Question:
STITCHES vs. STAPLES

Hi, I just had A lower body lift and my thighs reduced. The Dr. said he had to use staples on my legs. What are your experiences with staples, Is my scarring going to be worse? Thanks, Kelly*    — Kelly* P. (posted on February 28, 2005)

February 28, 2005
It always amazes me when plastic surgeons use staples! I just watched a show and they used staples on a woman who had breast implants. I've had a breast reduction (stitches) and Lap RNY (staples). And I can honestly say the scar with the stitch is clean and thing. The incisions that were put together with staples I can see little pinhole scars where the staples were. Just my experience...
   — SJP

February 28, 2005
I would not go to a plastic surgeon who uses staples. If you do have excessive scarring from the staples I would ask him to revise the scars using a plastic surgery suture technique with all of the stitches under the skin. He should do this for free in my honest opinion as he should have taken the time and care to do it the first time.
   — **willow**

February 28, 2005
A good plastic surgeon wouldn't use staples. I've had 5 plastic surgeries and have yet to see a staple come out. Hand stitching is the ONLY way to go.
   — Patty H.

March 1, 2005
All I know about plastic surgery comes from reading about it here and watching Discovery Health, but I do remember a program where the narrator commented that the surgeon was closing the breast lift/augmentation with staples TEMPORARILY so that the patient could be moved to a sitting postion and the postion/size of the breasts evaluated. Once the surgeon was happy with them, they laid her back down and closed the incisions with fine sutures. I was closed along my open RNY incision with staples and I do have the railroad tracks. They are very faint, but still visible at almost 3 years postop. Did your surgeon say why he had to use staples on your thighs? I know an inner thigh lift is very difficult to recover from, so he may have been afraind the incisions could open if he just used sutures.
   — Ali M

March 2, 2005
Like the others said I would not have PS done with staples. However, in my case I would not want it done with surface stitches either. I know that I scar and that every stitch mark or staple hole will show the rest of my life. I have the marks on my palms from carpal tunnel surgery to prove it. That is why for me when my PS said he uses glue to close the skin I knew I had found the right guy. The incisions look very good and no little holes. All you can do is give it time. Everyone scars differently and you might be one that staples won't be an issue with. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr