Can the pain of removing breast reduction stitches be prevented?

Question

im looking forward to getting the procedure done one day but i was wondering if they can numb me or put me under anesthetics so i wont feel anything when they remove the stitches.

Brian Coan, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question. I understand why you'd
want to be numbed; however there is often very little discomfort with having
stitches removed.  If you have sutures, the removal should be fairly
painless. You will typically not need any local anesthetic to numb the area.
Additionally, most breast reduction procedures use absorbable sutures, which do
not need to be removed. When in doubt, it's best to have open communication and
speak directly with your board-certified physician and also could be helpful to check in to see
if they used absorbable sutures.  I hope you find relief from your neck and back
pain with your procedure.

Tracy Kayan, MD · Answer

Surgeons have different preferences for suture types, it is always worthwhile asking your surgeon if he/she can use absorbable sutures. You may still possibly have a drain in place that will need to be taken out after surgery, but generally this is not terribly painful (just a strange sensation usually), and the pain of numbing injection is worse than the actual drain removal itself.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. For the appropriately selected patient, breast reduction surgery tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations performed. Discomfort associated with suture removal should be minimal to none (keep in mind, that there is often no suture removal necessary at all after breast reduction surgery); this concern should not prevent you from moving ahead.  I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast reduction surgery concerns) helps. Best wishes.

Michael E. Ciaravino, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

There shouldn't be much discomfort, if any, during the removal of sutures after a breast reduction. In most cases there are not sutures to remove after this type of procedure. There are many interrupted sutures placed in layers during closure, and sutures that run continuously under the surface of the skin, all of which are not visible.

Can the pain of removing breast reduction stitches be prevented?

Answers (4)

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