Recently, we spoke with Dr. Shawn Allen, a board-certified dermatologist, fellowship-trained MOHS and cosmetic surgeon in Boulder, Colorado about his experience with GluStitch products and how they have improved the efficiency of his dermatology practice.
"I've had extensive use and experience with these products since 2009 where I brought them in to assist me with closures with face lifting procedures, and graduated them into assisting me with closures in my MOHS and standard excisions." said Dr. Allen.
If the efficiency of your dermatology procedures is a top priority, Dr. Allen can attest to the simplified process for closures since he started using GluStitch products. "I'm able to close wounds that normally would require epidermal sutures,” said Dr. Allen. “The replacement of these epidermal sutures with GluStitch® products allows for a quick, clean closure without the risk of suture track marks. In addition, you also have a sealed wound so the risk of infection likely is decreased.”
With regard to wounds healing by second intent, the need for a patient to do minimal wound care at home is ideal. Dr. Allen discusses how patients can minimize the at-home care following the procedure and “the wound is sealed up and they don't have to apply any Vaseline to it and they can leave it alone and not touch it until the glue falls off which is somewhere between 7-14 days.”
When a patient doesn't have to visit the office for simple wound checks or suture removal they patients are happier. The use of these products can also work to reduce the support levels patients require post-surgery. Wounds that heal with GluStitch® are totally occluded versus wounds closed with top sutures that may require dressing changes. When you are doing as many surgeries in a day as is Dr. Allen, this can be beneficial to your day-to-day practice workflows.