Most minor cuts heal by themselves, with more intervention than mild soap and water for cleanliness. But incisions or serious cuts from surgical procedures may require stitches to hold the tissues together while they heal. They hold the edges of the skin together to fuse with other tissues. Although it is natural to feel anxious while getting sutures, it is a painless procedure.
The stitches help the wounds heal with minimal scarring or infection risks. There are different criteria and care instructions for each closure. Ask your healthcare provider to give you a brief and assist you in selecting the ideal one.
Signs you need stitches
It is not easy to decide whether a cut requires stitches. It depends on your healthcare provider and the wound condition. You should seek medical assistance for deep, jagged, or gaping wounds. If you get injured in the face or any other body part where scarring is an issue or bleed profusely for minutes after direct pressure, you should rush to the doctor.
Procedure
Once the healthcare professional assesses your injury and determines you need stitches, they clean the affected area, numb it, and administer local anaesthesia to maximise comfort. If your injury seems contaminated, they cleanse it with running tap water and mild soap to prevent infections.
Types
There are several types of sutures, like absorbable and non-absorbable variants. A gut suture is a natural monofilament to repair internal soft tissue wounds during gynaecological surgeries. A polydioxanone suture helps with soft tissue repairs like abdominal closures. A poliglecaprone suture is also best for soft tissue repairs, except for cardiovascular procedures. It closes the skin almost invisibly.
Polyglactin is a synthetic braided suture ideal for repairing hand or facial lacerations. An injury causes trauma to the impacted area and often requires a suture. Depending on the need, your doctor can assess the suture type and material.
Materials
Stitches are of synthetic and natural materials. Nylon is a natural monofilament suture. Polypropylene sutures are non-absorbable and provide permanent support to the wound. They are blue with excellent tensile strength. Doctors use them for orthopaedic, plastic, microsurgeries, general closure, and cardiovascular surgeries. Silk is a braided natural suture, whereas polyester is a braided synthetic suture.
Removal
There are different suture types, materials, and techniques to heal wounds. The removal of the sutures depends on where they are on your body. If they are on your scalp and arms, it takes seven to 10 days from the operation date for removal. Stitches on the face take three to five days to heal. Injuries on the chest, trunk, hands, and feet require 10 to 14 days to absorb the stitches.
The doctor sterilises the area, picks one end of the suture, and cuts it while staying close to your skin. They gently pull out the strand and complete the procedure.