Removed my Own Sutures After Breast Augmentation

Removing your own sutures falls into the category of 'how to drive your surgeon crazy.'

Surgeons are very particular about how they do things. Surgeons work out techniques based on long experience with what works and what doesn't.

If your surgeon is away his or her office should be able to have you seen by a colleague who can help you out.

All the best!

Please do not remove sutures on your own. This should be done by your surgeon or, at the very least, an experienced medical professional. Please see your surgeon as soon as possible to tell him what's happened. Best of luck.

First of all you went through real surgery with real risks.  You are going through an active healing process that will take months to complete.  Plastic surgeons are famous for going bonkers when someone, (even the well intentioned medical student), changes a dressing improperly or removes the wrong stitch.  Most plastic surgeons put specific sutures there for a reason.  In a breast augmentation, most usually close the tissue in layers to keep the tissue together and to take tension off the wound.  Deep layers are usually absorbable and the skin sutures non absorbable that have to be taken out.  Sometimes sutures from the inside will spit out through the wound.  If this is the case you may have a little opening.  This is usually OK, and will heal,  but should be seen by your plastic surgeon or whoever is covering for him.  I tell my patients... No kitchen surgery, come in and we will take a look...

Obviously it is not a good idea to remove your own sutures.

It is better to visit your doctor or the doctor covering for him if he is away.

The concern is that if the sutures are improperly or incompletely removed, scarring may result.  Also are there any other aspects to your follow-up care that need to be addressed?

It is a very bad idea to remove your own sutures - especially without the guidance of your plastic surgeon.  It is very rare if not unheard of to have to remove your own sutures.  Without knowing what type of sutures were used, it is impossible for us to tell you what to expect or give you any recommendation on what to do now.  I would suggest seeing your plastic surgeon since they will know what type of sutures were used.  If they are dissolvable, then if they retracted, it will not be a problem.  However, if they are not dissolvable, then they may need to be removed.

 

Good Luck

Don't remove your own sutures unless specifically instructed to do so. I never let my patients do this, as they are not always ready to be removed when you think, or they may be dissolving. 

I would not recommend that you remove sutures on your own. You may cause an infection.  So what to do now?  You should speak to his office and see a staff member in his office or be referred to a covering doctor.

Most surgeons do each and every part of an operation for a purpose.  Including the placement of specific sutures in specific locations. Thus, taking it upon yourself to remove them without direct instructions from your physician is unwise. Some sutures are placed with a purpose and meant to stay longer and some meant to dissolve quickly. Permanent sutures that pull back into the skin can create a "stitch abscess" and actually act as a source of infection causing many other issues.

Communicate with your physician and if they are unreachable, most doctors will have a colleague you can reach even after hours.

Best of luck!

A dissolving suture which has retracted under the skin should continue to melt away, but removing sutures yourself is generally a bad idea. Even your primary doctor should be able to take a look for you in a pinch. Better to keep the area clean and covered if necessary until your surgeon gets back.

Best of luck,

peterjohnsonmd

It is rarely advisable to remove your own sutures after surgery. Even though your plastic surgeon is out of town, you should call the office, notify them what you did and seek a recommendation including possibly being seen by another plastic surgeon (who may be covering for this doctor while he/she is away).