How Long Before Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Stitches Dissolve?

Question

I had a Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift 2 weeks ago. How long will it take before the stitches dissolve?

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

It’s not unusual for plastic surgeons to use long lasting
absorbable sutures when performing breast lift and tummy tuck surgery. These sutures are used in an effort to avoid
spread of the scar. They provide support
to the wound closure, until the wound has gained adequate strength.A large
variety of absorbable sutures are currently unbailable for wound closed.These sutures each have unique absorption
characteristic.It’s not unusual for
some of these sutures to last for six to nine months following surgery.In most
cases, this doesn’t represent a problem, occasionally absorbable sutures
protrude through the skin following surgery.With appropriate care this should represent a minor problem with no long
term consequences.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question about how long it takes for stitches to dissolve after a tummy tuck and breast lift. Congratulations on completing your surgery — you’re well on your way through the healing process!

In most modern plastic surgery procedures, including tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) and breast lifts (mastopexy), dissolvable (absorbable) sutures are used under the skin to help support healing without the need for suture removal.

Typically, internal stitches begin to soften and lose strength around 6 to 8 weeks, but full absorption can take 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of suture material your surgeon used. You won’t actually feel the stitches dissolving — the body gradually absorbs them, and the surrounding tissues take over the structural support.

On the outside, if you have any visible sutures, those are sometimes trimmed or removed around 10 to 21 days post-op, depending on your surgeon’s technique and the location of the incision.

Even though the internal stitches are still present early on, you should start feeling much more mobile and less tight after the first few weeks. Please avoid vigorous stretching, heavy lifting, or overextending your arms and abdomen during this critical period, as your tissues are still relying on the sutures for support.

If you ever notice redness, swelling, tenderness, or a suture trying to "spit" through the skin (which can happen occasionally), contact your surgeon for advice — minor suture-related irritation can easily be treated if caught early.

Wishing you a smooth and beautiful recovery!

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame)

Be sure to attend all your post-op visits, follow your surgeon’s instructions closely, and review their experience with tummy tucks and breast lifts by examining before-and-after photos and patient testimonials. Experienced hands make all the difference in healing and final results.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

As stated below sutures for the tummy tuck differ from the mastopexy.
Some sutures/staples are permanent but generally removed by 3 weeks at most with the exception of the muscle tightening stitch which may be left in place forever.
Absorbable sutures vary in the amount of time they lose strength and are subsequently absorbed which is usually twice as long as losing strength.  Some are absorbed by 3 weeks whereas others can easily persist for up to and beyond 6 months. Generally by 9 months, 100 percent of most sutures are absorbed.

Steven H. Williams, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question -
As several of the other doctors have mentioned - it depends on the type of material.  Your muscle plication may have been performed with sutures that don't dissolve or dissolve very slowly while sutures used in a subdermal or subcuticular closure may dissolve in one to two months.
Ask your surgeon what they used and they should be able to give you an accurate time frame.
I hope this helps.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Different sutures dissolve at different rates.  If they are under the skin, you actually want them to stick around for awhile to hold the tension while your skin is healing.  In most cases the sutures are dissolve in 2 to 3 months.  If for some reason your surgeon put absorbable sutures on the outside, you should have them removed in 7 to 10 days to prevent any scaring from developing.  Good luck with your recovery.

How Long Before Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Stitches Dissolve?

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Answer: Suture dissolve rates

Answer: Suture dissolve rates

Answer: Different sutures dissolve at different rates

Answer: Different sutures dissolve at different rates

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How Long Before Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Stitches Dissolve?

Answers (10)

Answer: Suture dissolve rates

Answer: Suture dissolve rates

Answer: Different sutures dissolve at different rates

Answer: Different sutures dissolve at different rates

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.