Before your scheduled surgery, you’ll have several office visits with your Victorville or Glendora General Surgeon. During these appointments, you and your surgeon will discuss the details of your operation. The details will include:
- Any pre-surgery tests
- Laboratory work
- If there is a need for any pre-operation clearance from any of your other doctors
- What you will need to do in preparation for your procedure
- How and where the surgery will be done
- What you need to know about the surgery process
- If this will be an out-patient procedure or if you will need to stay in a hospital for any length of time
- The need to arrange for transportation home after your procedure
- Post-operative care
- Recovery instructions
- The need to schedule follow up appointments, especially if there are stitches that need to be removed
It is during one of these visits that you will be told about any sutures, or stitches, that will be needed for your particular surgery. This is when you need to tell your surgeon about any allergies that you have, especially if you are allergic to adhesives or metals. This will help your surgeon determine what type of stitches you will need, and if the surgeon needs to make any adjustments due to any possible allergic reactions. The type of operation will dictate the type of sutures to be used. A closure site, referred to as a wound, needs sutures so that the open edges will heal back together quickly.
Types of Sutures
Non-Absorbable Stitches are surgical threads used for deep wounds and need to be removed by your surgeon. The amount of surface scarring depends on the length of the stitches and how long it takes the wound to heal.
Absorbable Stitches are surgical threads that are intended to dissolve over a period of time and will not need to be removed. These types of stitches are normally used to close a large or deep inner incision. Because of where they are placed, there is no visible scarring after the wound enclosed.
Surgical Glue is an adhesive generally used to hold small wounds together or in areas that don’t need a lot of pressure to stay closed. Similar to absorbable stitches, the surgical glue will wear away on their own over a short period of time and will not require any medical attention to remove them.
Steristrips are used in small strips over small incisions in body areas that do not experience a lot of stress. The sterile strips are adhesive like materials that tape a wound together. The strips will remain in place until they fall off on their own in about 7 to 10 days and will not require any medical attention to remove them.
Surgical Staples hold a wound together in areas that see a lot of movements, such as a leg, a knee, or a stomach. The surgical staples are sterile and strong. Staples need to be removed by your surgeon to ensure that they do not remain on your skin too long because they can be covered over by healing tissue.
