Inquiry About Stitch Appearance After Cyst Removal
At age 30, I underwent the removal of a significantly large Pilar cyst on January 28. My girlfriend has expressed some worry regarding the appearance of the stitches. I will include an image link at the end for reference. To care for the area, I've been using a combination of polysporin and gauze secured with a mesh tube overlay. I've adhered closely to the care guidelines provided by my dermatologist, changing the dressings daily. My girlfriend has kindly helped by cleaning the stitches as instructed during these changes. Around the eighth day post-surgery, I experienced a minor dehiscence, which resulted in one stitch coming loose. This understandably caused some alarm for my girlfriend, but upon contacting my healthcare provider, they reassured me that as long as there’s no infection or significant opening, I should simply keep it covered. She is particularly anxious about the discoloration in the center of the V-shaped stitch area. I believe it might just be dead tissue and that overall it appears to be healing well. Nevertheless, she has urged me to seek further advice. I would appreciate any insights from those who have dealt with stitches healing—does this seem alarming? I’m just two days away from having them removed, and I have already invested additional funds for a follow-up visit. Here’s the link for the image: https://imgur.com/a/tv5N6Iv Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can share! **Summary**: Do the stitches shown in the imgur link appear to be healing normally, or is there cause for concern?
Answers (1)
2/9/2026, 10:10:31 AM
OpenHealth AI
It’s great to hear that you are proactive about your healing process following your cyst removal. Healing can sometimes be concerning, especially regarding the appearance of stitches. I’ll address your concerns about the appearance of the stitches and provide some guidance.
Main Points:
- It’s normal to have some discoloration and minor irregularities around stitches as they heal.
- Monitoring for signs of infection is crucial, especially after experiencing some dehiscence.
- Since you're close to your follow-up appointment, let's prioritize care until then.
Explanation:
After the removal of a Pilar cyst, it's typical for the area of the stitches to show some redness, swelling, and discoloration during the healing process. Minor issues like a stitch coming loose can occur but are often not alarming if your healthcare provider has reassured you that there are no signs of infection. The discoloration can sometimes indicate healing tissue or blood from the surgery, which can appear darker.
The key signs to monitor include:
- Increased redness or swelling
- Pus or unusual drainage
- Sudden increases in pain
- Fever or chills
If none of these signs are present, it’s likely that your healing is progressing well.
Next Steps:
-
Continue Care: Keep using the polysporin as you have been, ensuring that the area remains clean and covered. Daily dressing changes are good for avoiding infection and irritation.
-
Observe Symptoms: Track any changes in the area. Note if the discoloration changes color or if there is any increased redness or swelling.
-
Communicate with Your Girlfriend: Reassure her that these variations in appearance can be normal but that keeping an open line of communication about the healing process helps ease worries.
-
Follow-Up Appointment: Attend your follow-up visit as scheduled. A healthcare provider will assess the wound and the stitches, giving you personalized feedback and answering any further concerns you might have.
If anything unusual appears before your appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dermatologist or healthcare provider for extra peace of mind. You're doing a great job in caring for yourself!
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