How Long Does It Take For Stitches To Dissolve (And Why)?

How Long Does It Take For Stitches To Dissolve (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 1 To 2 Weeks

When a person comes over an accident, he gets some deep cuts in the skin, which leads to huge blood loss. One must have an immediate rush to a doctor so that the risk of infection settles down. They would be closed up by the stitches, which would easily get dissolved by the body.

Whether it’s a deeper wound or a superficial one, the doctors or the surgeons heal it with different stitches according to the requirement. It would heal within some time of being taken good care of. If the condition gets worse, one should hurry to the doctor to control it from further damage.

How Long Does It Take For Stitches To Dissolve

How Long Does It Take For Stitches To Dissolve?

MethodPeriod
Stitches to dissolveOne to two weeks
Carrying out stitching (non-absorbable)Five to fourteen days

Since bygone decades, all surgeons have used stitches to close the deep cuts, scrapes, and surgical incisions. In modern times, they are using stitches that dissolve within the body. It’s great about these stitches that they can be used for internal as well as external wounds.

Stitches are made either thin for a simple cut or plastic surgery or thick for internal wounds. More of the material is needed to make a thick stitch, while less material for a thin stitch, woven together.

To be saying, the stitches on the knee have to have more elasticity than the stitches on the forearm so that the knee would be able to bend. Otherwise, the stitches would break and come out, or the wound would tear apart,  and healing would delay. It would take a longer time for a deep, wide wound to decompose and heal.

The dissolvable stitches get naturally decomposed by the body and don’t require a doctor for removing stitches or have a check on the wound. Dissolvable stitches are somewhat like foreign substances to the human body. Therefore, they are destroyed by the body as programmed.

They are made from natural materials, like processed collagen, silk, and hair as well as from synthetic materials, that the body can decompose. When the stitches decompose completely by the body, the wound automatically gets healed.

Sometimes, the stitches don’t decompose completely by the body. It’s because a part of the stitch remains outside of the body. That’s why the fluids won’t be able to dissolve the stitch, and it remains intact.

Why Does It Take That Long For Stitches To Dissolve?

Many people complain about feeling their stitches under the incision, even after the wound is completely healed. The dissolvable stitches vary in strength as well as the time it took for the body to absorb them.

The amount of time the stitch will take to dissolve depends on several factors, such as the surgical procedure used, the type and material of stitches used, and the size of the wound. The time can range from a few days to several months.

Truly speaking, a stitch takes 1 to 2 weeks to dissolve but can take several months for a deep, wide cut. Taking an example, wisdom teeth removal might need the dissolvable stitches that tend to dissolve within few weeks.

After having a stitch, it needs to be taken care of. One must clean it by starting from the center of the incision and move out. One should not scrub the stitch as it can be very irritating to the wound and slows down healing.

The very advantage of a dissolvable stitch is that it is flexible than other stitches. Due to this, doctors can stitch the wound by matching its shape. It is believed that the dissolvable stitches have more reopened the wound than non-dissolvable stitches as they dissolve quickly.

Conclusion

Each country in the world has prospered in the field of medical science. Doctors and scientists have made every possible discovery for better treatment of the people. While having surgery, doctors prefer the dissolvable stitches to close up the wounds, which consist of materials that can be easily decomposed by the body.

It is important to take every precaution suggested by their doctor after having stitches. They should not try to remove the stitch without the doctor’s concern. If anyone suspects that their round is infected, they must visit a doctor as soon as possible.

References

  1. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/192814
  2. https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/episiotomy
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Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.

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