Skin has healed over stitches that aren’t dissolving 😬

[NopeNopeNoper]

I have a number of incisions that now feel quite hard as the skin has healed over a ton of stitches which aren’t dissolving.

Will they eventually work their way out or will I have to go digging?

Are up you sure it’s not scar tissue? My incisions all feel quite hard underneath the skin. DH has had a fair bit of surgery and a lot of his are hard, even ones that had sutures removed by the nurse.
How long ago did you have the surgery? They can take ages to dissolve sometimes, I wouldn’t go digging.

Definitely don't go digging ffs 😲 On the very slim chance there are undissolved stitches that need to be pulled, only a medical professional should touch them. But as previous poster said, much more likely that what you're feeling is bumpy scar tissue that needs plenty of time to settle. It'll reduce to some extent over time, perhaps not completely, but then that's scars for you!

Sadly it’s definitely not bumpy scar tissue - I can actually feel the knots of the stitches under the skin, and in a couple of incisions the stitch is poking out of the skin and then I can track it back under the skin to where it’s tied. I’m getting a bit fed up with the lumps now as they’re hard and clearly not going to dissolve under the skin! Can’t tug them out either - the bits poking through are refusing to move! I’ve

Go back to the Dr and ask for advice?

Have an appointment next week but in the meantime wondered if anyone has had this before…

Do not rummage around yourself- you should have an appt with the gp practice nurse to remove the stitches. They don't make the appointment for you, you have to make it. You might have missed this info during the time of the procedure (I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed last time I needed stitches and only half remembered most of what they said).

I’ve had this happen(+ED nurse)

It’s very common unfortunately, with my own/relatives I got digging(sterile!) although I wouldn’t recommend this if you weren’t used to removing sutures.
If I were you I would try to get an appointment with a treatment room nurse for them to remove before they heal over more. They will do no harm long term but they are a PITA jagging away under the skin.

If they are dissolving stitches you won't have an appointment to take them out. Because they dissolve.

However, the resorption process can take a lot longer than anticipated. I'd be tempted to wait a bit longer until your appointment.

They are “dissolving” stitches so supposed to melt away by themselves - no appointment needed! Well, in theory!

I’ll see what the surgeon says next week, thank you all.