I Had a Blepharoplasty 8 Months Ago. Today a Stich is Poking Through the Skin. Is This OK?

Question

The surgeon told me at the time that he used dissolvable sutures on the superficial layer, whilst a non-dissolvable suture remained deeper. I had no issues after removal of sutures and the scar has healed and remained good until today. There is a small round raised area with what lloks like a white suture end sticking through. What should i do?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Your surgeon should be able to remove this stitch at an office visit.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Luis Villar, MD, FACS · Answer

If a permanent suture is used to secure the muscle to the lateral corner of the eye, sometimes it will show through the skin in thin patients. After 8 months, it can be safely removed with a simple nick in the skin. Its job has been done. Best wishes. Knowledge is power. Luis F. Villar MD FACS

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

It is not like the deep stitches are buried miles under the skin. Removing this type of suture is not a big procedure. Contact your surgeons office, let them know what is going on, and let them take care of it. At the same time, they can look to see if there are any other sutures that need to be removed.

Joshua Cooper, MD, FACS · Answer

Occasionally absorbable sutures may be "spit" out by the body before they are fully absorbed.  Your plastic surgeon should be able to remove this without much difficulty. Additionally, if it is a permanent suture protruding through the skin, this too will need to be removed.  
	
		Definitely, contact your surgeon so he/she may evaluate this.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

8 months after surgery, a suture extruding through the skin is not the normal course events but unlikely to have any effect on your result. I recommend seeing your Surgeon for evaluation and treatment of the problem.

I Had a Blepharoplasty 8 Months Ago. Today a Stich is Poking Through the Skin. Is This OK?

Answers (5)