Suturing

Suturing uses a special needle and thread to stitch surgical and traumatic wounds. At the Reagan Medical Center offices in Lawrenceville, Dacula, Suwanee, and Johns Creek, Georgia, the experienced team has expert suturing skills. They select the suture and technique best suited to your wound for optimal healing. Call your nearest Reagan Medical Center office today to learn more about suturing, or visit the urgent care clinic if you have an injury that might need sutures. You can also book an appointment online.

What is suturing?

Suturing is stitching a wound to help the tissues heal and limit infection. Sutures can be internal (inside your body), external (outside the body), or both.

You might need suturing if you suffer an injury that cuts or tears your skin and if the Reagan Medical Center team determines that the wound is unlikely to heal well naturally. Suturing is also a vital part of many surgical procedures.

What materials are used in suturing?

Suturing materials have varying properties, for example:

Absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures

Absorbable sutures fall apart over time, and your body ultimately absorbs them. These include materials like polyglactin 910 and poliglecaprone 25. Nonabsorbable sutures don’t deteriorate, so your provider must remove them.

Multifilament and monofilament

Monofilaments consist of single strands that pass easily through skin and tissue. They typically retain their original shape. Multifilament sutures consist of multiple strands that form a rope-like structure.

Natural and synthetic

Sutures can be synthetic or made from natural fibers like animal products.

Your provider selects the most appropriate suture material and type based on several factors, including the area needing suturing, wound size, which is likely to present the least risk of scarring or complications. They also consider your medical history and any allergies you have.

What techniques does suturing use?

Suturing techniques vary depending on a wound’s size, location, and other qualities. Examples include:

Simple interrupted suture

This standard technique is one the Reagan Medical Center team uses for many wound types. They insert a needle on one side of your wound, crossing over to the other side to draw the edges together.

Vertical mattress suture

Surgeons may select this technique to suture skin that moves easily or lacks support. They insert the needle about one-fifth of an inch from the wound’s edge, exit the other side and then reinsert the needle closer to the wound’s edge.

Subcuticular suture

With this technique, the stitches go into the dermis — your skin’s lower layer — to prevent scarring.  

The sutures seal your wound while the tissues repair and regrow. If you don’t have dissolvable sutures, you must make an appointment to have the sutures removed — your provider advises you when to return.

If you suffer an injury that might need suturing, visit the Reagan Medical Center urgent care clinic nearest you. To learn more about suturing or request a consultation, call or book online today.