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Plastic Surgery Done Following A Cut. Doctor Pulled The Thread In The Elbow. Skin Feels Hard, Hurts To Flex Muscles. Get Back To Normal?
Hi after obtaining a cut about 3weeks ago i had platic sugery and yesterday the bandage came off. I noticed 4 different holes on the inner area of my elbow with a thread sticking out of each hole when the doctor pulled on one end the other end went inwards and re-emerged at the other end. Now the skin in the area feels hard, if i try to flex my muscles it hurts nd when i bend my elbows the hard skin tucks under my soft upper arm skin i just want to know if this hard skin will go away nd when i bend my inner elbow would it go back to normal just like my right inner elbow?
Sat, 24 Nov 2012
Hi,
What you probably observe is sutures sticking out of the wound. There is a technique called subcuticular suturing where you can visualize the threads at either end but not in between. The thread may be removed after a period of time or it might be absorbed depending on the suture material used.
Whenever an area is sutured, it gets hard because of inflammation and this would also cause pain. The surrounding muscles go into spasm initially because of the inflammation. Over a period of weeks, this area of induration as we call it softens to produce soft skin. The range of motion of the elbow which means the degree of movement of the elbow which is restricted at present should get back to normal with time.
What you probably observe is sutures sticking out of the wound. There is a technique called subcuticular suturing where you can visualize the threads at either end but not in between. The thread may be removed after a period of time or it might be absorbed depending on the suture material used.
Whenever an area is sutured, it gets hard because of inflammation and this would also cause pain. The surrounding muscles go into spasm initially because of the inflammation. Over a period of weeks, this area of induration as we call it softens to produce soft skin. The range of motion of the elbow which means the degree of movement of the elbow which is restricted at present should get back to normal with time.
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