Non-dissolvable stitches look very similar to a sewing knot. The only difference is that the sutures are placed on your body while the tailor’s knot is put into clothing!
Well, one is also sterile and the other is not… but that’s not what you’re here for. What you want to know is what these non-absorbable sutures look like.
We’re going to bombard you with images and videos so that you get an idea of how they look.
What do non-dissolvable stitches look like?
Non-dissolvable sutures come in various materials, colors, and threads, which all contribute to their appearance. Essentially the various combinations of those three factors is what distinguishes them from one another in how they look.
Type of material
The non-absorbable sutures can be made of natural, synthetic, or a metal material.
- The two natural ones are silk and linen.
- There are metal sutures, you did not read that incorrectly.
- The bulk or rest of the non-dissolving stitches are all synthetic. They’re composed of various types of polymers, which is similar to what the synthetic absorbable ones are made of. Only exception is that this type of synthetic material won’t fall out on their own.
| Type of Suture | How its Made | Type of Material |
|---|---|---|
| Silk | Natural | Silk worms |
| Linen | Natural | Flax plant |
| Stainless steel | Metal | Metal |
| Polypropylene | Synthetic | Copolymers |
| Nylon (polyamide) | Synthetic | Copolymers |
| Polyester | Synthetic | Copolymers |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Gore-Tex®) | Synthetic | Copolymers |
| Polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) | Synthetic | Copolymers |
Yes, we’re aware that a lot of the names sound incredibly familiar so be careful reading them.
All of these different types of materials will have a different texture to them. You’ll definitely be able to feel the texture with your fingers or tongue if they’re in your mouth.
Color
The non-dissolvable sutures come in a variety of different colors such as black, blue, green, white, or metallic. Although white and green stitches aren’t the best indicator because there are dissolvable sutures that come in those colors as well.
| Suture | Color |
|---|---|
| Silk | Black |
| Linen | White |
| Stainless steel | Metallic |
| Polypropylene | Blue |
| Nylon (polyamide) | Black, blue, green |
| Polyester | Green, white |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Gore-Tex®) | White |
| Polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) | Blue |
Threads
The absorbable stitches are made with different thread orientations. They can be monofilament (single thread) or polyfilament (braided).
To show you what that means, we’ve created a video so that you can see the difference.
Here are some up close images of what a braided vs monofilament suture looks like.
In the pictures above you can see that the braided black one has frayed ends which indicates that there are multiple threads. On the other hand, the white monofilament one is a single strand so it won’t have frayed ends.
Takeaway
Hopefully that gives you a better idea of what stitches that dissolve on their own look like. They’re really not all that different from sewing knots for your clothing.
Key Points:
- They are made of different types of materials so their texture can be different.
- Different colored threads.
- The threads themselves can be single or multi-ply in a braided fashion.
If you were ever in doubt about their dissolvability, just give the doctor who put them in a call and simply ask them.