Dissolvable stitches help!

[Airdustmoon]

Any HCPs who can advise? I had an excision of a basal cell carcinoma from the side of my nose almost 2 weeks ago. They put dissolvable stitches in. It all scabbed over and looked to be healing nicely but the stitches were all embedded within the scab. I saw the practice nurse at my GP a week later who snipped out some of the stitches that were on the surface, but she didn’t do them all as she said she didn’t think some were ready.

Now nearly another week on and the largest stitches show no signs of dissolving and they seem to be actually inhibiting the proper healing. The scab keeps lifting like it’s ready to come off (and I’m not picking it, it’s just like normal movement is making it happen) but then because it’s essentially stitched in, it pulls and the wound opens up again and starts bleeding. I feel like the stitches just need to come out so it can properly heal!

Nothing I can really do about it now as the GP is obviously closed until after Christmas but just thought I’d see if anyone has any advice.

I had similar after a mole was removed on my leg. The nurse left one stitch in so in the end I just removed it myself.

I watched a YouTube video on what to do, and scrubbed then sterilised tweezers and nail scissors. I actually did a better job than her, she caused me to bleed and scan whereas my removal was much more gentle and it healed a lot quicker.

@TheWeatherOutsideIs thanks - I have considered trying to remove it myself (or getting DH to, I’m quite squeamish!) did yours scar badly? That’s my only concern is that if I take it out myself it’ll scar badly (though tbh it’s going to be a pretty nasty scar anyway I think!)

I took my own "dissolvable" stitches out of my tongue with nail scissors and tweezers. It was a blessed relief.

It's a bit different as I had a hysterectomy so mine are on my belly where no one can see them. I'm 6 weeks on and a couple remain. I spoke to my GP who said they will fall out when they are ready. I did pull one very satisfyingly out with clean tweezers. I sterilised everything and pulled slowly - about a cm of thread cane out.

Give them a good soak in salt water, cover on vaseline overnight, and then try to rub off the stitches gently. Keep the scar Vaselines or taped over for a year to minimise scar.

I found that wiping/dabbing with tea tree oil made my last few stubborn dissolvable stitches dissolve.

Thanks for all the tips. I will try some Vaseline tonight. Not got any tea tree oil but DM who I’ll see on Christmas Day probably does!

It won’t make it scar any worse, the scar is the scar, but when the nurse went digging under the skin (the skin had grown over the stitches) she caused bleeding and further scabbing. Whereas i was a lot more gentle with myself, carefully cleaned the area with gauze which disrupted the skin and then just carefully snipped the stitch. It was so easy. Literally hold the knot with the tweezers and cut once underneath the knot. Then you can remove the stitch with gentle tension using tweezers.

Once the stitches are out and everything is properly healed get some silicone scar reducing plasters, they are fantastic. You can put them on overnight so you're not wandering around with a big plaster on your nose but the silicone really helps to soften and reduce any scarring.

Thanks for the tip @CyberCritical I’ll have a look for some silicone scar plasters. I’m waiting to hear whether they got it all - if not I might have to go back for further surgery 😱 fingers crossed.

I’ve done a bit of self surgery this morning with a pair of nail scissors and some help from DH! Didn’t manage to get it all - there’s one very stubborn stitch I just can’t get to easily to snip it. But it looks a lot neater than it did. I’ll give it another few days and if I still can’t do a DIY job see if I can see the nurse again next week.