Published Jul 31, 2026
6 minute read
Yes, some rhinoplasty stitches dissolve on their own. But some don’t, and there's a really good reason why.
In a recent Instagram reel, I explained that the stitches inside the nose are dissolvable stitches. They’re placed along internal incisions, where they support the healing tissue and gradually break down as the nose recovers. The external rhinoplasty stitches are different. I remove those myself when the time comes because I want the incision line to heal as naturally and cleanly as possible.
That may sound like a small detail, but in rhinoplasty surgery, the small details are the surgery. The way an incision is closed, the way tension is controlled, the way the skin edges meet, all of that can affect how visible the incision is once healing is complete.
During a rhinoplasty procedure, internal stitches are commonly placed inside the nostrils along the internal incisions. These are typically absorbable sutures, meaning your body slowly breaks them down as the tissue heals.
You may notice them during the first few weeks of rhinoplasty recovery. They can feel like little threads, knots, or areas of firmness inside the nose, especially while swelling is still present. That’s normal for many patients, and in most cases, there’s nothing you need to pull, trim, or “help along.”
Please don’t pick at them.
The inside of the nose is delicate after nose surgery, and the stitches are there to protect the healing tissue while it gains strength. If something feels loose or strange, let your surgical team look at it during your follow-up appointment. A stitch that looks annoying to you may still be doing exactly what I want it to do.
In open rhinoplasty, there is a small external incision along the columella, the narrow strip of skin between the nostrils. This is where external sutures may be used.
I know patients like the idea of everything dissolving and disappearing on its own, but the outside skin deserves a different level of control. For that visible incision, I use external rhinoplasty stitches that I remove when the timing is right. They allow me to bring the skin edges together very precisely, reduce unnecessary tension, and guide the incision area toward a finer, significantly less visible line.
These are usually non-dissolvable stitches, so they don’t dissolve completely on their own. They’re typically removed around one week after surgery, although the exact timing can vary depending on your tissue, your swelling, your procedure, and how the incision is healing.
Manual removal is quick. Most patients build it up in their head far more than the experience calls for, and by the time it’s done, they’re usually surprised by how simple it felt.
Dissolvable stitches are great in the right place. Inside the nose, they can support the tissue while your body works through the normal healing process. On the outer surface, especially in facial plastic surgery, I often want more control than an absorbable stitch gives me.
The skin on the columella is thin, visible, and central. If an external incision is closed casually, it can leave behind more redness, texture, or scarring than necessary. If it’s closed with precision and the sutures are removed at the right time, the incision can heal beautifully.
That’s why the question isn’t just, “Do the stitches dissolve?” The better question is, “Which stitch gives this area the best chance to heal cleanly?”
Inside the nose, dissolvable stitches usually make sense. Outside the nose, removable stitches can give me a cleaner closure and a more natural incision line.
Rhinoplasty stitches stay in for different amounts of time depending on where they are placed. Internal stitches may take several weeks to soften and dissolve, and small remnants can occasionally linger while the tissue continues to heal.
External stitches are usually removed much earlier, often around the one-week mark. At that point, the incision has usually gained enough early strength, but the stitches have not been sitting long enough to create unnecessary irritation in the skin.
Healing continues well after the sutures are gone. The first few weeks are when swelling, congestion, and tenderness are most noticeable, but the nose continues refining for months. Many patients see meaningful improvement by two weeks, more refinement by up to three months, and continued settling beyond that, especially around the nasal tip.
After rhinoplasty surgery, your job is to let the nose heal without bothering it too much. Keep your head elevated, avoid heavy lifting, protect the nose from pressure, and follow your surgeon’s instructions for cleaning the incision area.
You may be asked to use antibiotic ointment or gently clean around the incision. Use only what your doctor recommends. Products like hydrogen peroxide can irritate healing skin when used incorrectly, so don’t improvise with wound care because something sounds “extra clean.” Surgery is not the time for bathroom chemistry.
Be careful with glasses if your surgeon has asked you to avoid pressure on the bridge. Don’t pick at crusting, tug at internal stitches, or try to remove anything yourself. Proper care is usually simple, but simple does not mean optional.
Some swelling, discomfort, crusting, and mild redness can be part of normal rhinoplasty recovery. Still, you should call your doctor or surgical team if you notice persistent bleeding, worsening pain, spreading redness, drainage, fever, increasing warmth around the incision, or anything that makes you worry about infection.
You should also reach out if an external stitch comes loose early, the wound appears to open, or the incision area suddenly looks worse instead of gradually calmer. You don’t need to diagnose the problem yourself. That’s what follow-up appointments and professional medical advice are for.
So, do rhinoplasty stitches dissolve? The internal ones usually do. The external ones are often removed on purpose.
That choice is made for precision. Internal stitches support the nose from the inside while the tissue heals. External sutures help me close the visible incision with more control, and removing them at the right time can help create a smoother, more natural, significantly less visible incision line.
At Eos Rejuvenation, rhinoplasty is a complex procedure built from details that most people never see. The stitches are one of those details. They may be tiny, but they help protect the healing process, support a smooth recovery, and give the final result the cleanest possible foundation.
