{"id":978,"date":"2009-11-13T11:48:51","date_gmt":"2009-11-13T16:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2009\/11\/13\/bump-incision-after-open-heart-surgery\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T11:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T16:40:29","slug":"bump-incision-after-open-heart-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2009\/11\/13\/bump-incision-after-open-heart-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"“Did You Have A Bump At The Top Of Your Incision?” Asks Alice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alice just sent me a great question about incision and scar care after heart valve surgery.<\/p>\n

She writes, “Adam, I am 55 and had open heart surgery to replace my valve<\/a> about three weeks ago. Most of my scar looks OK, flat and thin.\u00a0 My concern is the top of the scar — around and above the top of the incision is a big protruding lump.\u00a0 It is soft, not hard, and is not sore. Did this happen to you? Thanks, Alice”<\/p>\n

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Alice’s question just brought back a distinct memory from my early recovery. Like Alice, I also had a bump at the top of my incision. It wasn’t very noticeable but I questioned Dr. Starnes, my surgeon, about the bump during my surgical follow-up.<\/p>\n

Dr. Starnes assured me that the bump was completely normal and that the swelling would go down. As you can see in the picture above, there is a raised bump at the top of the patient’s scar.<\/p>\n

Well, Dr. Starnes was right. In a few weeks, the swelling went down and then… disappeared. Now, you can barely even tell I had open heart surgery.<\/p>\n

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I hope this helps Alice (and perhaps you) learn more about incision healing – especially bumps at the top of the scar.<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/p>\n