The body is a complicated thing. Even when you lose weight significantly, some fat deposits do not go away, and on top of that, the skin gets saggy due to a lack of skin laxity when a significant amount of mass goes away from the body. The most affected area is the arm. After weight loss, aging, or due to genetics, some individuals have those bat-wing kind of arms and fat deposits there that even with heavy exercise and diet, do not go away.
Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that helps individuals achieve structured arms. But due to being a surgical procedure, many people get worried, especially about stitches, and ask: How long do stitches stay in after brachioplasty?
Continue reading this blog below to know about arm lift surgery and the stitches’ situation after the surgery.
Understanding Brachioplasty (Arm Lift Surgery):
Brachioplasty or an arm lift surgery is an operative treatment in which doctors remove excessive sagging skin and stubborn fat deposits from the upper arm, between the armpit and the elbow. Doctors make an incision in the armpit or in the back of the arm to hide the scar and remove the hanging skin, and by combining liposuction, remove the fat. The procedure is performed in individuals that went through a major weight transformation, or have sagging due to aging or genetics, to which extreme exercise doesn’t even work.
Do Brachioplasty Stitches Dissolve or Need Removal?
In modern surgery, doctors use internal stitches to close the wound, and to close the outer end, glue is used. The internal stitches are dissolvable, which our body dissolves over time. The outer ends sometimes poke out of the body, which doctors trim in follow-ups. In some cases, stitches are placed that are removed after 7 to 14 days of the surgery, varying from person to person.
How Long Do Stitches Stay in After Brachioplasty?
The extra stitches or staples remain in for 1 to 2 weeks, after which they are removed, but those dissolvable stitches that are placed internally to support tissues remain in the body for weeks to a month until the body dissolves them on its own. The duration for which the stitches remain after an arm lift varies from person to person, depending on their body’s healing abilities.
What to Expect During Stitch Removal:
Stitch removal is an easy and pain-free process. Doctors in removal follow-up appointment, clean the area and cut the end of the thread in a single thread case and tug the thread out of the skin, and in case of separate multiple stitches, the process remains the same, and one by one, stitches are removed. After that, the area is cleaned again, and then a bandage is applied.
How to Care for Stitches After Brachioplasty:
- Keep the area clean and dry.
- Change dressing as advised.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects.
- Take medicines on schedule.
- Do not touch or scratch stitches.
- Wear a compression garment if prescribed.
- Go for follow-ups.
Signs Your Stitches Are Healing Properly:
- Swelling slowly reduces.
- Redness is mild and fading.
- Pain is getting less.
- Incision stays closed.
- No pus or bad smell.
- Skin looks progressively normal.
When Can You Resume Normal Activities?
Patients can continue light non-strenuous activities within 1 to 2 weeks, but nothing that puts even light pressure on the surgical site. Resume your first job after 10 to 15 days, but in order to do some heavy activities, you must wait for 4 to 6 weeks. After 4 to 6 weeks, you can do most of the work, but still be cautious and do not put too much pressure, as tissue healing takes several months.
Conclusion:
Surgeons’ skills play a huge role in stitch healing and scar formation. At Royal Cosmetic Surgery in Islamabad, we have Pakistan’s top-ranked surgeon, Dr. Naveed Azhar, who is an expert in arm lift surgery. His years of knowledge and experience made him the best. He places the stitches with such skill that they heal properly with good care, and the scar is minimal.
If you too want such safe recovery and procedure results, then call us now and book your appointment today.
