In the days, weeks and months after you have a tummy tuck, it’s common to experience a number of side effects. The most common side effects are swelling and bruising. But one of the most frustrating side effects is spitting stitches.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Spitting stitches after tummy tuck, how to treat spitting stitches, spitting stitches months after surgery, and spitting stitches years after surgery.
In this blog post I’ll be sharing my top tips for dealing with spitting stitches after tummy tuck surgery!
When you’re recovering from a tummy tuck, you might experience some spitting stitches, which are annoying and painful. They can be caused by your surgeon or the hospital staff.
This blog will help you learn about spitting stitches, their causes, and how to prevent them from happening to you.
It’s no secret that after a tummy tuck, you’ll have some bruising and swelling. But what about those little black stitches? What are they for, and how long do they take to dissolve?
In this blog post we’ll look at the role of dissolving stitches in tummy tuck surgery, including:
-What happens when dissolving stitches are used
-When you can expect your stitches to dissolve
-How long it takes for your stitches to dissolve
A lot of people think that once their surgery is over, they’ll just wake up and be good as new. But there are still some things that you need to take care of post-surgery so that you can get the best results possible.
So, here’s what happens when you have your tummy tuck: You come in for surgery, we make an incision around your belly button and remove any excess skin or fat from around it. Then we use stitches to close up your incision so it heals properly. After the procedure is over, those stitches need to be removed—and sometimes they can be really stubborn! They’re going to want to stay in place until they’ve had enough time to heal, which could take anywhere between two weeks and six months depending on how big your incision was and how much work was done during surgery (if there were other procedures performed along with the tummy tuck).
Spitting stitches can be caused by a few things:
-The incision site is too tight in relation to how much skin has been removed
-Your surgeon used dissolvable stitches instead of permanent ones. Dissolvable stitches dissolve within 3 weeks of being put into place, so they may not be strong enough to withstand the tension created by your abdominal muscles contracting as they heal.
-You may have an infection at the incision site which causes the stitches to become inflamed and swollen. This can cause them to feel like they’re coming out with every contraction or deep breath you take during physical activity or exercise that causes you to breathe deeply from your diaphragm (like yoga).
We are going to be talking about the spitting stitches after tummy tuck.
This is a very common occurrence after surgery and can happen for many different reasons.
The first reason is that your surgeon may have accidentally cut through one of your muscles during the procedure. This will cause them to not heal correctly, which then results in a spit stitch.
The second reason is that you might have had too much tension on the muscle when it was repaired, causing it to tear again when you start moving around more.
The third reason is that there might have been a tear in the fascia layer after surgery, which then causes it to separate and create a spit stitch. The good news is that these types of stitches usually heal on their own without any intervention needed from your surgeon or yourself!
Tummy tucks are one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries, and for good reason. They can help you regain a flat, toned stomach that you’re happy with, or they can help you get rid of stretch marks and loose skin that have been bothering you for years.
However, no matter how great your results are, it’s possible that you’ll have some unsightly stitches at the end of your procedure. Not only do they look bad—they can cause discomfort as well—so it’s important to know what to do if they start coming loose.
When you are recovering from a tummy tuck, you may find that your stitches are coming out. This is normal and expected.
Here’s what you need to know about spitting stitches after tummy tuck:
What are Spitting Stitches?
After a tummy tuck, you will have some stitches. These stitches are called “sutures,” and they are used to hold your skin together after the surgery. There are two types of sutures: absorbable and non-absorbable.
Absorbable sutures dissolve within a few weeks, while non-absorbable sutures need to be removed by your surgeon or staff at the hospital.
Spitting Stitches
When you get home after surgery, you may notice that some of your sutures have pulled through the skin. This is normal and not a cause for concern—it just means that they were too short or that they were placed incorrectly during surgery. The body will absorb these stitches over time; however, if they do not dissolve on their own within three months, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to let them know so they can remove them before they break through completely into an open wound and become infected
When you have a tummy tuck, the cut is made in such a way that the stitches are hidden by your belly button. This means that they are not visible to anyone who isn’t looking for them and are not noticeable from the outside.
However, it will be difficult for you to avoid spitting out these stitches when you cough or sneeze. This is completely normal, but it can also be painful, especially if you have sensitive skin.
It is important to remember that this does not mean that your surgery was performed poorly or incorrectly. It is simply an unavoidable part of the procedure and should be addressed specifically by your surgeon.
If you find yourself spitting out stitches after having a tummy tuck, try taking some of these steps:
-Wear lip gloss when you cough or sneeze so that any loose pieces do not fall into your mouth.
-Use a straw when drinking so that if any pieces become dislodged, they will remain in your cup instead of going down your throat and causing discomfort or injury.
-Inform your doctor if you are having any problems with spitting out stitches so that they can give instructions on how best to avoid this problem in future surgeries; this could include avoiding certain positions while sleeping or eating
If you’ve had a tummy tuck (or any procedure that involves the use of stitches), you may be experiencing some pain or discomfort as your body heals. If you’ve never had surgery before, this can be scary! But don’t worry: You aren’t alone, and there are things you can do to help make the healing process easier.
First off, it’s important to know that there are two kinds of stitches: absorbable and permanent. Any time a doctor uses permanent stitches—whether on your tummy or anywhere else—they’ll make sure to tell you about them. If they don’t, ask! For more information about absorbable versus permanent stitches, check out [link]
With that out of the way, let’s talk about what happens when absorbable stitches aren’t absorbed by your body. They’re supposed to dissolve on their own over time, but sometimes they don’t break apart on schedule. Instead, they remain in place until they’re removed by a doctor or nurse during another appointment. This is called “spitting”. It can happen anywhere from a few days after surgery to several months later—and it can cause discomfort and itching if left unchecked!
Welcome to this blog on spitting stitches after tummy tuck. This blog will be a comprehensive source of information on the topic. As a general rule, the recovery period after a tummy tuck is usually very long and painful. The process is divided into three stages:
The first stage starts with the surgery and ends when the stitches are removed from your body. During this stage, you will be able to move around more easily than later on in your recovery. However, there are still some limitations as to how much you can move around at this point because of your pain level and soreness from the surgery itself.
The second stage starts when all of your stitches have been removed and ends when you are fully healed after having had the surgery done months before this time period began. During this time period, it will be extremely difficult for you to move around without feeling pain or discomfort due to swelling and bruising associated with healing wounds that are still present on your body even though they may no longer be visible from afar due to any scarring that may have already occurred during this time period as well as from earlier stages of recovery from other surgeries (if any).
Hi, my name is [name]. I am a certified surgeon who has been in the field for over 10 years. I specialize in tummy tucks, breast lifts, and liposuction. I have performed over 1,000 surgeries and have an amazing record with no major complications.
I want to share with you some tips on how to avoid spitting stitches after a tummy tuck.
If you’re considering a tummy tuck, you may be wondering what the recovery is like. I’ve been performing this procedure for years and have seen all kinds of outcomes from it—and there are always different factors that come into play.
However, one thing remains constant: if you have “spitting stitches” after your surgery, it’s not normal, and you should get checked out by your doctor immediately.
Spitting stitches happen when a stitch pops through the skin during the healing process—usually right around day 7 or 8 after surgery. This can happen if your surgeon has used too much tension on the sutures or if there is too much swelling in that area. The result is an unsightly red mark that looks like spit coming out of the incision site—hence its name!
A tummy tuck is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States. It’s also one of the most common procedures to result in complications or side effects. One such complication is spitting stitches, which can occur after your surgery.
This article will explore what spitting stitches are and what you can do to prevent them and treat them if they happen.
It’s not uncommon to experience bleeding and/or spitting stitches after a tummy tuck. These issues can be caused by a number of things, including (but not limited to) infection, poor surgical technique, and healing issues.
If you have been experiencing these symptoms after your surgery, it’s very important that you speak with your doctor right away. If it turns out that the problem is related to your surgical procedure or healing process, your doctor will work with you to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
how to treat spitting stitches
A scar forms from the natural healing process that occurs in response to an incision placed during surgery. Scar tissue goes through phases of healing and can often appear red or mildly elevated during this natural process. Scars can be improved by topical products and scar massage. Caring for your scar can help improve its appearance. Patients with a higher risk of abnormal scarring include those with previous history of hypertrophic or keloid scars or patients with darker skin pigmentation. In addition, incisions in higher tension areas or over parts of the body that engage in repetitive movement may result in widened or unsightly scars.
How to Manage Your Scar
Patient participation is critical in achieving an optimal scar. Scar management occurs once your incision is sufficiently healed. This usually happens 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Optimal scar management includes a silicone-based product (silicone gel or silicone gel sheets), scar massage, and sun avoidance. Scar management is most effective in the first year following surgery.
Silicone-based products
Silicone-based scar gel can be applied over scars twice daily. Alternatively silicone gel sheets can be applied over scars for 12-24 hours per day. Silicone-based products increase hydration and oxygen levels in the skin, thereby promoting favorable scar formation. These products can found on Amazon or at a drugstore in the band-aid section)
Scar Massage
Scar massage desensitizes the area and reduces scar tightening. Scar massage can begin 4 to 6 weeks after surgery and should avoid any open part of the incision (open wounds). When performing massage, rub in a circular motion on and around your scar. Use firm, even pressure for 2-3 minutes. Perform this 2 times a day. Dr. Tanna recommends using a silicone-based scar gel or moisturizing lotion while massaging your scar to decrease friction at the area.
Sun Avoidance & Sunscreen
In the first year following surgery, ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure can cause your immature scar tissue to become darker than the surrounding skin. This hyperpigmented scar may remain darker than the other skin. To help prevent this, Dr. Tanna recommends that all patients use a sunscreen when outdoors and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. This is especially true for new scars (that are readily exposed to sunlight). The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) should be 30 or higher and preferably waterproof. Physical sunscreens (zinc, titanium etc.) are thought to be better than chemical sunscreens. Follow the application directions on the bottle or tube.
Suture Extrusion (“Spitting Sutures”)
As your incision heals, it is normal to have some minor redness, swelling, itching, skin irritation, drainage, and/or small lumps in the skin near the incision. If you notice a small suture poking through the skin, try to gently remove it with scissors or tweezers. You can also come to our office so Dr. Tanna can remove it. A spitting suture is a dissolvable suture under your skin that is rejected by your body before it can completely dissolve. These spitting sutures can cause swelling, redness and/or oozing at the incision. This is normal and will eventually go away on its own.
spitting stitches months after surgery
When we repair a wound, we sew your skin together like layers on a cake, aligning each layer. A deep layer of sutures, also known as stitches, is used under the skin to guide the healing process, and a top layer of sutures is used to close the skin. The deep sutures are primarily dissolving ones. Dissolvable sutures are usually clear in color, and permanent sutures are dark blue or black in color.
Since all sutures are technically “foreign substances” the human body has a tendency to reject them. Ideally, this means the body breaks them down and dissolves them. Sometimes instead of dissolving the sutures, your body will push the suture out of your body. When it does this, we call it “spitting” a stitch. This happens quite commonly, and when a stitch does come out, it can come to the surface with an inflamed red spot. Usually you can feel something like fishing line around this area.
If the suture does “spit,” it is not something to worry about. If you are able to grab it with tweezers, give it a gentle pull. Applying a warm moist compress to the area may help bring more of the suture to the surface. At that point, the surface material may be cut or trimmed away. After removal or trimming, clean the area with a little rubbing alcohol and then apply Vaseline. If the area is persistently irritated or is getting increasingly painful then you may require an office visit.
Brandon Kirsch, MD FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist, as well as the founder of Kirsch Dermatology in Naples, Florida and the Chief of Dermatology at the Naples Community Hospital.
spitting stitches years after surgery
Seattle Plastic Surgeon blogs about spitting stitches a.k.a stitch abscesses a.k.a. a real pain for both patient and surgeon
Healing after surgery in most cases is uneventful. (Uneventful is a good thing when it comes to surgery and flying.) But sometimes uneventful healing can be interrupted by a stitch abscess which always looks way worse than it actually is.
Spitting stitches can occur whenever stitches are left in after surgery. In plastic surgery, we often close incisions just under the surface of the skin with stitches that dissolve over several months. If one of these stitches is a little too close to the skin surface, or works its way up towards the surface, it can cause a stitch abscess which is the skin’s reaction to a foreign substance (in this case the stitch). This is a lot like having a splinter in your foot or finger. It won’t get better until the splinter is removed. The same for a stitch abscess. It won’t get better until the stitch is removed. If you have had surgery and have a little area like in the photo above, give your surgeon a call and make an appointment to be seen. In the meantime, put some warm, moist compresses on the area and don’t freak out! It will be okay!
In most cases, a gentle probing with some sterile tweezers locates the offending stitch and it can be easily removed and the abscess resolves quickly. Sometimes, I will put a patient on antibiotics for a week or so if the inflammation is pretty wide spread or the patient feels lousy and/or is running a fever.
Back in the old days when silk and cotton sutures were used in the deep layers, patients could spit a stitch decades after surgery. Fortunately that is really rare these days although I have had a few patients myself spit permanent stitches years after surgery. It’s just one of those things that can happen but once the suture is removed, healing occurs quickly. Learn more here.