Incision closures

An incision may be closed with:

Sutures (stitches) on the outside of the body
Surgical staples, which provide added strength to the incision
Sutures on the inside, underneath the skin. Small sticky strips (called Steri-strips) may be placed on your skin across the incision line. These strips will fall off when the incision has healed.

Reviewed last on: 2/26/2009
Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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