title: Sutures, needles, and tissue adhesives: a review for dermatologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatologic surgery generally requires the removal of offending or excessive tissue followed by repair of the resultant defect. The functional and cosmetic outcome is increasingly important as patients' expectations grow and physicians become increasingly aware of surgical materials and techniques that enable them to repair defects in a functionally and cosmetically appealing manner.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform an updated and thorough review of the literature regarding sutures, surgical tape, tissue adhesives and stitching techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature review was conducted on-line via multiple search engines and sites using the keywords suture, suture techniques, suturing techniques, surgical techniques, surgical tapes, surgical adhesives, and tissue adhesives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are numerous articles on sutures, surgical tape, and tissue adhesives, but there are no current articles that review them together in a comprehensive manner and combine the review with a discussion of stitching techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suture choice and surgical and stitching techniques may be guided by the TAFT concept of wound closure that recognizes the main function of suture and closure devices: Tension relief; Apposition enhancement; and surface Finishing Touches. The dermatologist's goal is to create functionally and aesthetically pleasing scars for optimal patient satisfaction, which is of ultimate importance considering that the scars patients receive leave a lasting impression of their dermatology experience.
authors.affiliation: *Advanced Dermatology and Skin Surgery Specialists, Naples, Florida; †Volunteer Clinical Faculty, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Cyndi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yag-Howard
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D053832:Surgical Tape; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures / Q000145:classification*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives