ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The duration to close an incision is an important consideration in plastic surgery. The placement of Insorb absorbable subcuticular staples (Insorb, Incisive Surgical, Plymouth, MN) may allow for a decreased closure time compared with other modalities. OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the utility of Insorb staples for the closure of mammaplasty and abdominoplasty incisions. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent anterior abdominal dermatolipectomy, total circular abdominal dermatolipectomy, bilateral breast reduction, or bilateral mastopexy were evaluated in a prospective study. Dermal closure was achieved on 1 side of each patient with Insorb absorbable staples and on the other with absorbable monofilament sutures. Scar quality, pruritus, and pain were scored according to a modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS) at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Closure with absorbable staples was approximately 7-fold faster than closure with absorbable sutures for all surgical procedures. No significant differences in mVSS scores were noted between incisions closed with staples vs sutures. CONCLUSIONS: Absorbable staples enable faster closure of a surgical incision without compromising scar quality or patient comfort. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Therapeutic.
