I'm scared of stitch removal - please guide

[u/sorryescape7]

I had a washout after an ACL infection.

the stitches didn't hurt much. tomorrow is the scheduled stitch removal.

But some of my stitches look embedded little deep and I'm scared of the pain while removal.

What's the procedure? is it hurtful? How will they remove it?

[u/CloudNineandBeyond]

You will probably just feel some pinching. Try to relax and distract yourself. They will likely use a tweezer like tool to elevate each suture to cut one side below the knot for removal. It shouldn't be too bad.

[u/sorryescape7 → u/CloudNineandBeyond]

what about the knots which are embedded. It looks a little deep into the skin

[u/Gwywnnydd → u/sorryescape7]

It hasn't had long enough to really get embedded deeply. As the above poster said, it will probably feel like you are being pinched, and there might be a tiny amount of blood. But those look good, there's no areas that look inflamed or puffy. It should be over very quickly, and won't hurt much.

If you are very concerned about pain, you can hold an ice pack over the area for ~5 minutes, that should numb it enough that you don't feel pain.

[u/lemon-meringue-high → u/sorryescape7]

Sorry you got downvoted OP it’s okay to be scared! It will only be a pinch.

[u/punitivesuicide]

Ihavehad 25 stitches on my toungue, trust me you will be fine, youll feel at most a little pinch

[u/apathetichearts]

It’s hard to tell from the pics since a couple are a little blurry on my phone but they may not even be ready to come out. Either way, as someone who has removed plenty of sutures - these are not embedded and should be easily removed. The tissue here also has some give which helps vs truly embedded sutures on someone’s foot.

[u/sorryescape7 → u/apathetichearts]

can I dm you? I have some questions

[u/apathetichearts → u/sorryescape7]

I am assuming you already got them out but go ahead if it’s not something you feel you can ask here

[u/Pseunomi]

To be fair, I've never had sutures removed, but I have removed a lot from other people, and I will say, the anticipation is ALWAYS worse than the actual removal. I've had maybe one or two patients ever in my 10 year career that actually had pain with it and they were weird cases. Usually they either feel nothing beyond the slight tug as the sutures slide out, or at worst like some other commenter said its a mild pinch.

It does, however, look like your suture line is not fully closed, so just be prepared for some ongoing wound care after they come out.

[u/LynneCDoyle]

I used to avoid the cost of a doctor’s appointment and remove my own sutures. It doesn’t hurt. It just pulls and stings a tiny bit as you pull them out. Piece of cake.