Surgeons place internal stitches during septoplasty to secure the septum and close incisions. Most internal sutures are absorbable and dissolve naturally within 1 to 4 weeks. External stitches used in open procedures require professional removal by a surgeon, typically within 7 days.
- Absorbable sutures: These internal stitches break down naturally and do not require removal.
- Dissolving timeframe: Internal material typically disappears within 7 to 28 days of healing.
- External removal: Non-dissolvable stitches on the columella are usually removed within 1 week.
- Splint fixation: A single temporary stitch may hold plastic splints until their scheduled removal.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Italian specialists like Dr. Nicola Vione emphasize preservation techniques to shorten recovery and minimize surgical trauma. Leading facilities in Rome and Milan, including Ospedale San Carlo di Nancy and La Madonnina, prioritize these minimally invasive approaches. Patients should note that high-volume centers in Italy often use specific biodegradable materials that reduce post-operative irritation compared to standard sutures.
Patient Consensus: Patients often worry when seeing white or yellowish material inside the nose after surgery. This is typically just the dissolving suture material rather than a sign of infection.