I just had that surgery, and am recuperating now. I had 25 stitches. But because of how my skin does not hold together, I am now dealing with 3 open wounds. But don't go by me...you may heal faster than I do. No, you won't be in "more pain", it's a different kind of pain, in fact it will probably feel better than you do now. After the stitches are removed you will be able to walk and sit normally. Usually they take the stitches out in 2 weeks...but mine stayed in for 4 weeks due to my poor healing. If your doctor is going to close your wounds, leave it half open to heal, or leave it open to pack is something you should discuss with him. Mine sewed mine completely closed, but only the dissolvable stitches held my skin together...so it is now healing from the inside out. I do pack it...but "GENTLY". I don't shove the gauze all the way in it, like the surgeon does...and I use Silver Sulfadiazine cream to help it heal faster. Yes, it's a big operation, but not one you won't be able to handle. Good Luck.

oh thanks because they said it will take a whole year for the wound to heal what kind of pain sleeping meds the doctor will give you

A YEAR??! They are pulling your leg my friend. It won't take a year, at most it takes 4 to 6 weeks. :) Are you seeing a plastic surgeon or just a general surgeon? For the Pain my doctor gave me Liquid Vicodin....What a Godsend. That stuff makes you feel very very good.
If you don't feel comfortable with your present surgeon, get a second opinion and then make your decision. If you have any more question feel free to ask. :)

Hey my spouse had surgery in 2006 and had areas that never healed he ended up with 6 drainage tubes and 3 of those areas never closed up. Thats when we found out what this disease is that we've been dealing with since 2000. That surgeon made his HS worse by opening all the tracks causing them to go rampant. Hes done so many different treatments which all have failed. Antibodioc therapy, Remicade, and Radiation. We are now on our 3rd dermatologist and he just had first procedure of CO2 laser surgery on his buttocks they removed a 5x6 area of his skin and got rid of the tracks, tunnels and 2nd procedure will be on march 28 this area is so big they predict it will take 4 or 5 procedures to hopefully eradicate all the tunnels. and take up to 2 years to heal totally but if it stops the HS from coming back he will have a better quality of life. This is such a horrible disease and hope that our two daughters who also suffer never get as bad as he got it.

doves...he should see a colo-rectal surgeon, who has more experience with this condition in the buttock area.

Ask your doctor to prescribe a wound vac. It will speed the healing tremendously. I had a large excavation done on my left butt cheek last year. Out of the OR it measured 17.5cmX15.5cmX3.25cm and the vac had it 75% healed in 2 months.If he is willing to give you the vac, make sure he uses something like adaptec between the packing medium & the skin, or dressing changes will be HELL. Message me if you have more questions. Good luck!

Hi Matthew,

I'm going to have this surgery done next week Monday with a plastic surgeon. Also having inner thigh & groin/scrotum area done. I keep telling myself that it can't be worse than the constant agony I have to endure every day.

Good luck with the op.