When Will the Stitches Come out After Blepharoplasty?

It is thought that eyelid skin has the propensity to grow faster than other areas, which can lead to skin growing into the tract that the sutures take. This can lead to skin being embedded within the deeper layers of the skin and eventually cysts within the suture line. Hence, many doctors prefer to remove sutures from the eyelid earlier than later.
Some doctors prefer to remove the eyelid sutures 3-4 days later. Others prefer to wait longer and take them out 5-6 days after the procedure to prevent the incision from opening up. So, the balance is cyst formation on one end and opening of the incision on the other end. Other issues include that when the sutures are in longer there is more chance of scarring and creation of train track type of appearance.

A variety of suture techniques are utilized to close blepharoplasty incisions. Depending upon the method utilized, suture removal varies from patient to patient.When non-absorbable sutures are used, they're generally removed between four to seven days following surgery. Some variation occurs because of the wound healing process. It's important to remove eyelid sutures as soon as possible to avoid cross hatching scars.Theoretically, absorbable sutures don't require removal, but it's not unusual for suture remnants to stick around for prolonged periods of time. It's, therefore, reasonable to start removing these remnants after the first week.If you have questions regarding suture removal, it's important to consult your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to answer your questions and reassure you.

Thank you for your question, because it is often the concern of many patients. There is a balance between taking the stitches out early, for better scar appearance and leaving them in longer for prevention of accidental reopening. I find 5-7 days to be best for overall safety and appearance. Sunglasses should be warn as well to prevent hyperpigmentation of the scars.