healed better and had no re openings.

Try a gluten free diet as well as the vitamins. All this should help keep them at bay after your surgery.

I'm very glad I never did the major surgery that my plastic surgeon suggested as now I've felt and been the best I have been in a long time. The only reason I'm going to have these two final sinuses removed is because I have no other flare ups and something I'm doing right now is working and I will be honest, I think it's the vitamins. As I've cheated loads on the gluten free diet lol and have not had a flare up.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

your comments where very helpful ..wondering what city is your plastic surgeon operate in..i'm in Miami FL..i??????????????????
thanks for any help !!!!!!!!

How disfiguring is this skin graft? I mean, we're going to be disfigured anyway :p

I have stage 3 too inner thighs buttocks and yes I had a skin graft and it did not take!

I have read several times that open wound healing although it seems awful and "outdated" is superior to skin grafts as they lead more often to complications than letting the wound heal on its own. I find that mind-blowing, but it seems to be true.

Ive had skin removed with no graphing. i think it looks neater (for the want of a better word) than graphs, certainly graphs that ive seen anyway.

this treatment scares me