Embalming Can be an Effective Option for Some Families After Loss, so Let's Look at Crucial Information About it

Embalming is typically not something individuals ever have to consider until it's time to schedule a memorial service. While the funeral homes in Plymouth Township, MI, will help you plan a thoughtful event, if it involves a viewing of your loved ones remains, there's a good chance that they're going to need to be embalmed. Understanding the process is crucial, so our team is here with all the steps that typically take place.

What is Embalming?

Body preservation has been around for thousands of years; however, it has changed based on culture or religion. Embalming involves draining the fluids from the deceased and replacing them with a chemical solution to help slow down the decomposition process. This helps keep the body in a more aesthetically pleasing state until the memorial or Funeral services can be completed.

Open caskets are customary in some cultures and religions, and embalming helps keep the deceased in a state that looks more lifelike. There are also practical reasons, including if they can't be laid to rest right away after death, it will be needed to stall the decomposition.

When is Embalming Not Needed?

There are many reasons why individuals may choose not to embalm, the first being mainly viewed for cultural or religious reasons. Orthodox Jewish and Muslim faiths do not allow embalming; some simply see it as unnecessary. Others choose not to for environmental reasons because the embalming chemicals are toxic to the environment. And there may also be the desire not to pay the additional cost, especially if there's going to be direct burial or cremation and no viewing.

What Happens During the Embalming?

The individual is first washed and disinfected, and the body will be massaged to remove rigor mortis. The mortician will then apply a cream to keep the skin soft, and the face will be set using eye caps below the lids and sutures or wires to keep the mouth closed.

The embalming is first done in the arteries, and the solution is pumped into the remains while any remaining fluids in the body are drained. An additional step called cavity embalming also takes place, and any remaining gases are fluids withdrawn and replaced with the solution.

Lastly, the deceased will be prepared for the viewing, and make-up hairstyling and dressing are all completed. The individual is then placed in the coffin or casket and readied for the services.

Essential Services With a Trusted Name

Whether you are pre-planning or have recently lost a loved one, embalming can be critical if you are planning on having a viewing, and the funeral homes in Plymouth Township, MI, can support you with the process. Our company was created in 1904, and over the years, we have deeply committed to our community by providing exceptional services that our clients know and trust. We work hard to create truly memorable events and would love to support you from start to finish, so call us today if you have any questions.