Q: I am a 31 years old female. About 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Shortly after completing my course of medication, a lump developed in front of my neck. The doctor told me that it was a relapse of TB and subsequently, they put me back on medication for another 6 months. The lump grew bigger and more tender. The doctor used a needle and withdrew the pus from the lump. But the lump did not go away. The lump somehow moved its way down to my upper chest. Pus started to develop again. It started leaking out one day and eventually left an open tissue scar. Although the area is healed. There still exists a 2.5 x 2.5 scar. Certain areas of my skin have got discoloured. I would like to know if my skin can get back to its original condition. I've already consulted with 2 surgeons. Please advise.

A:You would require a clinical evaluation by a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist to evaluate the state of the underlying disease process and whether any corrective surgery can be done or not. In case there is some active TB infection, then any surgery is ruled out since healing is delayed and can lead to the formation of a fistula.