Should I Have My Buttock Implants Incision Stitched Back up?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had subfascial buttock implants placed three week ago. My doctor wanted to keep the skin stitches in for a long time so that it would heal without coming apart. I’ve been keeping an eye on my stitches now that I able able to see them better. I am seeing an opening develop that I did not see until now. This opening in the incision worries me. Should I get it restitched to assure that it closes properly when I go in for my one month checkup?

A: What you are observing after your buttock implants is very common and, quite frankly, expected. This is why I keep the the intergluteal incisional sutures in for so long. Every intergluteal incision will develop small openings such as you have and they never occur until 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. I do not close them because the sutures will never hold. They need to be allowed to heal in on their own. There are 3 other layers of tissue suturing under that of the skin closure so such small openings are not a concern. I would recommend topical Silvadene dressings which will help the small open area granulate in faster and is a potent antibacterial as well.