KOWON Blog
All My Nose Surgery Stitches Were Removed, but a Thread Came Out Inside My Nose — Should I Worry If It's a Dissolvable Suture?
A case where something like a thread came out inside the nose after all stitches were removed following hump nose surgery. The difference between removal sutures and dissolvable sutures, and why this situation usually does not warrant major worry — organized from the doctor's answer.
Key points
- Threads used in nose surgery include removal sutures taken out at a set time and dissolvable sutures that melt away on their own.
- Even after stitch removal is complete, you cannot tell by feel alone whether a thread that came out is a dissolvable suture or one connected to a wound.
- Do not pull further on scabs or threads with tweezers — inform your surgery clinic and have the wound and thread type checked.
"All the stitches were removed, but something like a thread came out inside my nose. Could this become a problem?"
This is a question posted on KOWON Plastic Surgery's answer note. Even when recovery after surgery is going well, an unexpected situation like this can be startling. This article organizes the answer Dr. Hyung-taek Kim gave to that question.
01
What was the situation?
The asker had hump nose surgery on January 7 and had all nose surgery stitches removed. The wound inside the nose felt almost fully healed, but a large scab kept forming inside the nose and made breathing uncomfortable.
So they pulled the scab out with tweezers, and something like a fairly long nose surgery stitch came out with it. The clinic had told them the thread inside was dissolvable — the question was whether a thread coming out like this could cause a problem in the nose.
02
Is it okay if a thread comes out after all stitches were removed?
The fact that the stitch-removal period has passed alone cannot confirm the type of thread that came out or the state of the wound.
Even if the clinic advised that dissolvable sutures were used inside the nose, it is safer to check with the surgery clinic what the thread pulled out with the scab by tweezers actually was. Do not pull further or cut it.
To summarize, threads after nose surgery are divided like this.
| Type | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| Removal sutures | Removed at the clinic at a set time — the asker had already finished removal |
| Dissolvable sutures | No separate removal needed; they melt away over time |
The gist of the answer is that in a case like this — a thread coming out after stitch removal is complete — there is a high likelihood it was a remaining dissolvable suture. If you are curious about the recovery process by period after surgery, you can also refer to the rhinoplasty recovery guide.
03
Summary — if the removal period has passed, major worry is usually unnecessary
A thread coming out inside the nose after stitch removal does not immediately mean a big problem, but presuming it was dissolvable cannot confirm the wound is fine either. Do not pull the scab or thread further yourself; check with your surgery clinic, and seek care if there is bleeding, pain, swelling, or discharge.
If you have questions during post-surgery recovery, you can check through a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
You cannot conclude there is no problem just because the removal period has passed. Do not touch it further and have the thread and wound state checked at your surgery clinic.
No. Dissolvable sutures are not meant to be removed — leave them as they are. In this case too, the clinic had advised that "the thread inside is dissolvable."
As in this case, a scab can form inside the nose, or a remaining dissolvable suture can create a catching sensation. In this case the removal period had already passed, so it was not a situation warranting major worry.
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.
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