"Dissolvable stitches placed internally won't need to be removed," says Dr. Yaakovian. "They will break down and disappear on their own over time. As for permanent stitches placed on the outside of the skin, these are typically left in for about two weeks before being removed."
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.
Removing stitches
stitches over joints, such as your knees or elbows – you'll need to return after 10 to 14 days. stitches on other parts of your body – you'll need to return after 7 to 10 days.
If left in too long, your skin may grow around and over the stitches. Then a doctor would need to dig out the stitches, which sounds horrible. That can lead to infections, which, again, not good.
It is essential that people do not remove their stitches until the wound has had sufficient time to heal. General guidelines on how long to wait before removing stitches are: 10–14 days for stitches on the body. 7 days for stitches on the head or neck.
Stitches and staples 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.
However, they can sometimes become infected. Some symptoms of infected stitches are worsening pain, redness, swelling, and pus around the wound. In this article, we discuss the symptoms of infected stitches in more detail.
In general, removing your own stitches isn't a good idea. When doctors remove stitches, they're looking for signs of infection, proper healing, and wound closure. If you try to remove your stitches at home, your doctor won't be able to conduct their final follow-up.
Without treatment, an infection of your stitches can spread to other parts of your skin or body and cause complications such as abscess formation, cellulitis, or even sepsis.
"Dissolvable stitches placed internally won't need to be removed," says Dr. Yaakovian. "They will break down and disappear on their own over time. As for permanent stitches placed on the outside of the skin, these are typically left in for about two weeks before being removed."
Most types should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. Some may last for several months. Ask your doctor about the type of stitches you have been given and how long they should take to dissolve.
While you may feel a bit of tugging, the removal of stitches should not result in any pain. An anesthetic is not used to remove stiches.
Complications of Removing Stitches
Wound reopening: If sutures are removed too early, or if excessive force is applied to the wound area, the wound can reopen. The doctor may restitch the wound or allow the wound to close by itself naturally to lessen the chances of infection.
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.
When stitches are left in for too long, it can result in marks on the skin and in some cases, result in scarring. Delay the removal of stitches can also make it more challenging to remove the stitches. In the event the stitches or staples come out earlier than expected, there is a possibility that wound may reopen.
The doctor who puts in the stitches or staples will tell you when to see your doctor or nurse to have them taken out. Non-absorbable stitches usually stay in for 5 to 14 days, depending on where they are. Staples usually stay in for 7 to 10 days. Staples need to be taken out with a special staple remover.
Itching is generally a sign of healing. Your nerves are stimulated by all the action at the wound site, and your brain interprets that stimulation as itchiness.
If the stitches are taken out too soon, the wound might not have healed properly. If you leave them in too long, they can be more difficult to remove and increase the risk of scarring. Dissolvable sutures do not need removal by a doctor or nurse.
Sometimes a dissolvable stitch can protrude through the skin and cause irritation, If this is the case the stitch can be trimmed at the skin, plucked away or left to fall away on its own. If there is a non-dissolvable stitch remaining it should be removed sooner rather than later.
Who will remove my stitches? It is advisable to go to your GP or practice nurse to have your stitches removed and we would recommend making your appointment in advance.
Keep the wound bandaged and dry for the first day. After the first day, wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.
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. However, “suturing” is often used to mean stitching.
In general, the greater the tension across a wound, the longer the sutures should remain in place. As a guide, on the face, sutures should be removed in 5-7 days; on the neck, 7 days; on the scalp, 10 days; on the trunk and upper extremities, 10-14 days; and on the lower extremities, 14-21 days.
We recommend paying close attention to your stitches in the days and weeks following surgery. Many people will recognize tell-tale signs of infection, including tenderness, red streaks, pain, swelling, warmth, and pus draining from the wound. These are all signs that your wound has become infected.