Eyelid Surgery: Q&A
Ask a QuestionHow Long Until Plastic Surgery Stitches Dissolve?
I had upper eyelid surgery 8 days ago, and the doctor used dissolvable stitches. How long does it normally take for stitches to dissolve? Is there anything I can do to make them dissolve faster?
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67 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
mnatella
in boston, ma
+4
Dissolving sutures in blepharoplasty
Depending on the suture, dissolving sutures may take anywhere from 5 days to 14 days to dissolve. Warm soaks and topical ointments may speed this process. To achieve the best scar appearance, non dissolving sutures should be run just under the skin from one end of the incision to the other. The suture ends are taped in place and after 3-5 days the suture is easily removed by sliding it out in the office. This leaves no "track" marks on the skin which...
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Dissolving Sutures And Blepharoplasty
If your surgeon used a fast absorbing gut suture, it should dissolve within 7-10 days. In many cases the body digests the suture material under the skin before the visible portion of the suture thread actually falls off. Therefore, you may still see some suture material on the skin at 10 days or so. Keeping the incisions moisturized with ointment (preferably an eye antibiotic ointment) will help speed this process up. One of the worst things you can do is to allow the incision to scab or dry...
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+3
Disolvable suture will most likely stay for 30-60 days
Most disolvable sutures remain for 30-60 days. if they are placed externally, they can be removed one week after surgery.
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Absorbable sutures for upper eyelid surgery
Absorbable sutures can sometimes take longer than expected to dissolve. 1% hydrogen peroxide will hasten this process for some types of sutures and is worth a try. Any remaining sutures should be removed by your surgeon to prevent suture marks.
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Dissolving Stitches for Eyelid Surgery
We have different stitches that dissolve at different times: some will dissolve in 3-5 days, others can take weeks or months!
The dissolving stitches on the surface that you can see will generally dissolve between 3-7 days.
The stitches "dissolve" as a result of your body's reaction to the stitch material. Soaking them in water, for example, won't make them "dissolve" any faster.
Because your surgeon does want them in for a particular time period,...
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Soaking and pulling away can remove dissolvable blepharoplasty sutures
Mnatella,
Be sure to ask your doctor before trying this.
I use gut or chromic sutures when I want a dissolvable suture during blepharoplasty.
Gut dissolves in 4-5 days but Chromic can hang around for 10 to 14 days.
I normally remove non-absorbable sutures at 3-5 days, so you should not need eyelid sutures after 6-7 days normally.
Usually, chromic sutures and some gut sutures dry out and are not really holding the skin together at 6 days. In fact, leaving the suture in longer than 6-7 days...
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+1
Sutures
It depends on the type of absorbable suture. SOme will dissolve after 7-10 days and other can take up to 6-9 weeks to dissolve. It's best to ask your surgeon as he/she knows what suture they used.
Best,
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It May Take Up To 7-10 Days for Stitches to Dissolve
When wounds are closed with fast absorbing gut suture it generally takes about 7 to 10 days before they dissolve. Often residual portions of the suture can be associated with crusting and scabbing. When this happens it can increase the incidence of scarring. This can be avoided by daily cleansing and the application of antibiotic ointment. After 6 to 7 days these sutures serve no function and can be removed.
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Dissolving Sutures vs. Removable Sutures in Eyelid Surgery
A handful of different "dissolvable" or "dissolving" suture types can be used in facial surgery. For the eyelid region, some surgeons will use "fast absorbing gut" sutures. This material can dissolve as early as 3 days or as late as 10 days, depending on the placement area (high movement vs. low), patient behaviors (washing the area, application of creams or peroxide, etc.), and intrinsic healing factors (i.e., how your unique body reacts).
Not only is it difficult to predict...
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Blepharoplasty dissolving sutures.
It depends on what you had done, the suture that the surgeon used, and where he/she put it. Dissolvable sutures can range in their time to finally go away, (i.e.; rapid absorbing cat gut, vs. monocryl). Most will take out external sutures before 7 to 10 days to avoid extra scarring. Usually it is not a good idea to "make" them dissolve faster. They are most likely there for a reason. If you have questions, please call your surgeon. They usually have a...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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