Is it professional to leave blue sutures in visible areas of the nose given they take months to dissolve? (Photo)

Question

I'm a very private person and only shared with immediate family that I had a facelift, brow lift, lip lift and rhinoplasty that I traveled interstate for. One aspect of my experience is weighing on my mind and I wanted another perspective on it. I was left mortified and in hiding with a blue suture clearly visible from the inside of my nose that hung out the center of my nose. I was told to live with it & it would take several months to dissolve. Is this a normal experience?

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

Blue sutures are usually permanent and will not dissolve.  I would recommend removal and not watchful waiting.

Stephen Kleid, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

It does seem odd to leave this blue suture coming out of the columella.
If it is said to be dissolvable, presumably it is a dyed PDS, which will dissolve in 6 months or so.PDS is usually dyed a purple colour.There is a clear PDS suture that should have been used.
However, it looks blue, like Prolene, which will never dissolve.
You should contact your surgeon, because I do not understand why a long-standing suture is necessary in that site anyway, and why it is left coming out of the skin. Ask him/her what it is still doing.
I would never do that. If I leave sutures coming out of the nasal skin, I remove them after 1 week.

Is it professional to leave blue sutures in visible areas of the nose given they take months to dissolve? (Photo)

Answers (2)

More Rhinoplasty Questions

Is it professional to leave blue sutures in visible areas of the nose given they take months to dissolve? (Photo)

Answers (2)

More Rhinoplasty Questions

11 months post op swelling - could this be causing the lack of definition on my nose tip? (Photo)

Is it safe and possible to have a rhinoplasty while having a perforation in the nasal septum?

Is my nose too big for my face or are my lips too small for my nose? How can improve the overall proportions? (photos)