With surgical/suture needles, what do these codes/abbreviations mean?

It has to do with the needle type (cutting, taper) and shape (curved, straight). I don’t remember what’s what – I’ll find out.

Yippee! Thanks. :)

This should explain it.

@Lightlyseared – Very helpful, thank you!!

Why do you want a sutures? It may be easier to work out what type of needle you need if we knew what you want to do with it.

Also I’m morbidly curious

I’m happy to tell you, but it’s not for the faint of heart. :P

So.. don’t read any further if you don’t want to know….

…

It’s kink-related; we’ve been doing needle play and one thing Mistress has always wanted to do is sew me up (temporarily). As in.. sewing my labia. I told you it wasn’t for the faint of heart!

Anyway, she’s moving across the country on May 1 and it’s pretty much now or never, so… yepper. :P

Ha, I guessed that.

Maybe the best thing would be to see it done first. Or consult an expert’s advice. I know there are resources.

Hee. People’s reactions have been so funny—quite the range, from visceral discomfort to intent curiosity. Glad to know I’m not majorly shocking anyone here. Haha.

The technique, the stitching, the types of needles, all of that have been researched quite thoroughly. The only issue was interpreting the above abbreviations. It was confusing because some manufacturers use them, others don’t (they simply state ‘3/8 curved reverse cutting 24mm’ instead), and I couldn’t find a key anywhere to interpret the meanings. (thanks, @Lightlyseared !)

I am probably going to get it in silk, the 4–0 NFS-1. The 5–0 would be less painful, but the 19mm needle is so little. 4–0 is very common for general surface suturing, so it shouldn’t be too bad.