I Am 8 Months Post Op TT with Lipo, I've Had Multiple Abscess from Sutures.

I am 8 months post op TT with lipo, I had multiple suture abscess from dissolving sutures. At 7 month I developed an abscess and my surgeon retrieved some of the permanent black suture which seems to be the problem, 2 weeks later another large abscess to the right of the frist one. The left side of my stomach is great, no problems since day 1. On the right side the scar is raised, purple and sensitive. Should I anticipate more abscess to come? Anything I can do to prevent it?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by sicily35 in Florida

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Suture abscesses.

Unfortunately, suture abscesses are unpredictable and can occur even with absorbable sutures. If a suture is infected, the treatment is to remove the suture. Many surgeons use these permanent sutures in a tummy tuck deep in the tissue to provide the strength of the closure. By 8 months, these sutures are no longer providing strength and removing them is unlikely to have any effect on your results. The scars after an infected suture removal are formed by allowing the body to heal over time.... more

David Bogue, MD

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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Tummy Tuck Suture Problem

Unfortunately, suture, when it gets infected, has to be removed. Bacteria will sit on the suture making it act similar to a sliver. The good news is that when all of the contaminated suture finally works its way out then usually all of your scars will start to mature and fade. The final result should look good; you just have to be patient. Keep working closely with your doctor and I think you will be very happy in the end.

Multiple Abscess from Sutures.

Sicily, Unfortunately it is possible for you to expect further issues with your sutures. During closure of any wounds, plastic surgeons are taught to place both deep sutures in the dermis(skin) and superficial sutures in the dermis(Skin). The strenght of the closure is really dependent on the sutures in the deeper dermal layer. It is rare for a situation to develop 7 months post-operatively from sutures that are absorbable. Most absorbable sutures are... more

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck - Suture Abscesses

Hi sicily35, Unfortunately, suture abscesses can form (more common with permanent sutures than dissolvable sutures, but can occur with either) and, when they do, the sutures need to be removed. Removing the offending suture is usually successful in clearing the abscess - unless the same thing happens again with another suture. It can become a bit of a chase in that sense. The good news is that once the tissues are healed (by about a year or so) the sutures become less and... more

Suture infection after tummy tuck.

Sutures can become infected after any procedure. After a tummy tuck there is a large amount of suture material that potentially can become infected. If the suture is infected then it will likely create more abscesses until all the infected suture has been removed.