How to Remove Tissue Adhesive

Tissue adhesive is a medical-grade cyanoacrylate glue, a form of the familiar commercial Super Glue or Krazy Glue. It is used to seal cuts and surgical incisions without sutures. Human and animal tissues are being literally glued back together, especially in the fields of emergency medicine, plastic surgery and eye surgery. Non-absorbable sutures have to be removed after healing, which means another visit to the physician's office. Evenabsorbable sutures don't always dissolve fully. The good news about tissue adhesive is that it comes off all by itself, usually in a week or so.

Things You'll Need

• Acetone
• Petroleum jelly
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Dissolve tissue adhesive with acetone.A ready household source of this is an acetone-based nail polish remover.

• 2

  Soak tissue adhesive off with water. This will not affect the glue, but it will soften the skin it is bonded to and allow gentle peeling away of the hardened adhesive.

• 3

  Loosen the tissue adhesive by massaging the area gently with petroleum jelly or any ointment with a petrolatum base, such as an over-the-counter antibiotic salve.

• 4

  Allow an animal patient to lick any remnants of tissue adhesive if it is accessible. Saliva will soften the glue and steady licking will sweep it away.