Question:
I'm allergic to metal & worried about staples, any help?

   — Re G. (posted on May 18, 2001)

May 17, 2001
what about external staple on the incision ? i am allergic to metal to. i have big reaction to metal when leave on my skin... my watch leave me dermatis mark and even my gold ring sometimes leave me with an infection. any clue ?
   — carou1313

May 17, 2001
I, too, am allergic to metal. The titanium inside are no problem (I wear titanium glasses for the same reason -- no allergic effects). I had about an 8-inch row of staples on the outside when I had my spleen out a few years ago and had no reaction. I'm not sure what the outside staples are made of. Besides, they come out after a few days and steri-strips are put in their place.
   — PT LawMom

May 18, 2001
I, too, have a big problem with metal allergies. I can't weat metal framed sunglasses, have even reacted to the snap on jeans! Most people with metal allergies are sensitive to nickel, which is used as an alloy with a lot of other metals. There is no nickel in the staples. I have had multiple surgeries with staple closure and never had a problem with them.
   — Katie F.