1. Wounds with sutures that dissolve by themselves
This is definitely Dr. Tariq Shadid’s favorite technique, and he will use it whenever this is possible. Patients are usually very enthusiastic about it, as this technique usually gives beautiful cosmetic results, and is a practically care-free situation for the patient.
The official name of this technique is intracutaneous suturing, but people often call it ‘cosmetic suturing’. Indeed, it usually results in a beautiful cosmetic result. There are four main reasons why Dr. Tariq prefers this technique:
- It requires practically no after-care;
- The sutures don’t require removal;
- The cosmetic result is excellent, because the wound edges are as close together as possible;
- this technique avoids the ‘ladder’ type of scar that can sometimes result from using external sutures.
Patients often tend to think glue has been used, because all you can see from the outside is a line where the wound edges are lined up. However, this is not true, it is just that the suture is below the surface of the skin, and it will disappear by itself. Dr. Tariq uses a technique where he buries the knots under the skin.
The wound covering
There are always white (in rare occasions, brown) strips on the outside of the wound (steristrips). These must remain in place. They add strength to the wound closure, and are not to be considered part of the dressing, but part of the closure. They will become loose in about one week. You can remove them when you feel they have become loose, but you should never tug on them or pull them. If they are all still there when you come to your follow-up visit, Dr. Tariq may remove them himself.
The dressing that was applied over this after the operation, can be removed 48 – 72 hours after the operation. This is usually a rectangular dressing that covers the wound. Remove it carefully without allowing it to pull off the steri-strips that are under them. You can easily do this yourself, it doesn’t require a trained nurse, it just requires you to be gentle and pay attention to what you are doing. If you have doubts, you can of course come to the clinic to have it removed by the nurse.
Exposure to water
You can then shower (but no baths!), leaving the steri-strips in place. They can withstand short exposure to water, but if you soak them in water, they may become loose. If you don’t like short showers, or you find it too bothersome to try to avoid getting too much water on the steri-strips, you can cover the area with a waterproof dressing during your shower.
Disinfection
The wound does not require any disinfection. Just do your best to leave the steri-strips on, and practice normal bodily hygiene. Wound infections are extremely rare, but with this technique there is no indication that disinfection would help prevent them.
What to do if the steri-strips have come off too early?
You must leave the dressing over the wound for 48 – 72 hours before removing it. If the steri-strips have come off after that, there is usually no problem, and you don’t have to worry or come to the clinic. All you need to do is apply a dressing over the wound, in order to protect it from friction. If you have a problem within the first 48 – 72 hours, it is better to come to the clinic, and let Dr. Tariq have a look. He may apply new steri-strips, or leave things the way they are, depending on his assessment. You can also send him a WhatsApp message if this situation occurs. There is usually no urgency to this matter, so don’t worry too much.
What to do if there is blood on the dressing?
A little bit of dried blood in the dressing is normal, and no problem at all. If there are no signs that the wound is actively bleeding, you need not worry. It is best to leave the dressing in place. If you have any doubts, send a WhatsApp message or come to the clinic.