my skin around the main incision site plus the mid abdomen area is turning yellow. At first I thought it was left over stain from the operation but no, it would have washed away by now (and doesnt appear anywhere else). Then I thought it was bruising, but everyone else has described their bruising as purple. If you press on the yellow areas with your fingertiips, then draw them away, it will momentarily leave imprints of your fingertips for a sec, then return to yellow. I'm concerned about infection???

Any input would be appreciated. Has this happened to anyone else....

I turned yellow around my main port site too........still am a little yellow. Mine is just bruising, you want to look for redness because that would be a sign of infection.

I had the same yellow you describe, and I chalked it up to bruising (which is what it was, at least in my case). I didn't notice a lot of purple bruising, but I might have had some and just didn't pay much attention to it. I think that yellow (and often green before it) is just another, later stage of bruising, like when you get a black and blue mark, and as it heals, it turns the same colors.

As far as the imprint, my guess is that's probably normal too, because a bruise is blood under the skin -- even if it's yellow at this point. Press down, take it away, and the color returns, just like when you have a sunburn.

If you don't have any other symptoms -- like excessively hot skin, discharges of any kind, etc. -- you probably have absolutely nothing to worry about. But if it still concerns you in a day or so, definitely call your doctor. He or she might tell you that it's part of the normal healing process, but at least you'll be hearing it from them.

Yellow/green can be the last stage coloring of a bruise - as the bruise heals it usually goes from purple/blue, violet, greenish, dark yellow, light yellow and then is gone. It usually takes approx 6-7 days for a bruise to heal.

If by "imprints" you means the yellow skin turns white - much like if you press your fingers firmly into your forearm, it is white-ish, and then returns to normal... this is normal.

If by "imprints" you mean, your fingers dent in the skin - as if there is swelling there and your fingers sink in some, leaving dents that take a a while to disappear, that may or may not be "normal" and you should speak with your doctor about what is normal for you.

I'm a "better safe than sorry" gal... I think if there is any question in your mind about whether or not your site looks normal, you should give your doctor a call.

HTH some, good luck.

Yellow is one of the stages of bruises healing. Mine were dark purple and red before they turned yellow. If your skin just went from normal to yellow, I'd be curious about that, but it's still probably just part of bruising. Still, if you're concerned, I'd ask my doctor.

I was yellow too...for quite awhile. It was just bruising and eventually went away.

I want to thank everyone for their answers. I now believe its nothing but late stage bruising. There are no other indications of infection - no redness - no oozing/seepage etc. Guess I just panicked a little. Didnt know to expect it. Thanks for being around on a weekend when I couldnt reach Dr's office.

When I woke up from surgery Ihad 6 bandaids! I have 6 incision sites...is this normal? all are very small except the one for my port and that is about an inch long...

6 incisions is very normal. Some people have less but some have 6. It all depends on the doctor really.

My belly is purple and yellow (Go LSU!!!)

:biggrin:

That is funny because we live in Louisiana also and that is the first thing my hubby said, Wow Jess, you are supporting LSU!. I should of figured that from him..