My purse string sutures were cut down, not removed. Is that normal to do?

Question

After a full T breast lift I had my one month appointment today where the areola tapes were removed. I noticed sutures sticking out of my skin like a rainbow, one on each breast (not the ends or any pointy parts of the sutures). The nurse took scissors and cut the sutures and let the cut ends go back into my skin. Everything I've read said if exposed they should be removed. I have not read of them being cut, and the two ends pushed back into the skin. Was this normal and sanitary to do?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question,I would recommend you ask your PS if the sutures are absorbable or not, if they are than it is okay to have them trimmed, best of luck.

Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS · Answer

You need to ask your surgeon whether the sutures were absorbable or not. In case they were non-absorbable, my advise would be to have them removed.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a good question for your surgeon. Ask about it at your next visit. If the sutures were tehy type that your body absorbs, then it should not be a problem.

Rami Ghurani, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Good question. If they are truely purse string permanent suture, then it is appropriate to trim ends. If you keep the area clean and apply antibiotic ointment, you should be fine. If the suture is a dissolving type then it would have been better to remove the stitch, to speed up the healing.

My purse string sutures were cut down, not removed. Is that normal to do?

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My purse string sutures were cut down, not removed. Is that normal to do?

Answers (4)

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