A closing dressing bolster (46, 146, 246, 446) for use with a system (10, 310, 410, 510) for treating a linear wound on a patient, the closing dressing bolster (46, 146, 246, 446) comprising: a bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) formed from a flexible closing bolster material and having a center portion (66, 168, 268); the bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) comprising: a top wall (53, 139, 437), a bottom wall (55, 141, 439), the top wall (53, 139, 437) and the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) coupled in a spaced relationship, the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) having a first lateral portion on one side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a second lateral portion on another side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a first closing member (52, 56, 58, 152, 156, 252, 452, 456) formed on the first lateral portion, and a second closing member (54, 60, 62, 154, 158, 254, 454, 460) formed on the second lateral portion; and wherein the first closing member (52, 56, 58, 152, 156, 252, 452, 456) and the second closing member (54, 60, 62, 154, 158, 254, 454, 460) are spaced apart by oblique surfaces or oblique walls (69, 167, 169) operable to cause the bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) to bend about the center portion (66, 168, 268) so that the first and the second closing members move toward each other and develop a directed force when the closing dressing bolster (46, 146, 246, 446) is placed under reduced pressure. a bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) formed from a flexible closing bolster material and having a center portion (66, 168, 268); the bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) comprising: a top wall (53, 139, 437), a bottom wall (55, 141, 439), the top wall (53, 139, 437) and the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) coupled in a spaced relationship, the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) having a first lateral portion on one side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a second lateral portion on another side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a first closing member (52, 56, 58, 152, 156, 252, 452, 456) formed on the first lateral portion, and a second closing member (54, 60, 62, 154, 158, 254, 454, 460) formed on the second lateral portion; and wherein the first closing member (52, 56, 58, 152, 156, 252, 452, 456) and the second closing member (54, 60, 62, 154, 158, 254, 454, 460) are spaced apart by oblique surfaces or oblique walls (69, 167, 169) operable to cause the bolster body (50, 150, 250, 350, 450) to bend about the center portion (66, 168, 268) so that the first and the second closing members move toward each other and develop a directed force when the closing dressing bolster (46, 146, 246, 446) is placed under reduced pressure. a top wall (53, 139, 437), a bottom wall (55, 141, 439), the top wall (53, 139, 437) and the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) coupled in a spaced relationship, the bottom wall (55, 141, 439) having a first lateral portion on one side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a second lateral portion on another side of the center portion (66, 168, 268), and a first closing member (52, 56, 58, 152, 156, 252, 452, 456) formed on the first lateral portion, and a second closing member (54, 60, 62, 154, 158, 254, 454, 460) formed on the second lateral portion;