Chronic Non-Healing Wounds in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA
Wound healing is an amazing natural process, and most wounds heal over time with appropriate care. Some wounds, though, don’t heal as expected and can require special treatment to prevent them from worsening over time. These chronic non-healing wounds are estimated to affect about 6.5 million people in the U.S. Left untreated, non-healing wounds can lead to significant health problems, including extreme pain, loss of function and mobility, infection, or even amputation.
David Feldmar, MD, at Feldmar Aesthetics in Beverly Hills, is an expert in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds. Dr. Feldmar is a double board-certified plastic surgeon, who combines art, science, and deep expertise in his medical work. He and his staff run their practice to be a warm and welcoming experience, where patients feel comfortable, listened to, and appreciated for who they are.
Schedule your consultation and learn how treatment for non-healing wounds in Beverly Hills with Dr. Feldmar can help restore your overall health.
When to Be Concerned About a Wound That Is Slow to Heal
Wounds typically heal in two to four weeks. If you have a wound that is not healing after a month or more, you should contact a doctor to have it examined. Certain symptoms are cause for immediate concern no matter how long you’ve had the wound.
These include:
- Increasing redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound, which are signs of infection
- Thick discharge from the wound, including yellow or green puss or an excessive flow of clear liquid, which are also signs of infection
- A wound that is starting to smell bad, indicating dead tissue
- Pain that increases rather than decreases over time
- Darkened or blueish edges around the wound—a sign that tissue is dying and not healing
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop, even after applying pressure for 15 minutes
- Fever, which can indicate the infection has spread
If you have any of these symptoms, contact the wound care experts at Feldmar Aesthetics to schedule your consultation with a wound care specialist.
Causes and Types of Chronic Non-Healing Wounds
Wounds can be slow to heal for different reasons. Understanding the cause of the problem and the type of non-healing wound is a critical first step in choosing a course of treatment.
There are four main types of non-healing wounds, each related to a specific cause:
- Pressure ulcers are caused by prolonged pressure on the skin, which can occur when a person is immobile or bedridden. The pressure reduces blood supply to the area, slowly causing skin and underlying tissue to die. Bed sores are a form of pressure ulcer. Pressure ulcers can develop gradually. They most often affect the skin over a bony portion of the body, such as the hips, buttocks, coccyx (tailbone), or heels. Untreated, they can lead to infection and advancing tissue loss.
- Diabetic ulcers are related to the nerve damage caused by diabetes. When diabetes causes a loss of sensation in the legs or feet, minor injuries may not be noticed. Neglected, these injuries can develop into open sores and become infected. This process can be aggravated by impaired circulation to the skin, another effect of diabetes.
- Venous leg ulcers typically develop in the skin just above the ankle on the inside of the leg. They are caused by problems with the valves that control pressure in the leg’s blood veins. When these valves operate correctly, they vary the pressure in the veins according to what a person is doing, whether sitting, standing, or walking. When the pressure in the veins remains too high for prolonged periods, the veins can become damaged. Blood can escape and collect under the skin, causing itching, inflammation, and, ultimately, open sores.
- Arterial ulcers, also known as ischemic ulcers, are caused by damage to the arteries. When this occurs, blood flow throughout the body is impaired. The extremities, in particular, can be under-supplied with oxygen and nutrients, and this reduced circulation can lead to the development of open wounds. The same circulation problems that led to the wounds’ development can then prevent the skin from healing. The result can be a wound that gets worse over time and is susceptible to infection.
Non-healing wounds can also develop:
- After surgery when sutures don’t hold an incision closed, infection develops, or other problems occur
- As a result of infection, which can impede the healing process
- As a side effect of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, that can interfere with healing
- From poor nutrition, when the body does not have the proteins and other nutrients needed for healthy healing
- As a result of radiation therapy, when skin tissue is damaged
- Due to inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which can contribute to delayed wound healing
Meet David Feldmar, MD
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Discover the renowned artistry of Dr. David Feldmar, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, who crafts natural-looking transformations with precision and care. Dr. Feldmar takes a personalized approach to plastic surgery where comfort and appreciation for the individual are at the forefront. Begin your journey toward a more confident you by scheduling a complimentary consultation with Dr. Feldmar and his expert team today!
Who Is at Greatest Risk for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds
Anyone can develop a non-healing wound, but you may be at greater risk if you:
- Have diabetes
- Have circulatory or cardiovascular problems, including varicose veins
- Have a weakened immune system
- Are confined to a bed or spend extended time in a wheelchair
- Are being treated with radiation therapy
Age can be a factor, too. Older adults don’t heal from wounds as quickly as younger people do. They also have more fragile skin, are more susceptible to skin infections, and are more likely to have conditions associated with poor circulation.
How Are Chronic Non-Healing Wounds Treated?
Treatment of a non-healing wound begins with a consultation with a wound care specialist who will examine the wound and ask questions to understand the cause of the wound. In his consultations, Dr. Feldmar will study the location, size, depth, and other characteristics of the wound, and ask you about your medical history, when you first noticed the problem, and how the wound has changed over time.
This consultation and assessment are key to treatment. Addressing the cause of the wound is often an important step in starting the healing process.
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics and infection control. Eliminating and preventing infection is often an important aspect of wound treatment.
- Nutritional support helps improve the patient’s diet when nutritional deficiencies are a contributing factor.
- Lifestyle modifications to make healthy changes necessary for wound healing and prevention. This might include guidance on managing chronic health conditions, maintaining a healthy weight, or quitting tobacco. It can include guidance on how to walk safely to promote healing and prevent the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers.
- Wound debridement is a procedure to remove dead, damaged, or infected tissue from a wound. In a wound debridement treatment, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic, then the unhealthy tissue is removed with a sharp instrument, a medication that breaks down dead tissue, mechanical washing, or by using special dressings. Wound debridement is typically repeated weekly to advance the healing process and prevent infection.
- Skin graft surgery is a procedure to transplant healthy skin from another part of the body to cover the wound.
- Flap surgery is an approach to skin graft surgery in which the transplanted tissue remains attached to the donor site to maintain its blood supply.
- Placement of tissue substitutes, such as bioengineered skin or collagen matrices, to help close the wound.
- Surgery to address underlying causes. This can include surgery to correct circulatory problems or to reduce a source of pressure on the skin. Biomechanical corrective surgery, for example, can realign the foot when the foot’s shape or alignment is a contributing factor.
- Soft tissue reconstruction helps restore natural-looking form when tissue has been lost.
Other treatments and therapies for non-healing wounds can also include:
- Negative wound pressure therapy (NPWT), in which the wound is covered with an airtight seal, and a vacuum is used to create negative pressure to help stimulate blood circulation.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), in which the patient is placed in a special room to breathe pure oxygen under pressure. This boosts the oxygen content of the blood and can improve blood circulation to the wound.
- Compression bandages or stockings to improve blood flow in the legs, which can help in the healing of venous ulcers.
- Advanced wound dressings. Dressings tailored to the specific problems of the patient’s wound can help keep the wound moist, remove dead tissue, prevent infection, and promote healing. Depending on the nature of the wound, these might include foams, films, gels, or antimicrobial dressings. For a deep or cavity wound, the dressing might involve packing to keep the wound clean and maintain even pressure.
Contact Us for Non-Healing Wound Treatment in Beverly Hills
Contact us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Feldmar if you’re concerned about a wound that is slow to heal. Dr. Feldmar will examine your wound, ask questions to understand your medical history and recommend the safest and most effective approach to treatment.