Suturing

Closing the edges of the skin wound following an operation is usually performed by inserting sutures, or stitches.

In antiquity, this used to be done using hand held needles. Indeed today large sutures are still sometimes inserted this way. But as sutures and needles became smaller, and "no-touch" techniques were introduced, it became necessary to design plier-like instruments to hold and insert the stitches. Here we show those designed for and used by plastic surgeons.