I had Moh's 9 weeks ago on my cheek. The entire area is still puffy, raised, and slightly red. It is also hard and lumpy (Photo)

Question

I massage it at night and I hear a crunchy noise, which makes me think the internal sutures haven't dissolved....How long until the puffiness goes down and it's no longer raised? I

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Moh’s surgery on the face often requires surgical repair and reconstruction to reapproximate the skin edges. Flaps or direct closure techniques are used. It is important that you optimize scar healing during this phase in order to reduce longterm scars. For red scars, we use Vbeam laser, followed by fractional laser for scar topography and contour. We recommend Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily for the immediate postoperative period. Fractional laser is safe for scar laser therapy. 
There are treatments for swelling and edema of the scars. If there is residual sutures or edema, we advise you to follow a scar treatment protocol that can minimize the time to recovery. Our office specializes in scar revisions for Moh’s surgery. 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Ariel Ostad, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It appears that you had a reaction to the stitches under your skin.  I encounter that from time to time and tend to treat the area with an injection of dilute cortisone. The stitches typically take 3 months to dissolve which will result in a much flatter and less red appearance. Best,Ariel Ostad MD PC

John Louis Ratz, MD · Answer

You have probably reacted to the deep (absorbable) sutures. Depending on the type of sutures used, many will absorb in a month under normal circumstances. However, I have seen such sutures persist for nine months before "spitting" out of the skin surface. If your sutures have not absorbed, as I suspect, you are having a foreign body reaction where your immune system is working to remove the suture material. This activity can either digest the material or force it to "spit". While massage (more frequently than just every night) may help prevent thickening of deeper scar tissue, it won't hasten removal of the suture material. Continuous warm moist compresses will increase blood flow and speed up healing including suture digestion, but it may still require months to do this. The great healer here is time and the wisdom and experience of your surgeon.

I had Moh's 9 weeks ago on my cheek. The entire area is still puffy, raised, and slightly red. It is also hard and lumpy (Photo)

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Mohs Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

I had Moh's 9 weeks ago on my cheek. The entire area is still puffy, raised, and slightly red. It is also hard and lumpy (Photo)

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Mohs Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.