Buccal fat removal last Friday. Worried that stitches on one side of incision have come apart and healing is not yet complete?

Question

My swelling has gone down a bit. However there is still some swelling left. Will I need to go back to have new stitches in? My surgeon insists that there is nothing to worry about and to keep gargling the mouth wash, etc. Is this normal or will it become infected? Thanks..

Miguel Mascaro, MD · Answer

Great question.  Your surgeon is correct, as long as you keep good oral hygiene you should have no issues.  The mucosa inside the cheek (where the incision is made) heals incredibly quick, so even if the stitches come out before you get a chance to see your doc you should be fine.  Some people don't even put stitches to close the incision - I personally like to use dissolving stitches that take about 10 days or so to dissolve.  Congratulations on your procedure! Best of luck with the rest of the healing process.

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Buccal fat removal requires small incisions inside the mouth that most of the time are closed with stitches. Some surgeons leave the incisions open ( without placing stitches).

In my practice, if the stitches come out before the inside the mouth incisions are completely healed, I tell my patients that as long as they keep a good oral hygiene and  rinse their mouth with the prescribed mouth wash, they should heal without any problem.

Patients with questions and concerns about their buccal fat removal healing process should address those concerns with the surgeon that performed the operation.

Buccal fat removal last Friday. Worried that stitches on one side of incision have come apart and healing is not yet complete?

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Buccal fat removal last Friday. Worried that stitches on one side of incision have come apart and healing is not yet complete?

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Buccal Fat Removal

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