Barbed suture with removable sheath

A single-armed suture assembly comprising:

• (a) a needle configured to advance through tissue in an insertion direction;
• (b) a flexible suture coupled with the needle, wherein the flexible suture extends along a longitudinal path, the flexible suture comprising:
• (i) a first portion that includes a plurality of first barbs having first tips extending away from the longitudinal path in either the insertion direction or in a counter insertion direction that is opposite to the insertion direction, and
• (ii) a second portion that includes a plurality of second barbs having second tips extending away from the longitudinal path in the other of the insertion direction or the counter insertion direction;
• and
• (c) a flexible sheath that covers the second tips and has a length that is no greater than a length of the second portion such that the flexible sheath is configured to prevent the second tips from contacting tissue while allowing the first tips to contact tissue as the flexible sheath and the flexible suture are advanced together in the insertion direction.