Crazy question re: staples

Hey folks - I'm just over a month out from RNY surgery and had my one month post op appt with the surgeon today. I was going to ask him this question but totally forgot:

the staples we have inside (our staple line) - do those staples stay there forever? Like they aren't dissolvable right? Do they set off metal detectors at airports or anything? I warned you - silly question but this is how my over analyzing mind works lol. 

Anyway the appt went well and I'm down 41lbs since starting opti (may 11) and 28 since surgery (may 25). So happy the nausea is gone and I can drink water with lemon now! (Couldn't tolerate water post op). Life's good!

Thanks all

Nikki

They stay forever and do not set off the metal detectors.

Thanks for the quick response!

Nikki,

No, the staples don't dissolve -- they're made out of titanium or something, like knee and hip replacements. 

As for setting off metal detectors, maybe not in airports, but don't be surprised if you set off the anti-theft things in the doors of department stores.  For about six months after I had my surgery (16 years ago), I set off the anti-theft detectors at Zeller's.  Every time.  I also heard about others who did (including one woman who had to warn her local mall whenever she was coming because she lit the whole place up like Jackpot night in Reno).  It could be that the composition of staples have changed in the interim and they don't do that anymore.

In any case, eventually it goes away -- probably after you develop enough scar tissue over them.

What about if you needed an MRI, can you have one with staples on?

Any type of metal generally = no MRI

Interesting. I never thought of that. I just googled this and read that generally metal implanted after 1996 is MRI safe.

I had a CT scan not that long ago and was able to see the staples, it was pretty cool.  I thought they would be more orderly, but it was kinda just a jumble of staples in there.  I have the disc of images from the scan at home.