Skin Tag or Scar Tissue

[hotnewfilm]

Earlier this year (in January), after a particularly nasty hemorrhoid episode, I developed a skin tag, which was incredibly embarrassing. I found a surgeon near me and had it removed. After a month, the area, though still pink and sensitive, healed flatly and nicely (it's still somewhat painful to go to the bathroom, but I assume the pain will be less and less over time), but now it appears that the skin in the area has stretched out a bit. Though the doctor told me the skin tag could return, I assumed this would be AFTER another hemorrhoid episode (and in a different area), which I haven't had, but by the looks of the area it appears that it's not a skin tag but scar tissue that's developed, which I wish I had been warned about. It's not very big, certainly not as offensive as the skin tag, but still very bothersome to me, and it doesn't appear as if it's something that can be removed as swiftly and cleanly (without stitches) as the skin tag was. I guess this is a multi-pronged question. If this is just dangling scar tissue, will it shrink over time (it's been two months since the skin tag was removed), and is there something I can do to make the skin re-tighten? If not, is this something the colon and rectal surgeon I went to before can also remove, or will they advise against it so soon after the recent procedure (possibly send me to a dermatologist) or tell me "it's not a big deal" and to "live with it"? Will the scar tissue come back again and again if I keep getting it removed? I guess I want to know if this will be a lost cause before I fork over a hefty consultation fee. As I told my doc, I'm not in pursuit of a perfect butt, I just don't want dangling skin near my anus. Thanks for your help.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You are going to have to ask these questions of the doctor who did the surgery.  I imagine that you have some scar tissue that hasn't fully healed yet.  It's hard to see how you would need anything more done.  I also doubt that you'll be left with anything permanent that's bothersome.

Skin tags don't come from hemorrhoids.  They grow all by themselves, and don't usually return.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[hotnewfilm]

Did I maybe post this message in the wrong thread? I believe the excess skin that sometimes remains after an external hemorrhoid has gone is not called a skin tag, but it's commonly referred to as such (that's what my doc referred to it as). Anyways, it was removed and now scar tissue has grown in; I'm hoping it goes away (crossing my fingers), though the idea of skin stretching out and retightening and flatening out seems like a phenomena that is too good to be true. If someone has gone through something similiar, I'd appreciate some advice.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't follow your comment.  You wrote, "I developed a skin tag," which is why I directed my comments to that condition.  It may be a residual hemorrhoid, in which case it's neither a skin tag nor a scar.

Scars do indeed flatten over time, though I doubt that's what you have.

Your doctor could answer this in a second.  Internet correspondents can't.

Dr. Rockoff