How long does it take for disposable stitches to dissolve.

There are many absorbable sutures on the market. Some dissolve by five days, and others by 3 to 6 months. We use these and all different situations, depending on the required function.

Absorbable stitches are essential made of complex surgars.  Depending on the chemical composition and the guage of the suture,  they will dissolve at different rates.  Some sutures dissolve in as little as three days, while others can take almost a year.  Ask your surgeon to clarify.

Length of time to dissolve is related to the type of dissolvable suture used. The body can break down the sutures made from natural materials.  By the time the stitches are dissolved, the wound is completely healed.   When part of a stitch remains on the outside of the body, the body fluids cannot dissolve it.  A doctor can easily remove the remaining piece of stitch once the wound is closed.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Thanks for your question. The time to dissolve depends on the material the suture is made out of and thickness of the suture. Some thin sutures can dissolve as fast as a week or two while others can linger around for 6 months or so....Good luck, Dr., ADO

It's a good question. It depends on the specific suture. Some sutures are meant to fall out within a few days. Other sutures take around six months to dissolve. The long-lasting sutures are used inside the body only. Most absorbable sutures that are used on the skin are designed to fall out within 3-14 days.

Thank you for sharing your question.  Unfortunately without knowing the exact material used it is difficult to offer advice as there are some sutures that dissolve within 5-7 days and others that can last for 6+ months.  I would discuss this with your surgeon as they know the full details of your procedure.

The length of time for a suture to dissolve is based on the suture type.  It can be anywhere from a few days to months.  Ask your surgeon for specific information on the sutures used for your surgery.  

There are several types of absorbable sutures.  They can take a few weeks to a year to dissolve.  The knots can take longer and it also varies depending on how thick the suture is. Hope that helps, Dr. Boschert

Since there are so many different types of sutures available, it is difficult to give a helpful answer other than it could be a matter of a few days to several months. If you are concerned, ask your physician what type was used and how long you can expect before they fully dissolve.

There are quite of variety of type of sutures that will dissolve. Some dissolve in a week, some take several months, it all depends on which specific type were used.