Burned during surgery

[chellebell1]

I had surgery on 11/15/10 to advance my lower jaw due to an overbite. When i came out of surgery there was talk of burns on my face. I was out of it for 2 days but when i was able to finally look i have a large burn about 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long out of the right side of my mouth (face). There is a very small on one the left, but its nearly healed. The right looks like a 2nd degree burn. The only instructions we were given was bacitracin which i've been using faithfully every day. My dr has not called nor has her surgical team since I left the hospital to inquire on my status or my burn. They stated post op that it was due to the drill and trying to place my support brackets. I've emailed the hospital but gotten no reply from the doctor or the patient risk dept. Has anyone else been burned during their procedure? I'm really freaked out. I think this is going to scar!!

[josie]

Sounds to me like you should make an appointment to go see your regular doctor, your general practitioner. The scar is not part of your mouth or teeth, so go see your regular doctor and get an independent opinion as to whether it will scar and the care you should be giving it. I wouldn't rely on the opinion of those who did it! Good luck.

[mikeg]

this does not sound good and I haven't heard of this before... I would also get an outside opinion from your medical doctor...

[jenfromzen]

If you are left with a scar that has negative impact on your looks and this is something that does not usually happen during jaw surgery and/or for which you were not forewarned as being a possible danger, possibly seek out a personal injury/medical malpractice attorney. Especially them burning you and not following up sounds harsh and maybe they are afraid, but if afraid, wouldn't they want to be acting like they care and want to help it go away? I bought a scar creme once, forget the name, but you can google it. But before that I'd say you should really see a dermatologist to let an expert evaluate it and they would best know what that type of scar is and what to expect and what could be done. I think I hate reading things like this before I go in for my procedure, I think I will have to be just about knocked out by anxiety meds before mine. I freak out before any surgery these days anyway, I get like really cold and I get major shakes, like convulsions, can't stop trembling until they knock me out.

[chellebell1]

Just in case anyone was wondering update wise.... it scared. A nasty puffy hard scar. I retained an attorney and am seeing a plastic surgeon next week for a revision consultation. The doctor who did my surgery has apologized several times and said that when its time for a revision they will try to "minimize" the out of pocket cost to me. That is when I retained the attorney. In the mean time I have this ugly thing of my face. I can minimize the redness with make up, but it has raised edges and indentions so its very clearly still a mark on my face. I really hope at the end of all of this I don't regret the surgery as much as I do right now.