I love when patients have a lot of questions during their consultations. I think it’s an important part of the process, and insures the best results for the patient. A question I’m often asked by patients looking to have a tummy tuck is: In What Percentage of Tummy Tuck Cases Do MR Stitches Pop?
That’s a very good question. Sure, some sutures may "pop" or break. But the better question is why did one pop? Was it poor technique? Was it deficient diet and nutrition? Or was it a lack in patient compliance with post-operative instructions? All things being equal, I am always concerned about this possibility. The major control I have in prevention of this occurring is performing safe surgery techniques, giving appropriate post-operative instructions, and advising the patients to eat properly. However, I cannot control patients who exercise or exert themselves prematurely compromising their surgical result.
At surgery, I approximate the muscles with interrupted permanent sutures rather than one long running suture. If the one long running suture breaks then the suture has the potential to unravel. This could effect the result of the tummy tuck. I believe that over time, some of these sutures may not hold as true as they did when they were originally placed. Scar tissue grows in, among, around the placed sutures. This increases the strength of the closure. Certainly, this strength increases with time after the surgery. The repair is the "weakest" in the early 2-3 weeks after the surgery. This is one of the reasons my patients are advised to refrain from vigorous activity in the early post-operative period.
There are many tummy tucks done each year. Few have popped sutures requiring re-operation. As a double board certified surgeon, I take every possible precaution so that my patients don’t have a “popped” suture as part of their tummy recovery experience.
Feel free to ask me about tummy tucks or other plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures.
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