Mind-blowing way stitches actually work to repair your body
A mind-blowing simulation shows how stitches can heal your wounds and gives us a fascinating insight into what goes on behind those closed hospital doors.
YouTube channel Zack D. Films has built a reputation for creating disturbing 'what if' animations, covering the likes of what if Earth stopped spinning and bizarre medical phenomena that some of us dare not Google. Not everyone may feel comfortable knowing why you should never pop a blister, but others might enjoy learning how to crack a safe.
Now, the YouTuber's latest viral clip shows how stitches work to repair damaged tissue.
Most minor cuts and scrapes heal on their own. However, serious cuts or surgical incisions require stitches (also called sutures) to hold tissues together during the healing process.
But how do they work?
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Feeling a bit like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, the video explains: “When you get stitches, a doctor threads a needle through your wound and pulls it tight to close the skin.”
Zack broke the process down in his YouTube Short that reached over 247 million views and 7.5 million likes.
"As the stitches hold the edges together, the wound becomes inflamed as new cells begin to repair the tissue."
Then, the magic begins.
"Afterwards, connective tissues and collagens start to create skin, then blood vessels form to nourish these developing tissues, filling in the area," Zack explained. "Over a few weeks, the wound will have healed together, and the stitches are removed."
The stitches seemingly act as temporary scaffolding while natural healing mechanisms in the body take over.
Some viewers have been amazed at the human body's capabilities.
"It’s crazy that the human body can repair itself so well," one YouTube user wrote.
"The human body is just so amazing," another added, while someone else chimed in: "The healing ability of human skin is so incredible."
However, not everyone found the educational content easy to watch.
"I can't be the only one who physically felt that pain just from watching the animation," wrote one viewer, while another admitted: "Never been more terrified to get stitches."
Stitches typically remain in place for several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the cut's severity and location on the body.
According to WebMD, the tell-tale signs that a cut might need stitches include those that are:
- Deep, jagged, or gaping
- Located on the face or another part of the body where scarring may be an issue
- Bleeding profusely without stopping after 20 minutes of direct pressure
- Feeling numb in the area of injury
- On a hand or limb that doesn't function properly after an injury
At least now we know how stitches work, it might make us feel a little less anxious the next time a medical professional pulls out a needle and thread.