Eyelid Surgery Q&A
75%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
477 Reviews
Eyelid Surgerybefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Eyelid Surgery Cost: $3,875

Learn about Eyelid Surgery

2,260 people and 796 doctors are talking about Eyelid Surgery

Get Free Email Updates

Non Dissolving Stitch, Now a Knot on the Eyebrow, What Should I Do?

asked 11 months ago by Worst Mistake Ever
Latest answer by Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Question viewed 847 times
Tags: 2 months post-op, bumps, stitches

Non dissolving stitch is sitting on brow bone, 10 weeks post surgery. (10 weeks post upper/lower bleph) It feels like a little knot directly under the skin, which remains puffy immediately around that stitch. It is mildly tender, but not discolored. Other brow did not have this problem. Doc seems baffled. If he goes in to remove it, will I risk a droopy lower lid, or whatever the stitch is supposed to hold? Doc seems baffled, so I'm concerned. Any input is invited!

11 answers to Non Dissolving Stitch, Now a Knot on the Eyebrow, What Should I Do?

+2

Palpable suture after eyelid surgery

Worst mistake ever? It is usually a 3 minute procedure to remove a retained suture, and patients can typically do this under local anesthesia and go to lunch afterward.
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+2

"Worst mistake ever" does not inspire confidence.

First, let's remember that having questions answered by strangers who have not examined you is entertainment and not the practice of medicine. WIthout an examination and a review of your medical records, it is hard to know precisely what is going on. Presumably there is more going on here than just a palpable suture at the eyebrow. Standard blepharoplasty does not involve leaving suture at the brow bone. So immediately one thinks that perhaps a browpexy or internal... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+2

Undissolved suture can be removed.

I'm so sorry you've experienced a set-back following an upper and lower blepharoplasty. I'm a little confused by your question as most upper blepharoplasties do not extend up to the eyebrow? Photos would be really helpful. I'm assuming you are referring to the most outside portion (lateral aspect) of your incision line - right over the outer orbit? If that's the case, a retained stitch can easily be removed. Retained stitches can cause a small... more
Michael G. Brandt, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Typically a dissolving suture is used under the lateral (side) eyebrow during blepharoplasty-may take 3-4 months to dissolve.

Ask your doctor if he used a dissolving suture. Oten a suture is placed in this location to elevate the corner of the eyelids after Blepharoplasty. Typically Vicryl or other long lasting absorbable sutures are used and these can take months to dissolve. Ask your doctor if its OK to massage as this can speed dissolution. If the doctor used a permanent suture it is easy to remove
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+1

Non dissolving stitch below eyebrow

Probably a little more information would be helpful, namely what type of suture the surgeon used. If it is a dissolving suture, I would elect a wait and see approach. But if it is a permanent suture and it is bothering you, then I would ask your surgeon to remove it. I do not think there is much risk of drooping of your eyelid or brow from doing this.
Lawrence Kass, MD

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

+1

Non Dissolving Stitch, Now a Knot on the Eyebrow, What Should I Do?

Hi. The first thing you have to figure out is why there is a stitch in the eyebrow after Blepharoplasty. It probably indicates that the surgeon probably fixated your eyebrow. If he is afraid to remove it , it is probably because he thinks the brow will fall. Given that, you have to have a frank discussion with him and figure out the risks and benefits of removing the suture. How much does it bother you? Would you accept the risk of a brow droop with... more
Sam Goldberger, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.neweyelids.com

+1

Non Dissolving Stitch, Now a Knot on the Eyebrow, What Should I Do?

Your surgeon should be the one to tell you what this is and he is capable of correcting the problem when time is right. We are only guessing what the problem is and it is not a good thing. Sometimes doctors tell the patient that they have to wait for healing to complete but patients want immediate satisfaction and may say the doctor was baffled! So, please follow up with your surgeon and follow his instructions.
Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO

Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Knot under skin after suture Brow Lift

It sounds like this maybe a suture used for a direct Brow Lift suspension technique performed through an upper Blepharoplasty incision. In that case, the suture could be causing localised irritation and tissue inflammation. You should go back and see the plastic and cosmetic surgeon that did the direct brow suspension for treatment and further advice before the suture erodes through the skin.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nondisolving stitch

I have stoped using rapidly disolving sutures because they are unpredictable. The real question is, what was the purpose of that stitch? If it was only to close skin, I would remove it. However, if it is supporting deep structures, only your doctor can advise you
David A. Bray, Sr., MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Non-dissolving stitch

Dear Worst Mistake Ever, Hopefully you are not talking about this surgery you just had being a mistake, and that you have an overall result that you are pleased with?! Is the suture meant to be a dissolvable suture??..if so, it may take another month or 2 to dissolve..if it isn't causing any significant problems, I would wait another few months and in the meantime you can try warm compresses on it and aggressive massage..this tends to help things settle a bit... more
Jasmine Mohadjer, MD

Clearwater Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

10 weeks is still in the early postop healing phase

Hi there, Occasionally, surgeons will choose to use internal sutures during blepharoplasty. Reasons for the sutures may include internal brow supporting sutures, internal canthal tightening sutures, and orbicularis muscle tightening sutures in lower blepharoplasty. All these scenarios would involve having the suture pass into the orbital rim along the upper outer section of the orbit. These sutures can cause focal local swelling and/or tenderness in the first few months... more
Tanuj Nakra, MD

Austin Oculoplastic Surgeon

Ask a question