How long did it take for your stitches to dissolve?

March 15, 2004

Hi :

I am at 39 days post op - 5 1/2 weeks - only a few of the stitches have

completely dissolved. When I go back to the OS for checkups - she

removes a few here and there. They aren't the most comfortable thing

to have removed but it does feel so much better once they are out - and

I swear it helps the swelling to go down too since they aren't

constantly pulling. I still have ones at the back of my mouth near the

end of my braces and they get tangled. I'm going to ask her to remove

them at my next visit on Thursday. It's still a little numb back there

- so I want her to take them out while I'm numb.

On some that are too tender - she just trims them - doesn't pull them

out but just cuts off the longer loose ends. This helps a lot too.

To date - I have only had one that dissolved completely and came out on

it's own - but that is it.

I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck. Greta

----

> Hi Beth. I think I had a mix or the kind of stitches

> that dissolve and the kind that fall out. I was in a

> panic when my first stitch fell out at 5 days. I've

> heard that it only takes 10 days for stitches to start

> dissolving. My stitches were gone at 16 days. Have

> you asked your surgeon about it? It had been two and

> a half weeks when I didn't see anymore stitches at

> all. I guess everyone's experience is different

> though. I hope the stitches dissolve for you soon!!

> Good luck!! I also want to thank you for replying to

> my post about " Chewing! " I bought some thin chips and

> dip tonight because I was craving it soooooo bad. I

> only ate a couple just to see if I could do it. It

> wasn't that bad. I'm just trying to adjust to chewing

> slower than I ever have in my life!!

> Thanks again, and I do hope you can get rid of those

> irritating stitches soon.

> --

Recommended Posts