2 Years After Augmentation I Found A Stitch Present, What Do I Do?

An exposed or protruding suture is not common to see 2 years after breast augmentation but it is not an emergency or serious condition, and it is not malpractice. I am not sure how your capsular contracture could be directly related to this now visible suture. The best action you can take is to go back to your plastic surgeon to evaluate your breasts and deal with the suture. If you have lost faith in your plastic surgeon, you could seek out another opinion. Good luck. 

Hi,

Thank you for your question!

It sounds like you are having a deep rooted permanent suture
surfacing, which is not something to be alarmed about. I would
definitely recommend contacting your board certified plastic surgeon
so he can take the proper steps to remove it.

Good luck!

Dr. Sam Speron

This is pretty common..One thing to remember is you do pay your surgeon to make your breasts bigger but you also are paying them to remove a stitch if it works its way to the surface and fix any problem you might have...In other words, always give them the chance to address your needs. That's what they do!!!

While I only used absorbable sutures for breast augmentation procedures, I do know that other surgeons have used permanent sutures.  Either way, it is not uncommon for sutures to "spit" at various times after surgery.  It sounds as though this has happened to you.  It should be a rather simple fix with your plastic surgeon.

You should focus on removing the stitch as soon as possible.  This is not considered malpractice as these do happen sometimes.  Best of luck, Dr. Michael Omidi

It appears that you have a suture knot that has become infected and worked its way to the surface.  The suture needs to be removed.  Once removed the area will heal normally.   All that is required at this point is to have the sutures, which at this point are acting like a foreign body, removed and proper wound care.  If you develop an invasive infection then antibiotics are required.  It is fairly preposterous to consider this malpractice.   

I wouldn't jump the gun about anything.  First, a suture that comes through the skin is quite common. SOme do not dissolve as well as others.  See your surgeon, and I am sure that he/she will take care of things for you.

If any suture is used to close skin after surgery, it may work its way out over time. This is not malpractice but rather a normal thing for the body to do. Simply call your surgeon and explain the situation.

It is not uncommon to have a deep retained stitch surface after breast surgery. Often times, these stitches are made of absorbable material and your body will 'spit' the stitch before it gets a chance to absorb the stitch material. It sounds as though your stitch might have been a permanent stitch that has surfaced for some unknown reason. I would encourage you to follow-up with your surgeon so that the stitch may be removed. This will allow proper evaluation and appropriate care. In my opinion, a retained stitch that surfaces is not malpractice, simply a minor development in what sounds like an otherwise satisfactory outcome.

Deep sutures coming through the skin is a very common phenomenon though they are usually dissolvable ones that appear within the first 6 - 9 months after surgery. The suture that you are describing is a non-absorbable one instead. Treatment involves its removal. If the healed scar ends up noticeably wide from the inflammation, a scar revision can be performed (under local anesthesia in the office) though this situation is not too common.

If you are still in close proximity with your surgeon, contact him/her and most often they will remove it without issue.