quill device

Leading up to plastic surgery, patients typically have several questions. With an ongoing list of possible cosmetic procedures and an even longer list of prospective plastic surgeons, there is quite a bit to consider. Although many patients have an idea of what they’d like to achieve with plastic surgery, they are not always sure which procedure will produce the results they seek. Aside from that, it’s very important for a patient to find a board certified plastic surgeon with whom they are comfortable. Another common concern a plastic surgery patient may encounter is safety during and after surgery. With so many considerations, it’s no surprise that patients sometimes don’t stop to think about the sutures that will be used to close their incisions.

From a plastic surgeon’s standpoint, sutures are a very important piece of the procedure, and the type of suture used and its placement is vital to the healing process. Although many surgeons use traditional sutures, Dr. L. Franklyn Elliott uses a new type of suture, known as the Quill™ Knotless Tissue Closure Device. Instead of requiring a surgeon to tie individual knots, the Quill™ device is designed with barbed tissue retainers, which surround the suturing material in opposing directions.

In order to use the suturing device, Dr. Elliott puts one end of the Quill™ device into the tissue, engaging the retainers, which penetrate the tissue and locks it into place. The plastic surgeons who have tried the Quill™ Knotless Tissue Closure Device say it’s extremely efficient compared to traditional sutures. For example, with traditional sutures, it takes a surgeon 11-15 minutes to close an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) incision, but surgeons can cut that time down to 3-4 minutes without forfeiting quality or patient safety when using the Quill™ device.

Dr. Elliott also appreciates the improved quality of the incision’s closure with Quill™ technology. When using traditional sutures, a surgeon must maintain equal tension across an incision and ensure that it’s fully closed, as a suture’s placement has a lot to do with the patient’s healing. Therefore, Dr. Elliott also favors this device for the increased patient safety it provides. Although this fairly new technology is still being studied, research shows it may help reduce tissue trauma, assist in healing, and minimize scarring, as using Quill™ reduces the number of sutures needed to close deep incisions.

If you’re considering facial plastic surgery, body contouring, or a cosmetic breast procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Elliott today and ask about Quill™. If you’re interested in other plastic surgery procedures, check out Dr. Elliott’s plastic surgery before and after gallery, and be sure to connect with him on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute plastic and reconstructive surgery technology updates.