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Did my Doctor Forgot Some Stitches After Septoplasty?

asked 3 years ago by zaid1987 in LA,CA,USA
Latest answer by Umang Mehta, MD
Question viewed 10,224 times
Tags: incision

i had a septoplasty to mix my deviated septum two weeks ago, after 10 days , the doctor took the stiches out which were black colored i think but i found some clear plastic strings tied inside the walls of the nose (where the hair grows) is that normal ?? or did he for got to take them out cuz the were not even close to incision area

14 answers to Did my Doctor Forgot Some Stitches After Septoplasty?

Dissolvable stitches are often used inside the nose

The stitches used to close incisions inside the nose for septoplasty and rhinoplasty surgeries are usually dissolvable. These stitches are usually light brown or whitish in color and can take a few weeks to dissolve and fall out. Don't be alarmed if you notice them inside your nose after surgery. If a stitch is bothering you and has not yet dissolved, check with your surgeon about having it trimmed or removed.

Umang Mehta, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Temporary Sutures After Septoplasty Are Normal

Having some dissolvable sutures used to close part of the septoplasty incision is normal. By using dissolvable sutures, they do not need to be removed which is usually more comfortable for the patient. These should fall out on their own within a couple of weeks. If you are concerned or they are bothering you then I would speak with your surgeon to be sure that they are dissolvable sutures.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty Recovery

Most surgeons use dissolvable sutures (stitches) inside the nose to close the incisions from a septoplasty or rhinoplasty. These are usually a clear/brown color but can be off-white. They can persist for several weeks until they dissolve, and sometimes a fragment of one will come out on its own.. If you have any questions as what remains in your nose, you should return to see your surgeon.

C. Spencer Cochran, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty surgery and sutures

The clear sutures after septoplasty often are the absorbable type that will dissolve with time. Sometimes these absorbable sutures come out on their own before they dissolve. No worries.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Absorbable Sutures After Septoplasty

It is likely you are seeing the residual material from the absorbable sutures that were placed during your septoplasty procedure. It does take several weeks for these sutures to eventually dissolve and go away completely. Saline sprays (essentially medicinal salt water) in the nose does help to keep things moisturized and promotes faster absorption of the suture material.

John M. Hilinski, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Sutures in nose after septoplasty

Yes, it is normal to still have sutures inside your nose after a septoplasty. Nasal surgeons typically use dissolvable sutures inside the nose. Most of these sutures dissolve within three weeks, depending on the specific suture used. If the sutures are still there after three weeks, discuss this with your surgeon. They will likely be able to remove them at that time with ease.

Ryan Greene, MD, PhD
Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Internal Stitches after Septoplasty Surgery

Septoplasty surgery helps improve a deviated nasal septum. Typically, nasal surgeons will place absorbable sutures inside the nose, which slowly dissolve over time. Sometimes sutures or internal silicone splints may need to be removed about one week following nasal surgery. Any concerns should be brought to the attention of your plastic surgeon.

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Septoplasty is a great procedure to improve breathing

Operating on the nasal septum to improve breathing is a good procedure with satisfying results. Inside the nose surgeons usually use absorbable sutures. This is more comfortable for the patient since they do not need to be removed.

Robert Mounsey, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

revesse.ca

After septoplasty there are always sutures left in

Undoubtedly these are absorbable sutures. They are there for a purpose and if you remove them or play with them, you run the risk of damaging the result. Your nose is in a weaked state after surgery and remains so for many months. Any movement has the potential to cause a shifting of the tissues and increase the chance of failure. You can clean your nose, in fact this is encouraged, but without causing any movement.

Oakley Smith, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Most surgeons use absorbable sutures internally during nasal surgery

These likely represent absorbable sutures that were used during your surgery. It is not uncommon for the to start "falling out" 7-10 days after surgery. If you have any concerns, please consult with your surgeon.

Gregory Pippin, MD
New Orleans Facial Plastic Surgeon

Left over sutures from septoplasty

It is possible that what you are seeing are some sutures are used to help stabilize the septum as well as the splints that were used after a septoplasty. At this time, you should return to your surgeon and ask if it's time to remove the sutures. Typically, the sutures stay in place for 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery. If they are causing irritation, your surgeon may elect to remove them at this time.

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Stitches after rhinoplasty

In general, the clear sutures are the dissolving kind that don't need to be removed and the colored ones are the ones that do need to be removed. This is not always the case but a good rule of thumb. You should go see your doctor to have it checked out.

Jason B. Diamond, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Sutures in the nose

Most rhinoplasty surgeons use dissolvable sutures internally. Sometimes non-absorbable sutures are used to hold internal splints in place during the procedure. These are often removed 1-2 weeks after the surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Sutures used for Septoplasty or Rhinoplasty

Most of us use dissolving sutures for anything done inside the nose (unless "stay" sutures are placed to hold a silicone splint in place.) Sutures outside the nose (on the visible skin) are non-absorbable, so they need to be removed 4 to 7 days after surgery to avoid leaving marks. The reason for this distinction in suture choice is that sutures inside the nose are quite uncomfortable to remove when you are awake. After several weeks, some of these absorbable sutures may have... more