in your experience does it hurt more to have stitches put in or taken out?

[JustCallMeMommy]

I am also surprised at those who say it hurts coming out. That makes me think theirs came out too early. Mine have always kind of tickled, and DD had the same experience. I even had a time when one was missed because it was under a scab - I removed that one myself, and it didn't hurt.

 

[JoeA]

You can feel a little tug coming out but painless. I've taken my own out twice (temple and finger) and no biggie.

 

[disney world dreamer]

well i got them out this morning and it hurt quite a bit and still stings pretty badly.
the doctor said they did not leave enough room for the scab to form so it grew into the stitches so he had to remove the scab and i started bleeding again.
and it took a good 10 minutes to remove them since it had to be done so delicately or i would have started bleeding way more.
it honestly hurts much more now than it did and the doctor said its gonna take another week to scab over again and actually start to really heal.

 

[macraven]

ouch

 

[runwad]

Mine didn't hurt coming out but they did going in. Yikes, I think I don't get all the way numb. Had a mole taken out of my side and it was taking forever for the doctor to sew me up. Here I was getting inside stitches and outside stitches. Plus she would stop and carry on a conversation with her assistants. After 20 min I finally asked, geez how much longer. Code for shut up and get to work, I want out of here. Very uncomfortable and hope I don't ever have to do that again. It was my first outpatient surgery and ever having to get that many stitches. Getting them out was a non issue.

 

[jt'smom]

When I had my craniotomy, I had something like 96 stitches that started just below the nape of my neck, and went all the way up the back of my head and dog-legged over to my left ear. It was funny because it looked like they had used black yarn, instead of those dainty, little disappearing things! I will never forget them pulling those suckers out. It didn't hurt so much on the high ones, but oh my word, the ones at the base of my skull, where you can crease your neck, let's just say And afterward, I oozed clear liquid for a couple of weeks out of the incision. That hurt too, because I would stick to my pillowcases.

 

[Jaya]

I once had the privilege(?) of putting in AND removing surgical staples from my hand. A rep had left a couple of surgical staple guns and removers at our office and, of course, I HAD to mess around with one. Yep, managed to put a staple in the palm in my hand. I was too embarrassed to go get one of the nurses to remove it so I did it myself. Hurt like a son-of-a-gun, but hey....I deserved it!

 

[macraven]

ouchie

 

[SandiR]

Ugh. I shouldn't have read this thread. My doggie is having stitches taken out in a couple of days. Poor little guy...

But, in my experience, removal of stitches isn't too bad. I hope it's not for him.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The only issue I have had was for a cyst. The skin was pretty tender though and not scabbed at all. I would consider it discomfort and not painful though.

My other stitches never hurt at all.

 

[JediBonas]

I don't like the feeling but I wouldn't say it hurts. For me getting the numbing shots it the painful part (pretty sure I left nail marks on the bed when my plastic surgeon numbed the bottom of my foot, THAT was painful).

 

[jaiminee krikit]

I've had stitches twice in the last year and a half. First was on my nose from a MOHS procedure. I was numb when they put the stitches in (and my eyes were covered but I could see and feel the tugging - very glad I was very numb!) I was told after the procedure to keep the wound covered with Vaseline and a bandage until it was time to get the stitches out. I went back 10 days later and was TERRIFIED at the thought of the pain. I asked the nurse removing the stitches if it would hurt, and she said it shouldn't. She was right. At times it was a little unpleasant - very mild, short pain - but for the most part I couldn't feel a thing.
The second time I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my upper abdomen. Again I was numb when they put the stitches in and very glad about that lol! I was again told to keep it covered with Vaseline and a bandage until it was time to remove the stitches. This time, though, I was having an allergic reaction to the bandages. No matter what I tried to use - paper tape, tape for sensitive skin, regular Band-Aids, it would itch like crazy (I had called the Dr's office and she said that was totally normal). So after 7 days, I decided I couldn't take it any more and I took the stitches out myself. I was glad I spoke to my DFIL that morning because he pointed out - don't try to pull the knot through your skin! (He had and told me it was very unpleasant!) I know, sounds like common sense, but I'm sure I would have done it wrong! I didn't feel a thing that time. Just relief at not having to wear a bandage any more!

 

[pls5286]

Making sure the stitches are moist, such as with Neosporin, helps greatly with keeping the removal from "hurting". Its the scabbing around the stitiches that causes the discomfort. Keep it moistened and it works better. Also, take something or someone to distract you. I have removed all of my son's stitches with no problems and my now ex-hubby took them out of my head. It is a snip and pull. That's it.

 

[disney world dreamer]

Making sure the stitches are moist, such as with Neosporin, helps greatly with keeping the removal from "hurting". Its the scabbing around the stitiches that causes the discomfort. Keep it moistened and it works better. Also, take something or someone to distract you. I have removed all of my son's stitches with no problems and my now ex-hubby took them out of my head. It is a snip and pull. That's it.

i did keep it moistened with neosporin 24/7 but it still hurt and my doctor said they put them in too tight.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I have only had dissolvable stitches

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I have only had dissolvable stitches

I was just thinking that I thought they've started to use dissolvable for most things.

I had a pretty major plastic surgery that required a lot of stitches. The only place normal surtures were used was I guess where an incision needed extra reinforcement.