Should I clean dried blood off my stitches or leave it? Will they still dissolve? (Photo)

Question

I recently had a open rhinoplasty on 21st April. 4 days later I've been rinsing my nose with saline spray as instructed. The dried blood around my dissolvable stitches is still there. Should I gently clean it with a saline soaked q tip or just leave the dried blood. I have a incision on each side of my nose at the top also but they are covered by the splint. I'm in no pain or discomfort just want to make sure the stitches dissolve properly? I'm worried about infection also. How do they look?

Paul E. Goco, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and photos.  Looks like you are healing well. Clean your incisions with half strength hydrogen peroxide and distilled water. Remove as much crusting and blood as possible with a qtip dipped in the solution. Use aquaphor, Vaseline or bacitracin to keep moist all the time to allow best healing. Good luck.

Adam Bryce Weinfeld, MD · Answer

I think it is best to discuss specific wound care with your surgeon as each surgeon may have different preferences.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It is really up to you to discuss this with your surgeon as to how he wants you to treat the incision line.  Good luck.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

The best person to ask the question about sutures is your plastic surgeon since he/she has his or her own way of doing things.  I can say that regardless of the type of sutures, removable or dissolveable, the sutures should not be there beyond 5-6 days.  The presence of suture material though the skin beyond this time frame will result in skin inflammation that can lead to excessive scarring.  It will be important, therefore, to find out from your plastic surgeon what they would like for you to do with regards to your sutures.Good luck with the remainder of your rhinoplasty healing.Dr. Remus Repta

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

I recommend my patients clean the sutures with water and apply polysporin ointment.   Contact your surgeon for the type of sutures used.  Online consultants would not know the answer without seeing your operative report.

Should I clean dried blood off my stitches or leave it? Will they still dissolve? (Photo)

Answers (5)