Why Patients Choose Medical Tourism for Suture Removal Procedures

Suture removal in India

The removal of sutures is a small though significant medical procedure that allows the removal of stitches once a wound or a surgical incision is healed enough. The aim is to avoid infection, enable further healing and reduce scarring.

Purpose of Suture Removal

• To avoid irritation or infection by prolonged retention of the suture.
• To enable healing of the wounds and aesthetics.
• To heal normal skin integrity.

Equipment Required

• Suture removal kit (sterile, scissors or blade and forceps).
• Sterile gloves
• Antiseptic solution (e.g. povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine)
• Sterile gauze pads
• Adhesive strips (if needed)
• Waste disposal container

Preparation

• Describe the process to the patient and get his consent.
• Wash hands and put on sterile gloves.
• Examine the wound, and see whether it is infected (red, swollen, discharged).
• Removal should be postponed and physician consulted in the case of infection.
• Wipe the wound using antiseptic solution.

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Determine the kind of suture.

• Interrupted sutures: Stitches are distinct.
• Continuous sutures: One thread is passed through the wound.

Step 2: Cut the suture

• Use forceps and lift the knot a little above the skin.
• Only cut one side of the suture, be it just above the knot (near the skin).
• This will avoid the pulling of contaminated external thread through the wound.

Step 3: Remove the suture

• Lift the suture through the previously opened side with the help of the forceps.
• Remove stitches one at a time.
• Monitor the wound every time it has been removed, with regard to gaping or bleeding.

Step 4: Support the wound

• In case the wound edges are slightly detached, use steri-strips or adhesive bandage to provide assistance.

Step 5: Clean and dress

• Repeat the antiseptic cleaning.
• Use a sterile dressing where needed.

Post-Procedure Care

• Encourage the patient to maintain the area clean and dry within 24-48 hrs.
• There should be no excessive movement or stretching of the wound area.
• Monitor redness, swelling, pain or discharge - this can be a sign of an infection.

Best hospitals for suture removal in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Cost of suture removal in India

The following are some of the determinants of the cost of stitch/suture removal in India:

Type of Healthcare Facility

• Nursing home or private clinic, cost more.
• Higher infrastructure and service charges in Multispecialty or corporate hospital make it more costly.

Location / City / Region

• Big metro (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, etc.) will be more expensive with increased overheads, rents, labour, etc.
• Smaller towns / rural areas are less expensive.
• A clinic on a premium territory will be more expensive even in the city.

Experience and Specialty of Surgeon / Doctor

• In case the removal is done by a specialist or a very experienced physician (particularly in case of a complex or delicate area such as face, eyelid, etc.), the fees are more.
• When conducted by a general practitioner or a nurse, it is cheaper.

Complications of the Wound / Sutures

• Stitches to be removed: the higher the number of stitches, the higher the time, and the higher the cost.
• Location: sutures in difficult locations (face, joints, under folds, sensitive anatomy areas) are more time consuming/skill-intensive.
• Depth / type of suture: other sutures have been installed in deeper layers, or can be somewhat absorbable / multiple layers- harder to remove.
• The healing of the wound was done well or it has complication(s) (e.g. infection, fibrosis) - probably requires additional time/care.

Materials & Consumables

• Sterile instrument usage, use of gloves, use of antiseptics etc. The quality /brand of these supplies are important.
• Dressings, local anaesthesia (where necessary), sterile removal kits + to cost.

Time Required / Labour

• Time of day (after hours, Sundays, emergencies) could be more expensive.
• In case the removal becomes more time consuming (because of above complexities), increased labour cost.

Post-removal Care

• In case when removing it, there is a necessity to clean the wound, dress it, to use adhesive strips, or additional follow-ups → it will add the cost.
• In case a patient requires additional drugs (antibiotics, painkillers) after extraction.

Brand / Type of Sutures initially used

• Should be very fine or special sutures (cosmetic, nylon, etc.) have been employed, removal may be fraught; at other times removal may necessitate tools to remove some types of suture. Despite the fact that the cost of removal is primarily through labour, the presence of special types of sutures can add risk and therefore price.

Certification / Safety / Sterility Standards

• Clinics with higher records (removal of sterile kits, certified personnel, etc.) might be more expensive to cover their overheads.
• In case it is a premium facility that has a superior level of care, high hygiene, and better atmosphere.

Travel, Convenience and Additional Services

• In the case the patient orders the service of home-visit suture removal or having mobile suture removal, and then it is more expensive.
• In a case that additional convenience or expediency is necessary (e.g. having the same day appointment, urgent removal) there can be rush charges.

Surgical stitch removal in India

The stitches (or sutures) are inserted in order to seal the broken skin or the slit of a surgery and to keep the tissue to join until it fuses. After the healing process is rightful, stitches removal treatment is ensured to take them out carefully and make sure that they recover well without any complications.

Stitches Removal Treatment: What Is It?

Stitches removal treatment is a minor surgical operation that consists of removal of non-absorbable sutures after the wound or surgical incision has healed sufficiently. It helps:

• Avoid infection or irritation by retained stitches.
• Flexibility of the skin and promote natural healing.
• Enhance the appearance of cosmetics and reduce scarring.
• Note: Absorbable sutures do not need to be removed and they dissolve on their own.

Best surgeon for suture removal in India

• Dr. Paritosh S Gupta
• Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin
• Dr. Ashok Rajgopal
• Dr. Rashmi Pyasi
• Dr. Vipul Nanda
• Dr. Sunil Choudhary
• Dr. Pradeep Chowbey

Suture removal treatment in India with GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Suture removal treatment.
• Expert general surgeon/plastic surgeon/orthopaedic surgeon with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food