Tue 20 May 2008
Suture Removal After Hair Transplant Surgery
Category: Complications , Donor Issues , FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) , Hair Transplant Surgery , Post Operative ConcernsI am 10 days after my hair transplant and went to get my sutures taken out, and the ends behind each ear seem to be difficult to remove. I’m not sure if the doctor I visited to have them removed (not my hair restoration physician) was new to this, but he said that I had scabs surrounding the knots on each end.
I soaked my head for 15 minutes before I went in, but this didn’t help much. Any ideas guys? He removed the middle section of the sutures along the back of my donor scar, but I still have to remove both ends behind my ears.
This hair loss question was answered by Dr. William Lindsey of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.
In our hair replacement clinic, we usually remove all of the sutures by day ten.
However, we occasionally use coetaneous (skin) sutures which will dissolve in two weeks or so. More commonly, patients think that there are sutures still in place and its actually just dry skin/scabs along the suture line that needs more vigorous cleaning.
Finally, with our 2 layer donor closure technique, about one person in thirty has a deep suture extrude, usually around 3 months out. Thus, we often ask patients to come in for a checkup around that time and particularly to call if they are having any issues like this. You were smart to call your doctor and ask her thoughts.
William Lindsey, M.D.
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Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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