When Should Facelift Sutures Be Removed?

Most of the time, the optimal way to minimize facelift incision appearance is to put the incision in the natural crease lines pre and post auricular area which are in normal areas of concavity to convexity along the ear in post auricular and to place deep sutures and remove the sutures early in 7-10 days or less.

Suture removal following a Facelift depends on the type of suture used by the plastic surgeon.  Many surgeons use nylon or prolene suture for a meticulous closer of the skin in front of the ear.  We typically remove this type of suture within 3-5 following surgery to avoid any marks (railroad tracks)  from the suture. For patients who are unable to return within that time frame, we will typically use an absorbable suture underneath the skin that does not require removal.  My personal preference is a fine prolene suture removed within 3-5 days.  

 

In most cases after a Facelift, there may be some sutures to be removed in one week in front of the ear to minimize suture marks.  We use a tissue glue with our facelift patients so sutures in front of the ear are not needed.  Small clips also need to be removed one week post operatively from behind both ears in the hairline.  Two weeks postop there are a few sutures above and behind the ears within the hairline to be removed also.  After the initial healing process the incisions behind and in front of the ears should be hardly noticeable when done correctly by a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

We use sutures to hold the skin in perfecto opposition, but they are foreign bodies to the skin and will cause inflammation and scarring if left in too long.  Removal time depends on size and type of suture used, suture technique, and the amount of tension on the skin.  Also factors to consider is the patients' speed of healing. Diabetics, smokers and the elderly take longer to heal.  The best authority on when to remove the sutures is likely to be the person who placed the sutures.

Thank you for your questions.  I use dissolvable suture therefore patient only need to return for a follow up appointment not to have sutures removed.  This gives my patients a nicer scar, being absorbable and under the skin. I use non absorbable sutures for Upper Eyelids I always recommend between 5-7 days after surgery.  Please consult with your surgeon, as they may have a different protocol.  All The Best 

A variety of
wound closure techniques are utilized when facelift procedures are performed.
In most cases deep absorbable sutures are used in combination with superficial
non absorbable sutures which require removal. In most cases non absorbable sutures
are removed in 4 to 6 days following surgery. This approach helps minimize the
potential for cross hatching and scarring. It’s important to realize that each
patients situation is unique and for this reason care needs to be
individualized.

In my practice facelift sutures are removed 7 days post op. Then scar treatment begins two weeks later using special creams. Other surgeons prefer early removal of facelift sutures, I have not had any issue with taking them at 7 day post op.

When sutures are removed is dependent on the type, size and location of the sutures.patient age, general health, and whether there are buried dermal sutures taking the tension off of the skin closure. Typically I use absorbable sutures for facelifts so none have to be removed.

Each situation is unique and only your surgeon knows the specific details of your procedure and should be the person commenting on post-operative questions such as this - but as a general rule 5 to 7 days.

We typically remove sutures in front of the face at 7-10 days, at 5-7 days around the eyes, and 14 days posterior ear and hairline. Thank you for your question and good luck with everything.