Are there risks associated with permanent sutures used for tummy tucks?

Question

After a lot of reading, it seem that permanent (non-dissolvable) sutures are commonly used internally when repairing the abdominal muscles in tummy tucks, often a form of nylon based on what I'm reading. This makes me kind of anxious: do they tend to hold up for life? What happens if one breaks? Does the risk of them breaking go down as time passes - or is it less of an issue if they do break years later because scar tissue forms? And finally, do some have immune responses to permanent sutures?

Peter D. Geldner, MD · Answer

Thanks for your great question. It is true, many plastic surgeons use permanent sutures for muscle plication. I used to also. There were some annoying features my patients experienced which led me to use PDS sutures( long lasting, dissolving). Permanent sutures don't change over time, but their importance diminishes over time. Scar tissue takes over. During secondary procedures, I sometime find the old sutures with no tension; serving no purpose. If a suture breaks, the result depends on when it happens, and if there is one, two, or many sutures in the repair. So the answer to your question is complicated. I am not aware of any immune response to permanent sutures

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding the safety and durability of permanent sutures used in tummy tucks.
Due to their proven reliability and safety, permanent sutures are routinely used in various medical fields, including orthopedics, vascular surgery, and neurosurgery. In the context of a tummy tuck, these sutures serve to secure the rectus muscles, contributing to long-lasting results permanently.
While the sutures are designed to last a lifetime, there are rare instances where they might break. To mitigate this risk, surgeons often use multiple permanent sutures. This way, even if one breaks, the others remain intact, preserving the integrity of the abdominal wall repair.

As for longevity, the likelihood of sutures breaking does not increase with age. Furthermore, these sutures are biologically inert and typically do not trigger immune responses. Very rarely, an infection may occur or the body may reject a suture, necessitating surgical intervention for removal. However, these cases are extremely uncommon.
I hope this clarifies your concerns about the use of permanent sutures in tummy tucks.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Scar tissue will slowly grow to surround the permanent sutures, so if used they are typically not a problem down the road.  The type of sutures used will vary be surgeon.  I encourage you to ask questions about your surgeon's preference and reasoning.  It is important that you are comfortable and confident in your surgical plan.

Cagil Meric Erenoglu, MD · Answer

Hi, IgLmx! Thank you for your question.
While rectus diastasis repair, polypropylene is the most commonly used suture. It is permanent and stays with you throughout your life. While time, the strength of the suture itself reduces, but the strength of the fibrotic tissue increases. So breaking of the suture becomes no longer an issue in following months.
In the first 6 months, breaking of this suture may lead to failure of the procedure, necessitating a revision or acceptance. That's why we do three layers of repair to guarantee as much as possible.
It is very rare, if not none, to have a reaction towards this suture.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Scar tissue forms around sutures over time. Initially, permanent sutures are used to tighten the muscles since that area heals slowly and scar tissue forms slowly. Dissolving sutures would be dissolved before the muscles had healed. Once healed, scar tissue is stronger than sutures.  Plus, these sutures are usually fairly deep and not felt through the skin.  These sutures do not create much immune response outside of expected scar tissue.

Are there risks associated with permanent sutures used for tummy tucks?

Answers (8)

Answer: Use of permanent sutures during muscle repair.

Answer: Use of permanent sutures during muscle repair.

Answer: Sutures

Answer: Sutures

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Are there risks associated with permanent sutures used for tummy tucks?

Answers (8)

Answer: Use of permanent sutures during muscle repair.

Answer: Use of permanent sutures during muscle repair.

Answer: Sutures

Answer: Sutures

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.