Dissolvable stitches not dissolved

[DottyMacaroon]

I had a skin surgery 3 weeks ago and the stitches haven’t dissolved yet. I was told 2-3 weeks. One nurse said see my GP surgery for removal if they don’t dissolve and the other said put Vaseline on and it’ll encourage them to dissolve. What’s best?

also I’m desperate for a bath (hate showers) - can I have one anyway?

You can have a bath. Soluble sutures can take up to 6 weeks to dissolve. If you have any protruding suture ends or knots see your practice nurse to have them snipped.

Thank you. Yes all 3 stitches including knots still very much in situ! There is still some scabbing at one end too.

What colour are the stitches, where are they.

Do you have any paperwork from the op? Mine had what the stitches were on that but it was a private clinic not NHS.

My mum had 'dissolving stitches' for a prolapse. They were scratching her and irritating her internally. Turns out the gynae hadn't used dissolving ones at all! 😡

Where on your body are they?

This is quite common. As long as the area around the sutures isn’t infected then you can leave them a little longer. Or just get practice nurse to take them out.

If you’re wound is healed then you can have a bath.

I cleaned dh wound yesterday and found 1 blue stitch still in after 2 months although they were all removed by surgery nurse six weeks ago

They’re clear, on my leg.

Yes, I’ve been told they’re dissolvable and should dissolve within 2-3 weeks.

Clear ones are soluble but will only dissolve if under the skin. Any bits protruding will not dissolve, and will only come away once the suture underneath fully dissolves.

They always say 2-3 weeks but in reality it can take longer, depending where they are.

Make an appointment with your practice nurse.

Sorry, I meant the actual brand of the thread used to stitch your wound. Mine gave full information of the brand and what dressing and ointment they used etc. Mine were removable ones.

When I had dissoluble ones for another op I had a knot that protruded and needed cutting off to make the wound close. It just kept weeping but the skin couldn't come together. The knot was really big hence why it wasn't dissolving very quickly.

I agree to book in with your practise nurse who will have a look and advise.

Thanks both. No further details other than ‘dissolvable’ 😊 I’ll make an appointment, which is a shame because they’re sooooo busy!!

One of mine didn't dissolve well either. One worked it's way out my skin post cesarean so I pulled it out.

I removed my own after two weeks...

My dad recently had an emergency appendectomy was told the external sutures were dissolvable, they weren't!

Hi guys I've just had major knee surgery. The hospital changed the dressing and cleaned the area today and put another dressing on.
Now they tried to take the knot off one the stitches. They said if they didn't take the knot away the the stitch won't dissolve is this true.
They said I can go to my gp.
But surely if the stitches are dissolvable then the knot will be also right.