Suture Abscess--dig It out or Leave It Alone?

Most abdominoplasties are performed with the placement of many buried sutures.  The body disposes of these sutures over time by an inflammatory reaction.  Occasionally this may be intense and mimic a small localized infection (usually it is sterile, however).  The body will "push" the suture to the skin and expel it over time, call necessitating.

If the bump is not red and there is not visible suture extrusion, I would leave the area alone; the suture material should be broken down, and the bump will go awa. Many of the sutures used by plastic surgeons are absorbable. It is not uncommon for one's body to treat the suture like a foreign object (like a splinter), resulting in the suture material being pushed out through the skin. In those scenarios, removing suture material you can feel or see is ideal followed by topical treatment (soap and water, antibacterial ointments, et cetera). 

Hello. It is hard to say without at least seeing a photo. If it is an access you need to have it seen by your PS. But from your description it is not. This is one of the many buried sutures we use in a TT. Eventually, they should all be absorbed over time. Sometimes the body tries to expel them for many different reasons. Most of the time this is not a problem.You nurse gave you great advice. You can try to "gid it out' if the suture is visible. If its not, just keep it clean, use some antibiotic ointment on it and let your body do the rest.Best of luck,Dr. Miguel Mota

More than likely this will resolve on it's own. Occasionally dissolving sutures want to make their way to the skin's surface at which point it can be removed. The sutures are meant to dissolve, so it should correct itself over time. I would suggest following up with your surgeon so that they can evaluate the issue in person. Best of luck on your cosmetic surgery journey!

At this point, it’s probably best to let it be since you’re not experiencing any inflammation or irritation. With time, this suture may eventually work its way out on its own. If it starts to protrude, please contact your surgeon to have it removed (please don’t remove it on your own).

This is not an uncommon issue.  If it is a suture that is trying to work itself thru, it will do in time.  If the suture is palpable then I would go after it and try to remove it.  If you cant feel the suture then leaving it alone is the best solution.  With time the suture will dissolve and will not cause any further issues.The firm "pebbles" that may be felt under the incision may in fact just be some scar tissue formation around the deep sutures.  If that is the case, they will soften and disappear in time.  Massaging will help this come along faster.Hope that helps.

If the area is not red or bothering you, I would recommend that you leave it alone.  If it is a suture abscess it will either go away on its own or come to the surface - at which time it can easily be removed, without digging.  Be sure to keep the area clean and see you surgeon if you have concerns.  Good luck!Sincerely,Dr. Michelle Spring

Hello,

Thank you for your question. If the area is no longer inflamed then I recommend that you leave it alone unless advised otherwise. If a suture that your body wants to work out it will gradually come to the surface. Follow up with your plastic surgeon in person if the appearance changes or discomfort increases.
All the best 

Thank you for your question regarding a possible suture abscess. Every plastic surgeon handles things differently. I would adhere to the advice of your plastic surgeon. Do not dig it out on your own. In my office, if the suture is palpable or sticking out, I would remove the stitch. Otherwise, I would leave it alone. If the area is red, irritated and infected, I would also remove the suture. I would go with the advice of your plastic surgeon. If you have any additional questions regarding a possible suture abscess after a tummy tuck, please contact my office. 
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

If the wound has now healed over, I would suggest leaving it alone. If this is an absorbable suture knot, it will disappear in time and leave you a nice flat scar. If you are worried about it, you should discuss with your PS who will know exactly what type of suture has been placed there.

It’s not unusual for plastic surgeons to utilize buried
absorbable sutures when they perform abdominoplasty surgery. These sutures are
placed in the dermis to provide strength to the wound closure.Depending
upon the specific type of suture utilized, these sutures typically resorb in
two to three months following surgery. At this point the wound has gained most
of its tensile strength and scars are less likely to spread.Unfortunately,
these sutures are a foreign material and for this reason your body has a
tendency to work them to the surface before they’re totally dissolved. This
doesn’t represent a true allergic reaction, but instead a normal response to a
foreign material. When sutures break through the skin, they can sometimes
become infected and form a stitch abscess.This is
a common occurrence when this type of suture is utilized. When these sutures
protrude through the skin they should be removed to avoid secondary problems.
If the sutures are buried and not causing problems they should be left alone to
dissolve on their own.