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When Should Breast Augmentation Sutures Be Removed?
Each surgeon may use different techniques to close incisions after breast augmentation. In our Bay Area practice we do not use sutures that need to be removed. When thinking about permanent sutures (like nylon or prolene) sometimes leaving these sutures in for more than a week can leave "track marks" along the incision. This can be avoided when using these types of suture by varying the placement of the suture, for example placing the suture with a "running subcuticular" where the suture ends exit the ends of the wound only avoids the potential scar issues of a traditional "baseball" stitch.
Clinical Context
Absorbable sutures are gradually broken down by the body's natural moisture and enzymes over several weeks as the wound heals. Non-absorbable sutures, like nylon, must be removed by a doctor once the incision is strong enough to hold on its own. The way sutures are placed, and the type used, can affect how visible any resulting marks are, which is why surgeons choose techniques suited to each patient's healing.
