Hello doctors, I'm 6 weeks post periareolar mastopexy. So far an unpleasant surprise every other days & don't know when this is going to stop & I can enjoy the result of my surgery w/o being so worry & conscious about it! Today I noticed there are some whitish pus on 2 spots on my areola incision in which I found a very tiny bit of left-over dissolvable stitch. When I cleaned them, these 2 hole appeared! I'm kind of worried. Please help. Also, will this cause bad future visible scars? Thank you
April 15, 2016
Answer: Stitch Abscesses After Mastopexy Hello, and thanks for the question and photo. This, unfortunately, is a common occurrence where the dermal layer (deeper layer of the skin) has been closed with absorbable sutures. Most plastic surgeons close incisions this way as it is a stronger closure and takes tension off of the outer layer (epidermis) and allows for a better scar. Quite often, however, the body may get rid of some of these sutures before they can fully dissolve and be absorbed. This usually happens when bacteria gain access to the underlying suture and create a small abscess that looks like a small pimple. The abscess eventually bursts, and the partially dissolved suture falls out leaving a small hole in the incision. The hole will usually close up within a few days and usually doesn't affect the quality of the scar. However, if multiple stitch abscesses occur within the same length of incision, there could be some eventual widening or thickening of the scar, but this is unusual. Use warm compresses if you see one of these forming. The faster it comes to a head and bursts, the less inflammation and potential scar problems will occur. Antibiotics usually won't help prevent these.Hope this helps!
Helpful
April 15, 2016
Answer: Stitch Abscesses After Mastopexy Hello, and thanks for the question and photo. This, unfortunately, is a common occurrence where the dermal layer (deeper layer of the skin) has been closed with absorbable sutures. Most plastic surgeons close incisions this way as it is a stronger closure and takes tension off of the outer layer (epidermis) and allows for a better scar. Quite often, however, the body may get rid of some of these sutures before they can fully dissolve and be absorbed. This usually happens when bacteria gain access to the underlying suture and create a small abscess that looks like a small pimple. The abscess eventually bursts, and the partially dissolved suture falls out leaving a small hole in the incision. The hole will usually close up within a few days and usually doesn't affect the quality of the scar. However, if multiple stitch abscesses occur within the same length of incision, there could be some eventual widening or thickening of the scar, but this is unusual. Use warm compresses if you see one of these forming. The faster it comes to a head and bursts, the less inflammation and potential scar problems will occur. Antibiotics usually won't help prevent these.Hope this helps!
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Answer: Holes in the incision From the photo, it seems as if you are experiencing a reaction of the dissolving stitches under the skin that now is coming to the surface. You just have to let it run its course, and use non-reactive stitches in your case the next time around.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Holes in the incision From the photo, it seems as if you are experiencing a reaction of the dissolving stitches under the skin that now is coming to the surface. You just have to let it run its course, and use non-reactive stitches in your case the next time around.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
