Ask a doctor

Are these spitting stitches? (photos)

I'm almost 4 weeks post op breast lift/aug. From pictures I've seen, these look like spitting stitches but a lot of them. I have knots under the skin along incision and I can feel something that feels like a thick string connecting the knots. Is this really bad?What's going on??? Also my breast are still very sore.

Doctor Answers 10

Spitting Sutures

October 16th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Dear alb20,

Yes, those are. Sometimes they will extrude if your body disagrees with the material or if they were placed too superficially. It is more common with some suture types than others. They should be retracted and clipped off or they will act as an entry point for bacteria.

I hope this has been helpful.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Robert D. Wilcox, MD
October 16th, 2016

Spitting Sutures

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Dear alb20,

Yes, those are. Sometimes they will extrude if your body disagrees with the material or if they were placed too superficially. It is more common with some suture types than others. They should be retracted and clipped off or they will act as an entry point for bacteria.

I hope this has been helpful.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Suture spitting

October 11th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thanks for your inquiry and excellent pictures, your sutures are spitting.  If you were my patient we would remove those for you in the office.  Good Luck.  

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
October 11th, 2016

Suture spitting

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thanks for your inquiry and excellent pictures, your sutures are spitting.  If you were my patient we would remove those for you in the office.  Good Luck.  

Vishnu Rumalla, MD

Suture Spitting

October 13th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello,

Yes, that appears to be an unusual amount of suture spitting. Your Plastic Surgeon can remove them for you in office to ensure you heal well. I recommend that you give them a call.


All the best

Web reference: http://edelsteincosmetics.com/learning-centre/cosmetic-surgery-scars-and-healing/

Jerome Edelstein, MD
October 13th, 2016

Suture Spitting

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello,

Yes, that appears to be an unusual amount of suture spitting. Your Plastic Surgeon can remove them for you in office to ensure you heal well. I recommend that you give them a call.


All the best

Learn more: http://edelsteincosmetics.com/learning-centre/cosmetic-surgery-scars-and-healing/

Jerome Edelstein, MD

Spitting Sutures

October 11th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes. Based on your photos it does appear to be spitting sutures. A follow up appointment is needed in order to have those removed. It is very common to have sutures come through incisions.

Frederick G. Weniger, MD, FACS, MBA
October 11th, 2016

Spitting Sutures

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes. Based on your photos it does appear to be spitting sutures. A follow up appointment is needed in order to have those removed. It is very common to have sutures come through incisions.

Frederick G. Weniger, MD, FACS, MBA

Spitting Sutures

October 11th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Dear alb20, 

They do appear to be spitting sutures. I would return to your operating surgeon and have them removed. This is a common occurrence along a surgical incision and typically it is nothing to worry about. Good luck!

Richard A. Bartlett, MD
October 11th, 2016

Spitting Sutures

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Dear alb20, 

They do appear to be spitting sutures. I would return to your operating surgeon and have them removed. This is a common occurrence along a surgical incision and typically it is nothing to worry about. Good luck!

Richard A. Bartlett, MD

Are these spitting stitches?

October 11th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thank you for your question. Yes they are sutures. They can be easily removed in your surgeons office. I recommend you to go and see your PS. 

Ven Erella, MD
October 11th, 2016

Are these spitting stitches?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thank you for your question. Yes they are sutures. They can be easily removed in your surgeons office. I recommend you to go and see your PS. 

Ven Erella, MD

Are these spitting stitches

October 11th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

You are correct and these are just sutures that are spitting at the surface. Your surgeon can clip them for you. 

Lawrence Bundrick, MD
October 11th, 2016

Are these spitting stitches

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

You are correct and these are just sutures that are spitting at the surface. Your surgeon can clip them for you. 

Lawrence Bundrick, MD

Spitting Sutures

October 10th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes, those are sutures that have worked their way to the surface. Be sure to see you PS, so they may remove them. Best, Dr. Kludt

Nathan Kludt, MD
October 10th, 2016

Spitting Sutures

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes, those are sutures that have worked their way to the surface. Be sure to see you PS, so they may remove them. Best, Dr. Kludt

Nathan Kludt, MD

Spitting stitches?

October 10th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

They are spitting stitches which have worked their way to the skin surface. Notify your operating surgeon so that they can remove them for you.

Paul M. Parker, MD, FACS
October 10th, 2016

Spitting stitches?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

They are spitting stitches which have worked their way to the skin surface. Notify your operating surgeon so that they can remove them for you.

Paul M. Parker, MD, FACS

Are these spitting stitches after breast surgery?

October 10th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes, these appear to be absorbable sutures that have come to the surface;  best to have your plastic surgeon evaluate and remove. Best wishes.

Web reference: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/Procedure_breastLiftAug.htm

Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS
October 10th, 2016

Are these spitting stitches after breast surgery?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Yes, these appear to be absorbable sutures that have come to the surface;  best to have your plastic surgeon evaluate and remove. Best wishes.

Learn more: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/Procedure_breastLiftAug.htm

Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.