Will Dissolvable Stitches Have "Pop" Feeling on TT Incision? Or Is This Something Else?

Question

I am 4 weeks 2 days po from TT surgery today while I was just standing I felt a "pop" in my incision line. I thought it opened until I looked and it was fine and closed. It had burning sensation for about 2 min and is tender to touch. Is it just the disolvable stitches or should I be concerned? Thanks

Adam Tattelbaum, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.
	It is unlikely that sutures will pop after tummy tuck, but it is not impossible.  Sometimes an early scar tissue band will form  motion can break or stretch the scar tissue leading to a popping sound as well.
	There are two important sets of sutures in the tummy tuck.  One set that tightens the abdominal wall muscles if your surgeon performed muscle tightening. The other set of sutures are the sutures that are used to close the skin.
	It is more likely if a suture broke to be the Incisional sutures. The muscle tightening sutures are usually much stronger.  This is usually not a worrisome problem because there are so many of them.  Sometimes a plastic surgeon will use additional sutures to quilt the abdominal skin to the abdominal wall. It is also possible but unlikely that these could lead to a popping sound as well.
	As the long as there is no big bulge suddenly it is probably a scar band or a single less important suture, but I would simply give a call to your plastic surgeon and make sure that he is aware of your concern.  He or she will probably want to invite you in just to be checked out at the next available office hours.
	Good luck as you continue to heal.

David J. Levens, MD · Answer

You should check in with your surgeon for a quick look and reassurance.

	Most likely a dissolving suture has dissolved or pulled away from the tissues which is common and of no consequence as you are already 4 weeks postop and the incision line remained intact.  There are plenty of other sutures surrounding and multiple layers to assure that you will heal well.

Joseph M. Perlman, MD · Answer

In a tummy tuck the underlying muscle is often plicated. By that I mean that the thin white sturdy layer over the to vertical rectus muscles is sutured with a series of sutures to flatten the central portion of the abdomen. In addition the deep layer underneath the fat is closed with sutures. Another level of sutures is placed in the subcutaneous or fatty tissue and then finally a final layer of sutures is placed in the skin. Any of these deeper sutures may have "popped" but most surgeons put the sutures in as interrupted sutures so that if you do break it doesn't affect the integrity of the wound closure.

Will Dissolvable Stitches Have "Pop" Feeling on TT Incision? Or Is This Something Else?

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Will Dissolvable Stitches Have "Pop" Feeling on TT Incision? Or Is This Something Else?

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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