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Will Spitting Stitches Affect Breast Lift Scars?

My question is, my scars were healing wonderfully and then for some reason I starting spitting stiches. I went to my PS the first time and he removed 11 stitches. I have since spit several stitches but now know and am comfortable removing them myself. I noticed when I started spitting stitches my scars seemed to go from very fine lines to wider lines ... is this do to spitting stitches or another reason?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by jojo42 in Cornelius, NC

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Will Spitting Stitches Affect Breast Lift Scars?

Spitting stitches, the exposure of stitches is a common complication in Plastic Surgery. It is associated with braided sutures more than others but no suture brand is immune from this complication. Once the suture is exposed, bacteria cover it and as a colonized foreign body the wound will not heal over it unless the suture is removed. Unfortunately the spot where the suture popped out is wider than the rest of the scar and if several stitches were exposed and did so early in the healing... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

35 reviews

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Will Spitting Stitches Affect Breast Lift Scars?

Yes due to the inflammatory response from the suture rejection. Try local care to allow healing. Than silicone sheeting.

Breast Lift Scars and “Spitting” Stitches?

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, sutures can “spit” causing a minor complication along the incision lines. This issue is usually self limited and often resolves quickly after the stitch is removed. Nevertheless, the phenomenon does cause anxiety for the patient and potentially does lead to a wider scar in the area ( because of the increased superficial inflammation). Occasionally, scar revision is necessary to improve the scar's appearance. Hope this helps... more

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Spitting sutures...will they affect my breast lift scars?

Sometimes a suture will spit and the hole will close up and the scar will be normal, and other times the inflammation will lead to a scar that is wider in that area. If the scars become unsatisfactory as a result, your surgeon may be able to revise them and use a different suture material. There is no way to predict in advance who the relatively few patients are that will "reject" any given commonly used suture material.

Stitch splitting and scarring

The splitting of stitches in a wound is not an infrequent occurrence. The wound usually heals with local wound care and without further surgery. If the resulting scar widens, a scar revsion can be planned after 6-12 months under local anesthesia. The important thing is not to have to worry and just follow the advice of your plastic surgeon.

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