Absorbable sutures, also known as dissolvable stitches, are sutures that can naturally dissolve and be absorbed by the body as a wound heals. Not all wounds are sealed with absorbable sutures. Doctors generally evaluate your wound to decide on the best types of sutures to use.
What Are Absorbable Sutures?
Absorbable sutures are stitches made from materials that the body can naturally absorb over time. They’re made of materials such as the fibers that line animal intestines or artificially created polymers that easily dissolve into the body.
Unlike sutures made from nylon or silk, absorbable sutures do not need to be removed by a doctor. This makes them ideal for healing internal wounds and surgical sites.
What Are the Benefits of Using Absorbable Sutures?
The biggest benefit of absorbable stitches is the fact that the body breaks them down over time. This makes these sutures ideal for sealing up surgical sites, especially tissue inside the body that is hard to reach after the surgery.
Another benefit of absorbable stitches is that they tend to be more flexible than non-absorbable stitches. Because of this, doctors can suture the wound while matching its shape, which is good for helping to heal jagged wounds and spongy surgical sites.
What Are the Downsides of Using Absorbable Sutures?
Doctors prefer to use absorbable or non-absorbable sutures based on their personal choice and the type of surgery you’ve had. Absorbable sutures may not last as long as non-absorbable sutures because they dissolve over time.
At one time, it was believed that this type of suture reopened your wounds more often than the non-absorbable kind. However, research shows that wounds sealed using absorbable sutures have less of a chance of reopening compared with non-absorbable ones.
Your body may be extra-sensitive to absorbable sutures, as it recognizes the material as a foreign substance. This can cause a reaction and delay the process of wound healing.
How Long Do Absorbable Sutures Take to Dissolve?
How long absorbable sutures take to dissolve depends on the material of the sutures used.
Doctors choose their suture material based on how long it takes a wound to heal. So, for example, after a C-section, a doctor may choose a suture material that will dissolve within a few weeks, while they may choose a material that takes several months to dissolve if they’re sealing a hip replacement.