Catgut and its Use in Plastic Surgery

The aim of this paper is to review the origin, physical properties, advantages, and usage of catgut in plastic surgery and oral surgery. In PubMed search, the search terms ("catgut" AND ["plastic surgery" OR "facelift"]) and ("catgut" AND "oral surgery") were used, resulting in 28 and 30 papers, respectively. Of those 58 papers, 31 papers were excluded. Eight other papers were added; therefore, 35 papers were analyzed. Catgut has been used in cleft palate surgery since 1938. In 1976, it was used in a superficial wound with anti-tension taping. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, catgut was used in otoplasty, scrotoplasty, hemostasis of neurofibroma, blepharoplasty, ptosis surgery, and rhytidectomy. From the 2000s until the present day, it has been preferred in many fields of plastic surgery, including pediatric lacerations and conjunctiva sutures. In oral wound repairs and tonsillectomy, catgut has been used from the 1970s to the present. Many studies have compared catgut with other suture materials in terms of wound healing, inflammatory reaction, and longevity, and their respective advantages and disadvantages continue to be discussed. The advantages of catgut as a suture material are as follows: 1, The fundamental advantage of catgut is its absorbability. 2, Catgut has excellent tensile strength. 3, Sterility, when catgut is taken from a sealed tube, is assured. 4, Hardened, or 'chromed,' catgut is preferable to the 'plain' variety. 5, The finest possible size should be used in preference to thicker sizes. Catgut sutures are still widely used in plastic surgery and oral surgery.