Spitting sutures after FDL tummy tuck. Do I just have to wait until all of the sutures come out? (Photo)

Question

I am 10 weeks post op from my FDL tuck. A stitch started poking out the top and when pulled it was around 5cm long! 13 days later my belly button has now become painful, opened up and I have just found another spitting stitch below my original suture site. It is painful to touch the wound sites. I have emailed my surgeon. He is an 8 hour drive away so I can only visit him if VERY necessary and urgent. Do I just have to wait until all of the sutures that have decided to hate me come out?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello. Great question. Thank you for your pictures. Based on your images it seems as you need to either visit your surgeon or another surgeon from your town to closely monitor your wound incisions. Best of luck with your recovery. Congratulations on your tummy tuck.

Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS · Answer

Due to the fact that this is a very technical problem, meaning that this has to do with the way the surgeon has positioned and placed the sutures, it's very important to address this with the surgeon who performed the operation. In the meantime, you should keep the area well cleaned, in order to avoid an infection.

Ankur Mehta, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for posting photos along with your question! It is unfortunate that you are having this issue after your surgery but sometimes it can happen where the body just doesn't seem to like the suture for whatever reason. You should be in close contact with your plastic surgeon and be following their recommendations. You should be sending them photos and updating them on your healing progress or lack there of. If its not getting better you need to make the 8 hour drive and see them. If you need to stay in town for a couple of days then you should do that so you can get this to heal. To answer your question however, yes, it seems as though you are going to have to wait for this process to stop and wait for the sutures to dissolve and just treat any openings as directed by your plastic surgeon. I hope this helps and wish you the best in your recovery!Ankur Mehta MD
Board Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery
Instagram: @ankurmehtamd

Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, FACS · Answer

It seems you've had a reaction to the suture material used. Unfortunately, your surgeon is 8 hrs away. Just like you are posting photos to Real Self, do the same with your surgeon. You will need local wound care. Please consult with your surgeon's office. I feel this may b a chronic problem and every few weeks or months you may find another suture popping through the skin.  Goos luc.Dr PG

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I'm sorry that you are experiencing these issues after surgery.  It is important that you stay in communication with your surgeon on how to proceed.  Sometimes these sutures never surface and other times they can come to the surface frequently.  It may be best to visit another plastic surgeon near you for follow up care when you can't see your surgeon.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing your concerns and pictures. Unfortunately since your surgeon is 8 hrs away. I would recommend that you seek care in your town. Keep your surgeon  well informed of your concerns and on goings and follow their advise on wound care. This is will be an on going process in care until you heal. Continue with your antibiotics as directed.

Spitting sutures after FDL tummy tuck. Do I just have to wait until all of the sutures come out? (Photo)

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