Suture Technique
Proper technique is essential for good healing of sutures
Please note that in these suture sections I am only scraping the surface. If you are performing procedures where sutures may be required, you MUST seek additional training.
Any idiot can suture using a receiving tube and treating it like a piercing. However, this process is extremely slow and less accurate. Responsible practitioners will educate themselves as to proper suture technique, and most importantly practice.
When tying sutures, a few things should be kept in mind:
- Keep it simple -- use the least amount of sutures possible, in the smallest and simplest material.
- The knots must be firm, to keep slipping unlikely. At the same time, while tying, be careful not to "saw" the suture against itself, weakening it. In addition, if instruments are being used, take care not to crush the suture material.
- Take care not to tie the sutures too tight, as that can increase scarring, cut the skin, and weaken the suture material.
- While tying, maintain some tension after the first loop is made to avoid loosening the thrown.
- In general, there is no advantage to extra ties. If you tied your knot properly, two loops will be just fine.
- Make sure things line up right! Use "landmarks" on the skin if you need to. Remember, your goal is to hold the damaged tissue in place until the body can heal it enough to stay together without support.
There are many ways to suture as far as how the sutures are laid out -- interrupted, mattress, continuous, etc. In addition, sutures may be placed through the skin as well as being entirely buried. Simple suturing covers most situations body modification artists need to face -- if you become fluid in the instrument knot, that will cover 99% of these procedures.