How Long Should I Leave my Dissolvable Stitch Alone?

Typically when plastic surgeons stitch up incisions, we stitch it up in at least 3 different layers. We use somewhat larger stitches for the deeper layers and smaller sutures for the more superficial layers. The stitches for the deep layer are usually deep enough where they don't get "spit" out by the body. The more superficial stitches are typically right under the surface of the skin and are within the layers of the skin which can be thin. As a result, it can be quite common that these stitches begin to make their way to the surface and will extrude. This is nothing to worry about but I do understand how someone may see that and get concerned. I can also understand that it may be uncomfortable and unsightly and one would like to have it removed if possible. I think you should make an appointment with your plastic surgeon, let him take a look at it, and then request that if he thinks no harm will come from removing the stitches that they be removed. I follow up with my patients pretty frequently after their surgery and if I see a stitch make its way to the surface I will remove it and then have them place a small amount of antibiotic ointment on the little hole until it heals. I would advise that you not remove them yourself but if you decide to do so then just make sure everything you use is very clean and sterile and that you clean the area before removing the stitch. I hope this helps alleviate some of your concerns and I hope you are able to get this situation resolved. Ankur Mehta MD

If something like this occurs after your surgery, the best person to contact is your surgeon as he might have used different types of stitches during the procedure. Another important point is that dissolvable stitches can have a variable amount of time before they dissolve- it can take between one week and six months. If it does irritate you, it might need to be removed immediately. But I have explained initially I would consult any actions with your surgeon first.

After a tummy tuck procedure, there are stitches in multiple layers and all stitches are dissolvable. They are all inside the skin and they do not need removal. The wounds take 2-3 weeks to heal and then you should start looking after the scars.

It sounds like you are spitting a few absorbable sutures. It is not uncommon for a few superficial sutures to come to the surface and poke out near an incision. Generally, they pose no risk, but they can be annoying. Sometimes, they will lead to a small localized infection. The suture material will usually dissolve after several weeks, but the spitting sutures can also be easily removed by your surgeon if they are bothering you. 

Hi there,
What you experienced is very common post tummy tuck surgery and it's simply a stitch sinus where the dissolvable stitch didn't get dissolved in time and make its way up and poke through the skin. Sometimes they may cause some irritation or inflammation, similar to a pimple. It'll be best to leave it alone and it will resolve with time or trim the end of the stitch close to the skin. 
Obviously if there is any signifiant degree of excessive redness, tenderness or even purulent discharge, you should contact your surgeon immediately for a timely assessment to rule out any early signs of deep infection.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Ellis Choy

Thank you for your question,
most of the dissolvable stitch should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. 
If your wound has healed and your stitches are bothering you, you might want to consider making an appointment with your surgeon to have them removed.
good luck.

Yes, every plastic surgeon has seen this happen and it can be very frustrating for all involved.  I personally find it to be less common with some suture material than others - the more expensive stuff seems to be less problematic (surprise).I would rather that you have the stitches causing trouble to be removed as you will likely get a better scar that way.  If you leave them in place they cause an irritation that makes the scar a little wider and darker.Good Luck!

If you have some suture material that is visible through the incision after four weeks, consult with your plastic surgeon and they can be removed in the office.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Hi. That's a very good question. Dissolvable stitches will dissolve with time, so you can leave them in if they are not bothering you. If needed, they should removed by your plastic surgeon. After 4 weeks the wound has healed enough that sutures have basically done their job. This is usually a good time to take them out if they are exposed or if they are freaking you out. 
Your surgeon should be able to see and decide if they are ready to come out.
Best of luck!
Dr. Miguel Mota

Sometimes the suture doesn't dissolve as fast as we would like it and it becomes exposed and then inflamed. It's best to have them removed by your surgeon. They may eventually fall out but I think it's best to limit and remove that inflammatory nidus. 
Call your surgeon and ask that you be seen to evaluate and treat as necessary. 

You should always follow your doctors instructions on wound healing.  If you feel you that the stitches are becoming more bothersome then perhaps make an appointment to speak to your doctor again however you should try to avoid doing anything yourself that contradicts your doctors advice.  Some stitches are more likely to come out through the scar than others and most surgeons use ones that dissolve over an intermediate time frame that is quick enough to minimise the risk of irritating the skin whilst being intact for long enough for the scar to heal and hold everything together once the stitches have dissolved.  What should be done with those that poke out through the skin is a bit debatable and depends a little on what type of stitch it is and what layer in the tummy tuck repair it was used to close. Stitches can also cause skin irritation and infection with small stitch abscesses that occasionally progress to more significant wound problems.  In general, I usually find that everything heals a bit better and quicker if the problematic stitches are removed and prefer to do this under asceptic conditions in the clinic.  You should certainly see your surgeon or a member of his team more frequently though whilst you are having these issues.  Small stitch issues are not in themselves usually a cause for concern though and do not usually compromise the longterm result.