Do Surgical Clips Stay In After Surgery? Understanding the Implications

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

Many patients are discharged with surgical clips or staples still in place, but understanding the answer to "Do surgical clips stay in after surgery?" depends on their type and location. Modern surgical practice uses a variety of clips, each designed for a specific purpose and with different outcomes regarding permanence.

Quick Summary

Whether surgical clips remain in the body depends on their purpose and material. Some, like internal clips used for vessels, are permanent and made from biocompatible materials, while others, like skin staples or absorbable internal clips, are temporary.

Key Points

Purpose Determines Permanence: Whether a surgical clip stays in or is removed depends on its purpose—internal ligation often requires permanent clips, while skin incisions need temporary ones.
Biocompatible Materials: Permanent internal clips are made from safe, biocompatible materials like titanium that are designed to be well-tolerated by the body for the long term.
Internal vs. External Clips: Permanent clips are typically used internally on vessels or ducts, while temporary skin clips or staples are used externally on incisions and are later removed.
Absorbable Options: Some internal clips are made from polymers that naturally dissolve and are absorbed by the body over time.
Rare Complications: Though uncommon, potential issues like allergic reactions (especially to nickel) or clip migration can occur, but modern clips are designed to minimize these risks.
Imaging Considerations: Permanent metal clips can cause some artifact on imaging like CT scans, but titanium is MRI-safe and unlikely to trigger airport security metal detectors.
Communicate with Your Surgeon: It is important to discuss with your surgical team what type of clips were used and if any are permanent, especially for future medical reference.

Surgical Clips: A Closer Look at Their Function

Surgical clips are small devices used by surgeons to ligate (tie off) blood vessels, ducts, and other tubular structures, as well as to mark tissue for later procedures. They offer a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional surgical sutures in many cases, particularly during minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgeries. The ultimate fate of a surgical clip—whether it stays in the body or is removed—is determined by its material and its application. This distinction is crucial for patient understanding and peace of mind during the recovery process.

Types of Surgical Clips: Permanent vs. Temporary

There are two primary types of surgical clips, each serving a distinct purpose in surgery. The material and intended use dictate whether the clip will become a permanent implant or be absorbed or removed after healing.

Permanent (Non-Absorbable) Clips: These are designed to remain in the body indefinitely. They are typically used for internal ligations where a secure, long-term closure is necessary, such as sealing the ducts during a gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy).
Temporary (Absorbable) Clips: Made from biodegradable polymers, these clips gradually dissolve and are absorbed by the body over a period of time. They are often used for temporary ligation where a permanent seal is not required. The absorption time can vary depending on the specific polymer used.
External Skin Staples/Clips: These are not used internally but are a common method for closing surgical incisions on the skin. These clips are always temporary and are removed by a healthcare professional once the wound has sufficiently healed, typically within 10 to 14 days after surgery.

Permanent Surgical Clips: When and Why They Stay

Most concerns about retained hardware revolve around permanent internal clips. These are not left inside by accident; they are a deliberate part of the surgical procedure. The reason they are designed to stay is for long-term functional stability, such as sealing a blood vessel permanently.

The materials used for these permanent clips are chosen for their biocompatibility—meaning they are well-tolerated by the human body and do not cause adverse reactions. Titanium is one of the most common materials used for internal surgical clips due to its strength, corrosion resistance, and low reactivity. Other materials include high-quality stainless steel and nitinol, a shape-memory alloy.

For example, during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, titanium clips are used to seal the cystic duct and cystic artery, preventing leaks into the abdomen. These clips are considered safe and reliable for this purpose and are not intended for removal. Similarly, they can be used to mark tissue internally to guide future treatment, such as marking a tumor site for radiation therapy.

Risks, Complications, and Considerations

While generally safe, there are rare cases where complications can arise from permanent surgical clips. These are not common but are important for patients to be aware of. The most significant risks include:

Allergic Reactions: Though biocompatible materials like titanium are low-risk, some individuals, particularly those with pre-existing metal sensitivities, can develop a type IV hypersensitivity reaction. For example, clips containing nickel can cause reactions in sensitive individuals, leading to symptoms like rash, inflammation, or localized discomfort.
Clip Migration: In very rare instances, a permanent clip may migrate from its original location. While not always problematic, this can sometimes cause pain or other symptoms and may require surgical removal.
Imaging Interference: Permanent metal clips can potentially cause some artifact on medical imaging, though this is less of a concern with modern titanium clips during an MRI. Patients should inform healthcare providers about any surgical implants before undergoing imaging. Standard airport metal detectors are unlikely to be triggered by internal surgical clips due to their small size.

Comparison of Surgical Clip Types


Feature	Permanent Metal Clips	Absorbable Polymer Clips	External Skin Clips/Staples
Material	Titanium, Stainless Steel, Nitinol	Biodegradable Polymers	Surgical-grade Metal
Permanence	Designed to stay permanently in the body	Gradually dissolves and is absorbed by the body	Temporary, removed after healing
Purpose	Long-term ligation of vessels, marking tissue internally	Temporary ligation during surgery	Closing skin incisions
Removal	Not removed unless complications arise	Body naturally absorbs over time	Removed by a healthcare professional
Common Use	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)	Various internal procedures where a temporary seal is needed	Many common surgeries with external incisions

Patient Education and Communication

Because of the differences between permanent and temporary clips, clear communication between the patient and surgical team is vital. A surgeon should inform patients about the presence of any permanent implants, including surgical clips. This information is important for a patient's medical records and can be critical for future medical care or imaging tests. If you have concerns about any materials left in your body after surgery, it is always best to speak with your surgeon for clarification and peace of mind. The FDA provides helpful information about medical devices, including surgical staples and staplers. For more information, you can visit their page: Surgical Staplers and Staples - FDA.

Conclusion

The question of whether surgical clips stay in after surgery has no single answer, as it depends on the type of clip used. Internal clips are often permanent and made from safe, biocompatible materials like titanium, intended to stay indefinitely. Other clips, such as those used on the skin or absorbable internal clips, are temporary and are either removed or dissolved. Complications are rare, but patients should always communicate with their healthcare providers about any implants. Understanding the purpose of surgical clips is key to a smooth recovery and alleviates unnecessary worry about retained surgical materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, whether surgical clips are removed depends entirely on their type and where they were used. Clips used internally to seal vessels are often permanent, while external clips used on the skin are removed after healing.

Dissolvable, or absorbable, surgical clips are made from biocompatible polymers. They are designed to gradually break down and be safely absorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for removal.

Permanent surgical clips are typically made from biocompatible metals such as titanium, stainless steel, or alloys like nitinol. These materials are chosen for their durability and low reactivity with body tissues.

It is highly unlikely for small, internal surgical clips to set off airport metal detectors. While the metal is detectable, the clips are typically too small and deep inside the body to trigger the alarm.

Allergic reactions to surgical clips are rare, especially with biocompatible materials like titanium. However, some individuals with metal allergies, particularly to nickel, may experience a reaction if the clip contains that element. Patients with known metal allergies should inform their surgeon beforehand.

The presence of surgical clips usually does not interfere with an MRI. Titanium clips, which are very common, are not magnetic and are considered safe for MRI scans. It is still important to inform your doctor about any implants you have before a scan.

External surgical clips, or skin staples, are removed by a nurse or doctor after the incision has healed sufficiently. This typically occurs between 5 and 14 days after the surgery, depending on the wound's location and how quickly it heals.

No, permanent internal surgical clips are made from biocompatible materials and are designed to remain in the body without causing harm. They are a standard and safe part of many surgical procedures.