Tummy Tuck Sutures & Stitches
Tummy Tuck Stitches and Incision Line 3 days after surgery
I had never had surgery before and was curious to see what my Sutures (also known as Stitches) looked like and how they were actually used to "stitch" the skin together. This is what they looked like 3 days after my Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) with Lateral Thigh Lift operation.
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Tummy Tuck Belly Button Stitches 3 Days After Surgery |
Tummy Tuck Incision Line 2 Days After Surgery |
Tummy Tuck Stitches/Sutures 3 Days After Surgery |
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What are Surgical Sutures/Stitches?
"A suture is a medical device that doctors, and especially surgeons, use to hold skin, internal organs, blood vessels and all other tissues of the human body together, after they have been severed by injury or surgery. They must be strong (so they do not break), non-toxic and hypoallergenic (to avoid adverse reactions in the body), and flexible (so they can be tied and knotted easily). In addition, they must lack the so called "wick effect", which means that sutures must not allow fluids to penetrate the body through them from outside, which could easily cause infections." ref: Wikepedia.
What kind of Sutures are there?
There are two kinds of sutures, absorbable sutures and non-absorbable sutures. With time, absorbable sutures will break down and be absorbed by the body, while non-absorbable sutures will not and must be removed manually. The type of sutures used depends on the function, location and environment. A absorbable sutures are often used internally; non-absorbable externally.
Tummy Tuck Sutures & Stitches Questions (FAQs)
- When are my Stitches removed after my Tummy Tuck?
1-2 weeks following surgery. - What are Suture made of?
Absorbable sutures were originally made of the intestines of sheep (catgut). Today, the majority of absorbable sutures are now made of synthetic polymer fibers which offer ease of handling, low cost, low tissue reaction, consistent performance and guaranteed non-toxicity. - How long does it take absorbable sutures to be absorbed by the body?
Ten days to eight weeks. - How many stitches will I have for my Tummy Tuck?
It varies with each operation. I had a Tummy Tuck with Lateral Thigh Lift so I had stitches on my front, sides and back. If you zoom in on the above picture you can count 6-7 visible stitches on the belly portion.
Tummy Tuck Feedback Messages
The following Reader Comments are relevant to the subject of this
page.
To read all Tummy Tuck Feedback
click here.
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Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 9:24 PM
Subject: Feedback Form
Hi....I am just over 2 weeks post op tummy tuck. My internal
muscles did have some diastis and needed to be sutured back. My main concern
is the longevity of the sutures. My doctor says they last a lifetime. I am
an active 45 yr. old runner. I also use some weights and definitely work on
my core. I am so concerned that the core workouts and ab exercises will
bust my sutures. I would love to hear of some succes stories to maybe ease
my concerns. Thank you!
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Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 9:24 PM
Subject: Feedback Form
Hi, my question is regarding a Tummy tuck that I had a year ago. I had to
redo it because The results were awful. When the second plastic
surgeon went in to tight my muscle he didn't find envy evidence of
suture, so he has to tight my muscles again. So in this case, what could
happened. When I asked the first surgeon he said that he used absorbable
suture. Is this makes any sense?. Can this be possible? Please, help me
with this matter. I feel frustrated. Thanks
Response - I know very little about the surgical use of sutures but as I
understand it most surgeons use a combination of absorbable and permanent
sutures for tummy tuck surgery. Absorbable sutures for surface/skin sutures
and permanent sutures to tighten muscles. That would make sense.
Out of curiosity I did a little research and found the following that may
provide additional information.
"Normally, permanent sutures are only used inside to hold the muscle in
place. Generally, skin sutures are dissolvable."
http://www.realself.com/question/permanent-visible-sutures-for-tummy-tuck
Many surgeons refer to "tightening of the muscles". This is in fact never
done during a tummy tuck. Rather, the fascia, the tough lining of the
muscles, is tightened.
http://www.realself.com/question/no-muscle-tightening-after-tummy-tuck
http://www.realself.com/question/tummy-tuck-re-tighten-abdomen-muscles
I can see why you are frustrated. You are probably thinking.. Did my first
surgeon make a mistake and use the wrong type of suture? Did he just not
suture my stomach muscles and lie about it later?
You may never know. Even if he did use absorbable stitches to tighten you
muscles, or for that matter did not tighten your muscles at all, it may not
be "legally wrong" and that choice may be at the discretion of the surgeon.
What does your second surgeon say about this?
If you don't get a clear cut answer and you really want closure on this it
seems like you have a long road ahead of you. Consulting with other surgeons
(your only real source of medical expertise), checking into the background
of the first surgeon (for previous lawsuits and malpractice) then if
appropriate, contacting lawyers to see if you have any legal recourse can
extend your frustration for months or years. Is the time spent, money spent,
sleepless nights and additional frustration worth it?
Good luck.
Tanner
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