Do the stitches used in deviated septum surgery dissolve on their own?

Most commonly, the sutures used during a septoplasty will dissolve on their own.  This can take weeks to occur, depending on the type used.  

Hello sgailg,Thanks for your question.Most surgeons place absorbable stitches in the septum to close it after deviated septum repair.These sutures fall out on their own after 4-6 weeks in most cases.Humidification and nasal saline rinses help the sutures fall out quicker.I hope this helped.Dr. Shah

Removing sutures after septal surgery can be an extremely painful experience.  So almost all surgeons use dissolvable sutures. There are different types of suture materials available and surgeons have their own preferences. 

Hi,it make sense to use dissolvable stitches such as vicryl rapid, which takes about 2 weeks max to desolve!Best wishes J Tahery chester UK

To correct a deviated septum, the last step is to stitch the septum back together. A dissolvable stitch (absorbable suture) is passed back and forth to quilt the septum in the middle. These stitches will go away on their own. Once the septum has healed, your surgeon may have you keep the nose moist with humidified air or saline sprays to help the stitches dissolve more easily. And rarely a knot or piece of the stitch may come out on its own. On your part as the patient, there is not much to do.I recommend bringing up any questions your have with your surgeon to learn how they will take care of your nose after surgery. 

 In our practice, we use dissolvable stitches with all septoplasty procedures. It  is best to ask your operative surgeon that question.

Hello Sgailg,There are stitches that dissolve on their own and permanent stitches.  Both can be used in septal surgery depending on what needs to be done and where it is being performed in the nose.  For most purely septal surgeries where the deviated part is not right there in the nostril then absorbable stitches alone are used.  With very severe deviated noses or noses that have to have the entire septum reconstructed then permanent stitches may be used.  You can ask your surgeon before the surgery what his or her plan is, but once the surgery starts the chosen sutures may change.  I hope this helps and good luck.