Liposuction Q&A

71%

WORTH IT RATING

494 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Liposuction Cost: $5,150

Learn about Liposuction

2,768 people and 782 doctors are talking about Liposuction

Get Free Email Updates

Will Sutures from Liposuction and Mini Tummy Tuck Be Visible?

asked 2 years ago by 700ed in ga
Latest answer by Christopher L. Hess, MD
Question viewed 1,153 times
Tags: abs

I went to a consulation with a plastic surgeon for Liposuction and Mini Tummy Tuck. We also talked about ab suturing but I did not think to ask if & when the sutures dissolve would the ab muscle stay in place? Would the sutures be visible in any way, bumps or lines? Thanks for any help.

eddie

13 answers to Will Sutures from Liposuction and Mini Tummy Tuck Be Visible?

Depending on the suture it can take months

It continues to amaze me what "surgeons" will sell to the general public-"ab suturing" an interesting twist. All buried sutures will dissolve anywhere from 3 to 6 months after surgery. So this "ab suturing" which I assume is an attempt to recreate the "6-pack" will have sutures that likely dissolve relatively quickly. So will you have the 6-pack look once they dissolve or for that matter immediately after the surgery? Maybe but I think it's snake... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Lipo and Mini Tummy Tuck sutures are usually not visible

The sutures used for tightening the muscles during tummy tuck are deep enough that they cannot be felt, even in thinner patients. I have never had a patient complain about that. I use permanent sutures so you don't have to worry about the muscle separating. To close the incision, I use dissolvable sutures underneath the skin, so while you may feel a little bumpiness at first, the sutures usually dissolve to leave a fine line scar that has no suture marks or bumps. Good luck.... more

Shain A. Cuber, MD
Marlboro Plastic Surgeon

www.AssociatesinPlasticSurgery.com

Abdominoplasty, mini-abdominoplasty, liposuction

Dear Eddie, There are different types of sutures used for the skin and the muscle in an abdominoplasty. For the muscle tightening- the surgeon may use a permanent stitch- such as a nylon, prolene or braided suture, or they may use an absorbing suture such as a PDS. These sutures are usually very deep and not visible or palpable. The skin closure sutures may be a combination of permanent and disolving sutures. Most surgeons will place these beneath the skin (they are disolving/hidden and... more

Trevor M. Born, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Suture visibility

Eddie, Even if your skin under your belly button was really, really thin it would be very unlikely to feel the sutures. Your ABPS board certified plastic surgeon will know what type of suture to use and where to place the knots so that they aren't palpable after surgery. Many patients have this concern even if they have a good amount of fatty cushion in the lower abdominal area. As far as the muscles rewidening after surgery, by the time absorbable sutures disappeared (most of the time we... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

Tummy tuck muscle stitches

700, The stitches used to tighten your muscles are usually permanent and not visible externally. If your surgeon uses an absorbalble stitch, the muscles usually stay in their tightened position after the stitch absorbs because they scar into that position. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck and liposcution

A mini tummy tuck allows for plication of the muscles in the midline from the umbilicus down to the pubic region. If you want/need tightening above the umbilicus, then you probably need to undergo a full tummy tuck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Plication suture should not be felt

Plication of the abdominal fascia(layer above and attached to the muscle) is a key step in tummy tuck surgery.Most surgeons would prefer a non absorbable suture however a late dissolving absorbable suture could work as well. These plications suture are placed deep under the skin flap that it wod be hard to feel. It is important to hide the knot specialy in thin patients. Best of luck!

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Sutures not visible

Unless you are extremely thin and your surgeon uses permanent suture materials, your sutures wll not be visible although sometimes you can feel them. Whether or not the muscle repair is successful will depend on things beyond the sutures themselves.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Sutures are generally not visible in tummy tucks

Every surgeon has different preferences for suturing a patient's muscles and skin in a tummy tuck. Usually they are not visible and most are absorbable.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck and liposuction scars

The deep sutures should not be palpable, even in very thin patients, whatever the suture material. The muscles are generally tightened up to the umbilicus with a conventional mini tuck. In the appropriate patient, a Hybrid tummy tuck (TM) can tighten all the way up including above the belly button through a mini-tuck incision. Liposuction is possible with either technique and should leave minimal scarring, no additional if the liposuction is done in the abdomen. Usually if flank... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Muscle sutures for tummy tuck

Dear Eddie, Different surgeons use different suture material for tightening the abdominal wall muscles. Some use permanent sutures (I do this) and others use long-lasting dissolvable sutures, which usually go away in about 12 weeks. The sutures are not visible in any way, as they are buried below the skin and fatty layer of your abdominal wall. Best of luck with your surgery.

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Suture visibility

Following mini abdominoplasty, sutures may be placed in the abdominal wall. These sutures are deep in the muscle fascia. Only in very thin women would these sutures be palpable. With liposuction, no sutures are used to close the skin. These small incisions heal almost imperceptibly in several months.