What Kind of Stitches Are Used in Rhinoplasty?

We use dissolvable sutures that dissolve within 1 week after the surgery.  No suture removal is needed after a rhinoplasty.

Hi Saiqa;

There are probably as many choices of stitches (medically called sutures) in rhinoplasty, as there are surgeons performing it.  You need to know that there are two basic kinds of sutures.  The first class of sutures is the suture thatl dissolves over time.  Some dissolve within 7-10 days, and others can take up to three months.  The plastic surgeon decides how long he needs the sutures in place.  The other kind of sutures are non-dissolvable, or so-called "permanent," or "removable."  These must be removed.  Typically, these are the type of sutures that are used on the outside of the nose.  The dissolvers tend to be used on the inside of the nose, and the non-dissolvers tend to be used on the outside.  The outside incisions that typically would employ the non-dissolving sutures, are the open rhinoplasty incision, which is done between the two nostrils.  The other external incision is that used to narrow the nostrils, which is typically placed in the groove between the wings of the nostril and the upper lip and cheek.

Typically, outside non-absorbable sutures are removed somewhere between 5-7 to possibly 10 days. 

Surgeons tend to use the thinnest or finest suture material possible on the outside, since they are much less apt to cause any "railroad tracking" or cross-hatching.  In the end, your suture line should blend into a normal crease and look natural without calling attention to itself.

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Author, SECRETS OF A BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC SURGEON
Author, THE ESSENTIAL COSMETIC SURGERY COMPANION