Question:
With out staples what will keep me together?

Hello I am still pre-op but willl be having surgery soon. Whe I first saw my surgen at the first appointment he said that he was wanting to preform my surgery open. I had no problem with that untill he said he was only keeping my staples in for 3 days to avoid the train track scar. I didnt think if this till I left his office but now I cant help but wonder WHAT WILL HOLD ME TOGETJER? Has anybody else ever had there staples out this soon? This scares me alot. Thanks for taking the time to read this.    — Christy M. (posted on May 31, 2003)

May 30, 2003
I haven't had this surgery yet, but I have had 3 mid-line c-sections (from navel to pubic area) and had my staples removed before I left the hospital (3 days) and just had steri-strips after. It is scary, and you do wonder how it all stays together, but I never "came open" and it always healed okay. Best wishes for your surgery!
   — Donna N.

May 31, 2003
I had my open ryn 15 days ago. I did not get my staples (32 of them) removed untill yesterday. About 10 years ago I had had a previous stomach surgery (open) and they took my staples out after six days and I did come back open then I had to return to surgery the next day to have my wound sewed up instead of having to be re stapled. My doctor told me that he had them remain longer this time because your stomach (being obese) pulls harder against the wound and I did not want to come open again this time. That was a bad experience, but everyone is different. Any questions please feel free to contact me.
   — Gene F.

May 31, 2003
Hi Christy, you have inside stitches as well, and even by three days you'll have healed up a BIT. But he'll probably put steri-strips on afterwards (these are little VERY STICKY paper strips placed in a ladder-fashion on your incision after the metal staples are removed). They keep things together pretty well. But you'll still have to be VERY CAREFUL to not bust open your incision. It will be still sore enough that you'll naturally be moving with care. Don't worry too much about it...I'm sure your doc has a lot of experience and wouldn't be doing anything to put you in any type of danger. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 31, 2003
I agree with Joy here. There are internal sutures. I was surprised how well the incision had healed in three days. I have heard of some people opening back up, and my doctor said it might happen but not to panic. Fortunately, I looked almost totally healed after the staples were removed and I never opened up. But then I had the BEST surgeon in the world! ;) Good luck to you. Have a positive attitude and I'm sure all things will go fine for you. (Open RNY 10/30/02 down 152 lbs)
   — Ginger M.

May 31, 2003
I hear a lot of surgeons are using liquid stitches on the outsides - because as others have pointed out there are already many internal sutures. I wish mine would have used the liquid. The scar is sooo much nicer!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 1, 2003
Christy, I did not have staples, steristrips, or stiches. Our center leaves the incision open at the skinleval to facilitate healing and avoid infection. My incision healed from the inside out, and was completely done quickly. It did freak me out to begin with, but I got comfortable with the incision quickly (taped a maxi pad over it to keep it dry and clean) weird, but it worked!!!
   — Betsy B.

June 3, 2003
It is common after many surgeries to have the staples out early on. It is pretty rare for an incision to open up and it is usually a sign of infection if it does open up.
   — **willow**