Can Stitches Still be in my Nose 5 Years After Rhinoplasty?

Both dissolvable and non-dissolvable sutures are used inside the nose during a typical rhinoplasty. Occasionally one of the non-dissolvable or permanent sutures used in the nose can work its way through the inner lining of the nose. When this takes place, the best course of action is to have a plastic surgeon remove the stitch. This can easily and safely be done in the office and the shape of the nose should not be affected. As for the "bump" inside your nose, you should have your nose examined by a rhinoplasty surgeon. It is difficult to speculate as to what this is based on the photos you have uploaded. 

Best,

Dr. Mehta

What you describe can be the leading edge of the cartilage, which can "settle" or move with time.  there may bell be a stitch that works its way out to the surface with time as well.  Often Rhinoplasty doctors will place permanent sutures to help shape the nose.  Other things can be a granuloma, although this is more rare.  Best to see a qualified, experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and have it addressed.

Unfortunately your photo is not clear enough to tell what your problem is.  The suture material that you doctor used could have been a permanent stich, which over time can poke through the mucosa.  This is not the only explanation though, and you really should be evaluated if you are feeling something sharp.  Good luck!

Yes, it could be but is unlikely. You need to see a rhinoplasty surgeon in your area and let him look inside your nose and see what is going on.

Choice of suture (stitch) material in rhinoplasty depends on the surgeon. Some use non-dissolving stitches for the tip cartilages. Very rarely, these stitches can migrate or poke out through the skin. To avoid this, knots should be buried under the cartilages and they should't be used near incisions. Personally, i feel that using dissolving stitches that last a few months is sufficient to obtain long lasting results. Over the two to four months that it takes these long acting dissolvable sutures to dissolve, healing and scar tissue is sufficient to keep things from shifting any further in the future.

If there is tenderness and/or swelling that occurs months to years later, you should have someone check to see if either a non-dissolvable stitch is poking out and needs to be removed. Sometimes even small implants may have been used that need to be addressed as well.