Periareolar Lift- Permanent Suture Undone?

I am positive my left permanent purse string suture is Not connected. A couple months after surgery I saw a stitch and thought it was one that was suppose to dissolve so I cut it! I had no idea I had permanent stitches underneath. I guess is was poking out where the knot was. The appearance is bothering me when the nipple is not cold/contracted. My PS said everything was fine and it was still there. I was not completely honest and did not tell him I cut some stitch. I dont know what to do now!

Tags:

periareolar stitches sutures

Comment on this

6 Doctor Answers | Asked by Malibulove

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (1)

Periareola stitch

First, you shoudl always be honest with your surgeon. Second, if the permanent suture was cut it may lead to widening of your areola.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Periareolar Stitch Cut and Areolar Widening

If the periareolar stitch is cut, this will tend to cause areolar widening, particularly in the early postoperative period. If you inform your plastic surgeon that the stitch was cut, this will provide for a better exam and to help in your overall care.

Concerns about Areola Symmetry after Cutting Suture?

At this point, I would continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns/questions. If the areola spreads as a result of a permanent suture being caught, revisionary surgery may be necessary to improve the areola symmetry. Often, this procedure can be done under local anesthesia. Best wishes; hopefully, you'll be very pleased with the long-term outcome of the procedures performed.

Patient-cut periareolar suture--areola will eventually stretch out.

What you did was unfortunate, but I've had patients do similar things as well. Being honest with your surgeon is a good thing (especially since you expect the same courtesy from him), but he will eventually figure this out anyway, since your areola will stretch (more) compared to the opposite side where the suture is still intact, requiring local anesthesia revision. Even though this is technically "your fault," if you were my patient I'd still not charge you anything but a small... more

Permanent Suture

The most important issue to address is being honest with your surgeon. It is not possible for the surgeon to give their professional opinion without knowing all the facts. It does sound like the permanent suture purse-string remains intact if your surgeons says so as this is usually easily felt. Good Luck

Periareolar Lift- Permanent Suture Undone?

If your surgeon examined you and told you the pursestring was still there, it most likely is. It is pretty easy to feel, and follows the course of the circular scar around the areola. In that setting, you most likely did cut a dissolving suture. If the pursestring is gone, that areola will get larger than the other. Best wishes.

Doctors will not see your comments on their answers. If you'd like to follow up, please go here to ask another question.

Comments (1)

Malibulove 15 Jan 2013

Thanks for the comments! I called him today and told him. I'm seeing him tomorrow. It is my left breast, which doesn't seem "right" anyways besides the suture ordeal. Feels low, like it slid out from under the muscle; possibly bottomed out. I am ready to be totally honest with him tomorrow!

Ask a Question