Is removing suture material from some patients more difficult than others? Would remaining suture material cause issues? (photo)

Question

I had abdominal lipo and they sutured the incisions closed, and on the third day when the nurse removed them, my left side took her two passes as not all the material was removed the first time. I now have persistent numbness and swelling at that location 8 months later, and it seems to be getting worse. The doctor assured me it couldn’t be a piece of suture material but it feels like it. I still have some sutures in my thighs and face from past procedures that haven’t cause issues

Benjamin Liliav, MD · Answer

Dissolvable sutures will disappear on their own in 5 to 7 days, sometimes can take up to 4 months, massage the area every day

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear K.angel,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

If a piece of residual permanent suture is still present, it can be causing some swelling or drainage. It would not be causing numbness usually.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Surgeons use either absorbable sutures that typically go under the skin and it will eventually dissolve with time or permanent sutures that are removed after surgery in the clinic. Three days is a very short amount of time to remove skin sutures. Typically at three days incisions are not healed.
An exposed suture will act as a foreign body and can and typically will get contaminated with bacteria. The body will try to seal it off with scar tissue and often it eventually becomes incorporated into the tissues.
If it isn’t causing you any problems then there’s nothing inherently dangerous about having suture material inside of you. If it bothers you then you should go back to your surgeon and ask him to remove it.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Is removing suture material from some patients more difficult than others? Would remaining suture material cause issues? (photo)

Answers (4)