Dissolvable Stitches: How Long They Last, Care Tips, And Removal

Medical News Today

• Health Conditions

  Health Conditions

  • Alzheimer's & Dementia
  • Anxiety
  • Asthma & Allergies
  • Atopic Dermatitis
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • COVID-19
  • Diabetes
  • Endometriosis
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Exercise & Fitness
  • Eye Health
  • Headache & Migraine
  • Health Equity
  • HIV & AIDS
  • Human Biology
  • Leukemia
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Nutrition
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Psoriasis
  • Sexual Health
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Women's Health
• Health Products

  Health Products

  All
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Vitamins & Supplements
  • CBD
  • Sleep
  • Mental Health
  • At-Home Testing
  • Men’s Health
  • Women’s Health
• Discover

  News

  • Latest News
  • Medicare 2026 Costs

  Original Series

  • Medical Myths
  • Honest Nutrition
  • Through My Eyes
  • New Normal Health

  Podcasts

  All
  • Artificial sweeteners and brain aging: What we know so far
  • Does the Mediterranean diet hold the key to longevity?
  • AMA: Registered dietitian answers 5 key questions about fiber and weight loss
  • Health misinformation and disinformation: How to avoid it
  • Brain health, sleep, diet: 3 health resolutions for 2025
  • 5 things everyone should know about menopause
• Tools

  General Health

  • Drugs A-Z
  • Health Hubs
  • Newsletter
  • Medicare Plans by State

  Health Tools

  • Find a Doctor
  • BMI Calculators and Charts
  • Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide
  • Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide
  • Sleep Calculator

  Quizzes

  • RA Myths vs Facts
  • Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction
• Connect

  About Medical News Today

  • Who We Are
  • Our Editorial Process
  • Content Integrity
  • Conscious Language

  Find Community

  • Bezzy Breast Cancer
  • Bezzy MS
  • Bezzy Migraine
  • Bezzy Psoriasis

  Follow Us

SubscribeWhat to know about dissolvable stitchesMedically reviewed by Kelsey Nank, PA-C — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on March 5, 2025

• Usage
• How long do they take to dissolve?
• Bathing and showering
• Care tips
• Removal
• Complications
• Summary

Dissolvable stitches do not require removal but disappear over time. They are made of materials that the body gradually breaks down. People may also call them absorbable stitches.

Dissolvable stitches are a type of suture that manufacturers make using special materials, such as animal proteins or synthetic polymers, that chemicals in the body can break down and absorb.

As the body gradually absorbs these stitches, a person does not need to return to a clinic or hospital for removal.

Nonabsorbable stitches typically consist of materials such as nylon or silk. The body cannot absorb these materials, so a person will need a healthcare professional to remove the stitches once the wound has healed.

When are dissolvable stitches used?

Share on Pinterest

How a doctor chooses to close a wound depends on the size, depth, and type of wound, as well as the doctor’s expertise and comfort level with different closing techniques.

Healthcare professionals often prefer nonabsorbable stitches to dissolvable stitches because they are very strong, and the body will not break them down. They typically use nonabsorbable stitches to close superficial wounds.

However, doctors may choose dissolvable stitches for deeper wounds or surgical incisions. To close a deeper wound, they may stitch together several layers of tissue with dissolvable stitches.

Using dissolvable stitches creates less tension and makes it easier for doctors to fit the shape of the wound, which reduces the risk of the wound reopening and leads to less scarring.

A doctor may choose to use dissolvable stitches for closing a person’s wound after:

• oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth extraction
• repairing muscle and connective tissue
• skin grafts
• some types of abdominal surgery, including cesarean delivery
• repairing vaginal and perineal tearing due to childbirth

How long do stitches take to dissolve?

The time it takes for the body to absorb dissolvable stitches depends on the material of the stitches. Doctors will consider the characteristics of the wound and its location on the body when they choose a material for the stitches.

For example, when an orthopedic surgeon closes the incision following a joint replacement, they may use a material that will not dissolve entirely for several months. Following a cesarean delivery, a doctor may choose stitches that take up to 6 weeks to dissolve.

Is it safe to bathe or shower with dissolvable stitches?

It is important for people to follow their doctor’s care instructions after having dissolvable stitches. In many cases, a person can shower 24 hours after the wound closure.

However, a doctor may advise a person to avoid soaking in a bathtub for a specified period.

Care tips for dissolvable stitches

Doctors will usually give advice on how to care for stitches at home.

However, some general care tips for dissolvable stitches include:

• showering according to the doctor’s instructions
• patting the area dry gently after showering
• keeping the area dry
• changing any dressings as and when the doctor advises
• avoiding using soap on the area
• refraining from taking baths or swimming until the wound heals
• avoiding activities that may strain the wound while it heals
• wearing clothes that fit loosely around the area

It is also essential that people wash their hands thoroughly before touching the wound or changing the dressing.

Should you ever remove dissolvable stitches?

A person should not attempt to remove any stitches without their doctor’s approval. There is generally no need to remove dissolvable stitches as they will eventually disappear on their own.

If a person does need to remove their stitches, they should follow their doctor’s instructions carefully to reduce the risk of infection and other complications.

Can dissolvable stitches cause complications?

The most likely complication of having stitches is a wound infection. However, keeping the wound clean and dry and following the doctor’s care instructions greatly reduces the risk of infection.

Signs and symptoms of an infected wound can include:

• the skin around the wound becoming swollen, red, or warm
• worsening pain from the wound area
• an unpleasant smell or discharge coming from the wound
• fever
• swollen glands
• generally feeling unwell

People who suspect that their wound has become infected should seek prompt medical care. An infected wound can lead to serious complications, such as cellulitis and sepsis.

Stitches can also tear or become loose, which may cause the wound to reopen. If this occurs, a person should see their doctor as soon as possible so that they can replace the stitches.

Summary

Dissolvable stitches are made of materials that the body can break down and absorb. They do not require a doctor to remove them and will eventually disappear on their own.

Doctors tend to use dissolvable stitches for deeper wounds. For more superficial wounds, they usually prefer to use nonabsorbable stitches.

It is important to follow the doctor’s care instructions after having stitches. People should not attempt to remove any stitches without their doctor’s approval.

Anyone who suspects that their wound has become infected should seek medical care as soon as possible.

 

• Surgery
• Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Azmat CE, et al. (2023). Wound closure techniques.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470598/
• Caesarean section wound care. (n.d.). https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/caesarean-section-wound-care-
• Caring for sutures. (2022).https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/caring-for-your-sutures

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Kelsey Nank, PA-C — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on March 5, 2025

Latest news

• Obesity may be a key risk factor for vascular dementia, study says
• Which types of physical activity may help prolong life span?
• AI-ready open database aims to accelerate cancer immunotherapy research
• Gold-standard review denies link between autism, ADHD risk and Tylenol use in pregnancy
• US vaccine guideline changes challenge clinical practice, insurance coverage

Related Coverage

• Removing stitches at home: Is it safe?Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD

  It is not safe for a person to remove stitches at home. Learn more about the reasons for this, and when to see a doctor.

  READ MORE
• A guide to dealing with burns at home

  A person can typically treat mild burns and scalds at home. However, some anecdotal remedies can worsen things. Learn the differences here.

  READ MORE
• What to know about open wound careMedically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP

  An open wound leaves internal tissue exposed. They require special care depending on the type of wound. Minor open wounds may not require medical…

  READ MORE
• What to know about skin removal surgeryMedically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D.

  Skin removal surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes excess skin from a person’s body. Learn more here.

  READ MORE
• What to know about a skin graft

  Skin grafting helps replace lost or damaged skin. Read on for the uses, types of skin grafts, procedures, recovery, potential complications, and risks.

  READ MORE