Dissolvable stitches are medical sutures that disintegrate as your incision or wound heals.
They do not need to be removed but are absorbed by the body over a few months.
This makes them ideal for closing internal incisions and deep wounds.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Do not pull out dissolvable stitches without first talking to your healthcare provider.
This article discusses dissolvable stitches.
It explains when your healthcare provider might use dissolvable stitches and how to care for them.
Traditional suture material used to repaircutsis made of silk, nylon, or polypropylene.
The stitches are left in place for several days or a few weeks.
They are made from a unique biodegradable material that the body absorbs during the healing process.
Research also shows dissolvable stitches are better at preventing the reopening of surgical incisions (wound dehiscence).
Absorbable sutures may also offer better cosmetic results and help prevent hypertrophic (thick and raised) scarring.
When Are Dissolvable Stitches Used?
External Wounds
Most superficial cuts are repaired with non-dissolvable suture material.
Very deep wounds, however, are often better candidates for dissolvable stitches.
In these cases, dissolvable stitches may be used to repair the deeper layers of tissue.
Surgical Incisions
When a surgeon makes an incision, they cut through more than the skin.
They also cut through the fat underneath your skin and sometimes through muscle and other tissues.
They might also use another key in of closure, such asadhesive stripsor surgical skin glue.
Dissolvable stitches vary widely in both strength and the amount of time they take for your body to absorb.
How long dissolvable stitches last depends on the punch in.
During this time, you may be able to feel the stitches under the skin.
Sometimes, though, what you feel isscar tissue, which is typical for a surgical incision.
What if you might’t Feel the Sutures?
Once the stitches dissolve, you wont be able to feel them.
Thebest way to clean your incisionis to clean from the dirtiest part to the cleanest part.
That usually means you should start at the center of your incision and move out.
Gently wash your incision in the shower, just like you would wash any other part of your body.
Use a mild soap and water to clean your incision.
You should never scrub your incision.
Doing so can be very irritating to the healing skin.
It can also make it harder for your wound to close.
General Care of Stitches
Inspect your wound daily forsigns of infectionor drainage from your injury.
Signs of infection may include:
Once the wound or incision begins to heal, a scab will form.
It is important toleave scabs aloneand take care not to scratch, scrub, or otherwise disturb them.
The area can also become itchy as it heals.
Do not apply cream, lotion, or ointments unless your doctor has instructed you to.
you’ve got the option to keep the skin covered to keep yourself from scratching it.
Applying an ice pack can also calm an itch.
Research has shown that peroxide may reduce the strength of some sutures.
Therefore, you should ask your surgeon if its safe to clean your surgicalincisions with hydrogen peroxidebefore doing so.
In addition to possibly weakening the sutures, peroxide is too harsh for most incisions.
It can cause irritation and be harmful to wounds.
Like with other stitches, do not take a stab at pull them out at home.
If a stitch appears to come loose, check with your healthcare provider.
The one risk associated with dissolvable stitches is an increased inflammatory response, which may delay wound healing.
While this can delay healing, the risk is generally low and can occur with traditional stitches as well.
Summary
Dissolvable stitches are a convenient way to suture wounds and incisions.
Unlike regular stitches that require removal, your body absorbs dissolvable stitches so that they do not require removal.
To care for dissolvable stitches, wash with a gentle cleanser.
Avoid scrubbing, picking at scabs, and cleaning with hydrogen peroxide.
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