When Will the Stitches Come out After Blepharoplasty?

Question

I had canaloplasty and blepharoplasty on March 13th. This is the following Thursday after surgery. When will stitches come out?
This was only on my lower part of my eyes. My one eye seems to be very watery and the outside corner looks wet. I don't think it is oozing. Is this common with this type of surgery?

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

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.

James R. Gordon, MD, FACS, FAAO · Answer

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.

Richard D. Gentile, MD · Answer

We will remove some sutures as early as 5-7 days but will leave some in as long as 14 days if they are in the heavier skin on the outside portion of the eyelids.  This prevents accidental incision disruption by rubbing eyes at night or rolling on this part of the incision.  Dissolvable sutures are not removed as long as they are fast absorbing.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

DearFlirtbud,
Generally, it is a good idea to get the stitches out as soon as the tissues will support their removal. This is generally about day 4 for the type of surgery you are describing. One of the reasons I do not favor using the CO2 laser to make skin incisions is that the laser thermally injures the skin at the edge of the wound. This means that it is often necessary to wait 10 days or more before the tissues will support the removal of the sutures. Some doctors use a quickly dissolving suture material to close the eyelid skin after surgery. In principle, the stitches should dissolve in the first week, but often they don't and need to be removed.
I would recommend that you contact your surgeon and find out when the stitches are coming out.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Sutures can be either dissolvable or the kind that need to be removed.  If they are the kind that need to be removed, they need to be removed five to seven days after the surgery.  The dissolvable kind typically disappear at day 5 to 7 post blepharoplasty.  There are usually no sutures placed on the lower blepharoplasty surgery.  The tissue glue is used to close the lower lid pinched skin, and the transconjunctival removal on the inside of the eyelid requires no sutures.

When Will the Stitches Come out After Blepharoplasty?

Answers (9)

Answer: Generally, wait until 4th or 5th day after Blepharoplasty

Answer: Generally, wait until 4th or 5th day after Blepharoplasty

Answer: Sutures can be dissolvable

Answer: Sutures can be dissolvable

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When Will the Stitches Come out After Blepharoplasty?

Answers (9)

Answer: Generally, wait until 4th or 5th day after Blepharoplasty

Answer: Generally, wait until 4th or 5th day after Blepharoplasty

Answer: Sutures can be dissolvable

Answer: Sutures can be dissolvable

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

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