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Surgery Needed for Opened Up Blepharoplasty Stitches?

My stitches have opened up on one side after blepharoplasty. I had the surgery 2 months ago. Will I need blepharoplasty again or can the scar be simply stitched back up?

Asked 29 months ago by Graeme S in uk
Sort 16 expert answers by:
+1

Blepharoplasty incisions should be healed by two months

Since the surgery was two months ago, the incision should be healed.  It is highly unusual for a wound to open up two months after a procedure like blepharoplasty.   Contact your surgeon for a post-operative evaluation.  
William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

If blepharoplasty stitches open at 2 months, there is a wound healing problem

Blepharoplasty incisions should be tightly healed at 6-8 weeks. If yours have opened, there is a problem with wound healing. Are you taking stroids for asthma, arthritis or other problem? Steroids can interfere with wound healing. You need to see your doctor for an evaluation and repair.
Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty incision

It is extremely unlikely that your incision would have opened after two months following surgery. It may be that a semi or permanent suture has worked its way into the skin. In either case, I would follow up with your surgeon. A simple in office procedure can be performed in order to remove any scar tissue and appropriately close the wound.
Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD
Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty should be all healed by 2 months

It would be extremely unusual for the blepharoplasty incision to open after 2 months, whether is has stitches or not. Most surgeons remove the stitches after 5 - 7 days. In any case, if your incision opened, or your scar got wider, go back to your surgeon's office for an assessment. They should be able to deal with this issue. If they can't, consider seeing another surgeon for a consult or write back and include a photo. On a different note, upper lid incisions usually heal extremely... more
Stella Desyatnikova, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Eyelid surgery

This is such a rare occurence that I would definetly go back to your surgeon and have him/her look at it.  By two months everything should be close to 100% healed. 
Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty incisions

I agree with the other remarks that it would be highly unlikely for a blepharoplasty incision to open up after two months. You should return to your surgeon for evaluation. You may have a suture abscess which can be treated without surgery.
Maurice M. Khosh, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty incision

At 2 months it is unlikely that your sutures opened up. You should obviously be seen by your surgeon.  Sometimes small sutures abscesses can develop if subcutaneous sutures were placed. In the majority of blepharoplasties just skin stitches are used.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Needs evaluation

It is unusual for a wound to open up after two months.  You need to have this evaluated to see why this happened, and to try to avoid a recurrence.
Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Stitches coming out after blepharoplasty

If it's been two months, the area can most likely be cleaned and then re-sutured to make the scar as minimal as possible.  This can also probably be done in the office under local anesthesia only.
Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty stitches

It is very unlikely that your stitches have opened up. Most likely, there may be some milia or stitch related irritation as mentioned by the other surgeons. I would recommend you see your surgeon. But it is unlikely you will need to close this incision. However, a scar revision may be required in the future.
Amir M. Karam, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty Wound

Very unlikely that the stitches opened up.  It is likely that you have some milia or a stitch abscess that broke thru.  In an case, if this is small enough it should be left to heal on its own. Good luck.
Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Contact your surgeon for assessment on your Blepharoplasty stitches

Hi, Two months after surgery it is unusual for "stitches to open up." At two months, there should not be any stitches. It is possible for you to have small inclusion cysts or even epithelialized suture tracks that could be inflammed. These are considered minor and not unexpected issues after eyelid surgery. They may required management and this would depend on an assessment of what is actually going on. Your surgeon should be very interested in seeing you and resolving this... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplaty stitches opened up

Generally the wounds are very stable after 2 months and you are likely having a stitch abscess. See your surgeon to make sure there is no other more serious process going on. I would let it heal on its own which may take anywhere from 7days to 3 weeks and then consider scar revision if necessary at a later date.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

You do not need surgery

 This is unusual and and you can let it heal by itself. The best treatment would be to go back to your surgeon and let him or her examine you. If you have bad scar ,it can be revised later.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

Secondary Blepharoplasty for Open Stitches

Most likely not. Small, minor opening of wounds after surgery heal well without another major procedure. These small wounds are normally allowed to heal on their own with close observation. Sometime a single stitch is required. You're already mostly healed at 2 months too. Before anything, make sure your plastic surgeon performs an examination. Stitches may open up due to infection, which are treated with antibiotics. Best of luck.
Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
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