After those first 48 hours, though, it's totally fine to get your stitches briefly wet via the light spray of a shower. But emphasis on "briefly" here. Dr. Yaakovian stresses that you'll want to avoid soaking or submerging your stitches in water for about four weeks.
After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath). Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards.
Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage. Non-absorbable stitches and staples need to be kept dry for 1 to 2 days. Absorbable stitches sometimes need to be kept dry longer. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your stitches dry.
The first day: Keep your wound area dry for the first 24 hours after the doctor sewed in the stitches. You'll lower your risk of infection. Follow your doctor's instructions on when you can start cleaning the area and how to do it.
Air dries out the wound and promotes cell death, not healing. Covering the wound maintains the natural moisture that helps keep cells alive. An exposed cut will pick up dirt and debris from the air. A wound that heals in a moist environment is less likely to leave a scar.
Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days.
Your cut may not need a bandage if it is not likely to get dirty, it is not draining, and it is in an area where clothing will not rub it. If you use a bandage, change it every 24 hours and anytime it gets wet or very dirty. Your doctor will tell you when to have your stitches or staples removed.
Protect the stitches.
You may need to cover your stitches with a bandage for 24 to 48 hours, or as directed. Do not bump or hit the suture area. This could open the wound. Do not trim or shorten the ends of your stitches.
Sutures should be removed within 1-2 weeks of their placement, depending on the anatomic location. Prompt removal reduces the risk of suture marks, infection, and tissue reaction. The average wound usually achieves approximately 8% of its expected tensile strength 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Protein – Protein is essential to wound healing, so try to get plenty of foods like chicken and eggs. Vitamin C – Some research shows that Vitamin C and zinc can help with healing, so eat the recommended amount of fruit each day.
Signs it's working: During this stage of healing, you may experience swelling, redness or pain while your wound heals. Your skin may also feel hot to the touch, and you may see a clear liquid around your wound. These are all signs that the inflammatory stage of wound healing is well underway.
The original dressing can be left in place for up to two days (or as advised by the nurse/doctor), as long as it is not oozing.
Scar formation in the first few weeks of wound-healing tends to be over exuberant. With the massaging you are trying to break down the early scar and allow the wound to settle sooner. By 6 weeks scars have matured significantly and may require additional intervention if you haven't massaged firmly enough!
-Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor healing ointment to the sutured site 3-4x/ day for the next three to four days. The ointment will help the wound heal more quickly and minimize scarring. We prefer Vaseline or Aquaphor to antibiotic ointment due to the increase in allergic reactions to antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin.
Although stitches and sutures are widely referred to as one and the same, in medical terms they are actually two different things. Sutures are the threads or strands used to close a wound. “Stitches” (stitching) refers to the actual process of closing the wound.
Stitches and staples are used to keep wounds together during healing. They need to be removed within 4-14 days. The specific removal date depends on the location of the stitches or staples. Removal should not be delayed.
The stitches in the skin should heal in 5-10 days. The underlying stitches in your muscle layer will take longer to heal. These won't completely heal for 12 weeks. For the stitches that you can see, make sure to watch for any signs of infection.
How long do stitches take to heal? The length of time stitches take to heal will depend on the reason you need them. It tends to take between 2 and 4 weeks for stitches between the vagina and back passage (perineum) to heal, but everyone is different and you may find it takes longer.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
It's important not to scratch your stitches; even though they're strong, scratching may damage them. You should avoid contact sports, such as football or hockey, to give your wound the best possible chance to heal.
Some tips and information regarding showering after surgery:
-If you are steady and the physician has allowed for showering with protection of the dressing, be sure to cover the dressing with a waterproof barrier product until your surgeon has determined the dressing may be removed and the surgical site exposed.
Keep the area clean and dry for the first 24 to 48 hours after stitches have been placed. Then, you can start to gently wash around the site 1 to 2 times daily. Wash with cool water and soap. Clean as close to the stitches as you can.
Itching is a natural part of the body's healing process. When the skin is injured, the body sends blood cells to the area to repair the damage. These cells release substances that cause inflammation and itchiness, a sign that the healing process is underway.
Removal of Stitches
The doctor simply clips each thread near the knot and pulls them out. You may feel a slight tugging sensation, but the removal of stitches shouldn't hurt at all. You won't even need an anesthetic. Although removing stitches is not a difficult process, you shouldn't try to remove them yourself.
When to remove the bandage.In some cases, your bandage should be removed the day after surgery. This depends on the location of the surgery, the seriousness of the surgery, and incision. Most wounds don't require a bandage after a few days. However, you may decide to wear a bandage to protect the incision.