How long do dissolvable sutures take to completely dissolve and when can I start applying a scar treatment to them? (Photo)

Question

I had a BA 19 days ago and my PS used all dissolvable sutures. Not sure when I can safely start applying a scar treatment to them?

Dean Trotter, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

Without knowing what sutures your PS has used it is hard to say how low it will take for your sutures to dissolve.  Generally dissolving sutures start to dissolve at about 3 weeks, and are mostly resorbed by 6.  Some however last for 6 months.Your scars look very good and I would be happy for your to apply paper or silicon tape at this stage for 3-12 weeks and then massage the scars with moisturiser such as sorbolene or any other scar treatment you think might be helpful.It is always best that you check with your PS for specific advice regarding your sutures and wound care.Kind regards,Dean

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

The human skin heals with scars and therefore scar formation is inevitable even after aesthetic surgery. The quality of the scar depends mainly on surgical technique (how much force is applied on the scar during the healing period), the sutures used (absorbable vs non-absorbable) as well as the patients genetics. Sun exposure and nutrition also have a major effect on the quality of the final scar. 
It takes 1 year for the scar to mature and gain its final appearance. This usually results in fading of the scar color which makes it less visible. Sun exposure can result in a permanent hyper-pigmentation of the scar during the healing period. Genetically some skins are more prone to hypertrophic scars or keloids. Therefore proper scar management during the healing process period (first 6 months) is mandatory for a good result. This includes use of silicone tapes and proper sunscreen protection.
Silicone gels or tapes are usually administered to prevent the surgical scars to become hypertrophic and hence achieve the best scar quality . When to use is totally the preference of the surgeon. In my practice for breast and body aesthetics, I usually use a special water resistant strip on the incision lines during surgery which are left in place for a month allowing the patient to take shower immediately the day after surgery. This is of major comfort to the patient as he/she does not need to change any dressings and can freely return back to routine life. After removal of the tapes 1 month post surgery, I usually administer silicone gels and tapes for controlling the scar quality.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Breast incisions can be managed using a multimodal approach:1)  Scar massage - starting as soon as the surgical dressings come off and the incisions are sealed2)  Silicone sheets or scar gels for about six months to year3)  Embrace - a tension reducing dressing for the first 2 months4)  Fractionated lasers to help blend the scar into the background - done as a series, starting about 4 weeks after surgery and repeated every four weeks for six months.5)  Sunscreen to prevent the scars from darkeningThe main role for silicone sheets is to keep the incisions hydrated during the remodelling phase of the scar maturation.  This allows the underlying cells to work in a more optimized fashion.  The brand is less important but compliance usually follows ease of use.  Silicone usually has less skin irritation concerns with use compared to adhesives.  They can also be re-used.

Michael Horn, MD · Answer

Depending on the type of absorbable  sutre, they can dissolve within a couple months. I usually advise my patients to use a cream which accelerates and improves healing for the first six weeks.After that if the incision is healing well, i recommend other creams or scar strips for the incision to mature faster and better.

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

There are many types of dissolvable sutures and they each have their own dissolution time. Some take days-some take months.I do not recommend applying any cream until incision site is completely and totally healed.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank you very much for
message.  It does look as if your scar is
healing well at this time.  At Aurora we
normally recommend that you apply tape to the scar for 4 to 6 weeks
following surgery and thereafter start massaging the scar with a silicone based
treatment such as Kelocote. We find that this helps the scar
mature and fade as quickly as possible to give you the best result in the long
term.

However, I think it would be worth
discussing with your plastic surgeon their preference as many plastic surgeons
have slightly different practices when it comes to scar healing and what they
advise to make sure the scars are healing as well as possible during the recovery period.

Best wishes

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

If you're prone to scarring, its certainly worth a go.  If you're not, the vast majority of these scars will heal without any scar treatment.  And its always best to clear anything you are doing that may affect your outcome with the surgeon that did the procedure.  Your scars do not appear unusual at all at this stage of the journey.

Khashayar Mohebali, MD, FACS · Answer

It is very hard to answer without knowing what type of suture was used in your surgery. More commonly used sutures dissolve in about 6 weeks. However, there are sutures that last more like 6 months.I tell my patient to start using scar cream on their healing incisions in 2 weeks after surgery. Good luck.

Timothy Connall, MD, FACS · Answer

You should get the approval of your surgeon before applying things to your scars.In our practice, patients are allowed to used silicone sheeting or silicone ointment on their scars about 10-14 days after surgery as long as healing is normal.  The Embrace system is another options for scar management, though this is a new product and may not be available outside the U.S. at this time.Best wishes.

How long do dissolvable sutures take to completely dissolve and when can I start applying a scar treatment to them? (Photo)

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