Sutures Not Dissolving on Upper Eyelids?

I had and eyelift and mid-face lift done 9 days ago and things seem to look good except my upper lids which still show redness and swelling where the 'dissolving' sutures are. What can I do about this? The Dr. does not seem to be concerned about it.

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upper eyelids

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by Deborah L. in NYC

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Irritation from Dissolving Stitches

I would advise you to have your surgeon take another look as he/she may want to remove any remaining stitches: if there is redness, there may be too much skin irritation from the stitches.

Dissolving sutures after eyelift and facelift

I'm a Cosmetic Oculofacial (Speciaizing in Eyelid and Facelift Surgery) Plastic Surgeon practicing for 15 years with offices in Manhattan's Upper Eastside. If the dissolving stitches are 6-0 fast absorbing plain gut sutures, they should be well dissolved by 9 days after habing your eyelift and facelift. In my practice, I usually see my patients in 5-7 days to clear off any dissolving stitches which haven't completely dissolved.

Eyelid Sutures Should Not Be Forgotten

It is perfectly fine to use permanent sutures, such as Nylon, which are easily removed 4-5 days following surgery, or dissolving sutures, such as fast-absorbing gut, which usually dissolve in 5-6 days. However, it is not acceptable to have sutures in place for 9 or more days. For whatever reason, including the possibility that suture material with a slower resorption index was used, your stitches have not fully dissolved and at this point are potentially producing unnecessary... more

Eyelid Sutures Should Not Be Left Alone

The eyelid sutures are causing an inflammatory reaction as your body "dissolves" them. An excessive reaction may lead to a less desirable scar. Even if they are dissolvable, they can be removed. Your doctor can evaluate your condition and easily remove them, if he thinks they need to come out.

9 days is a bit long for upper eyelid sutures

9 days is a bit long for upper eyelid sutures. You might want to touch base with your surgeon once again. If they look like fishing line, they might be nylon sutures that need to be removed. If they are brown/clear they might be absorbable fast absorbing gut that that should have dissolved by now.

Dissolving Sutures After Eyelid Surgery

Nine days is long for the eyelid sutures to be in place. I like to remove my eyelid sutures after 4 days as they are not necessary and can cause annoyance, delayed return to looking "healed", and possiby "dot" scars. Your doctor's nurse should be able to remove those sutures in less than a minute.

Eyelid sutures

I would give it some time. The sutures will dissolve and the doctor can remove them in time if needed. A tincture of time is all that is needed here. 9 days is a very very short period after surgery.

Sutures after blepharoplasty

The dissolving sutures can sometimes irritate the skin sometimes. The solution is simple. Have your surgeon remove them.

Dissolving sutures causing redness

The upper eyelids are exquisitely sensitive. The skin around this area can be easily perturbed. Dissolving sutures have the following distinct disadvantages: More reactive to surrounding skin Unpredictable absorption pattern- may dissolve earlier or later than ideal. If sutures dissolve too late, can cause abnormal scarring such as track marks Limited in how small suture size- Due to the fragility of the material of dissolving sutures, they... more

Eyelid suture removal

Both dissolving and non dissolving sutures can cause irritation. I find that the dissolving sutures tend to cause more redness and swelling. If you are having redness and irritation at 9 days and the sutures are still in place your doctor may want to remove them. Usually sutures can be removed 5-7 days after upper eyelid surgery.