In selected patients (no signs of infection, otherwise healthy patient, and easily approximated wound), closure of facial wounds may occur up to 48 to 72 hours after injury. Some lacerations that meet criteria for closure with sutures may also be amenable to closure with staples, skin adhesives, or wound closure tapes.
Leaving a wound open too long also increases your risk of infection. As a rule, try to get stitches within 6 to 8 hours of a cut. In some cases, you may be able to wait up to 12 to 24 hours. If you are unable to get stitches in this time frame, consult a medical professional on the best course of action for your wound.
Stitches can help large wounds heal more quickly and decrease the risk of scarring. Time matters — if you wait too long to get stitches for a wound, the risk of a wound infection increases. Most cuts heal with time, even if you don't get stitches.
Call your doctor now for advice. After 48 hours, re-suturing is rarely done (except on the face). After 48 hours, the sutured wound can be reinforced with tape. Cut Is Closed, but suture has come out early.
To me, this implies that we all agree that the golden period is longer than 6 hours, we just don't know exactly how much longer. Published research has determined safety in closing wounds up to 10 hours (Kanegaye 1997), 19 hours (Berk 1998) or even up to 24 hours old (Lammers 2003).
Your risk of infection increases the longer the wound remains open. Most wounds that require closure should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives (also called liquid stitches) within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some wounds that require treatment can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury.
Clean, uninfected lacerations on any part of the body in healthy patients may be closed primarily for up to 18 hours following the injury without a significant increase in the risk of wound infection.
If the wound is spread open, it will heal by filling in from the bottom and sides. A wound that is not stitched may take 1 to 4 weeks to heal, depending on the size of the opening. You will probably have a visible scar. You can discuss revision of the scar with your healthcare provider at a later time.
Get your stitches out at the right time. Stitches that are left in too long can leave skin marks and sometimes cause scarring. Delays also make it harder to take the stitches out.
Your risk of infection increases the longer the wound remains open. Most wounds that require closure should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives (also called liquid stitches) within 6 to 8 hours after the injury.
Cuts that don't involve fat or muscle tissue (superficial), are not bleeding heavily, are less than 1/2 inch long and not wide open or gaping, and don't involve the face can usually be managed at home without stitches.
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.
How long it takes to heal a wound depends on how large or deep the cut is. It may take up to a few years to completely heal. An open wound may take longer to heal than a closed wound. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, after about 3 months, most wounds are repaired.
When can I have a bath or shower after surgery? 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).
The following may be signs that a wound is chronic: You've had the wound more than four weeks. Your wound has not moved out of the inflammation stage. For example, you may have a wound that scabs over again and again, but your body never gets to the point of rebuilding new skin.
It may be near the surface of the skin, or deeper. A deep cut can affect tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, or bone. A puncture is a wound made by a pointed object such as a nail, knife, or sharp tooth.
One general rule of thumb is that if the cut is more than half an inch deep, it will probably need stitches. However, there are other factors to consider as well, such as the location of the cut and whether it is jagged or clean.
A cut may need stitches (or other treatments) if: the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure. the cut is long or deep. something is embedded within the cut.
You will need to get stitches to stop the bleeding, clean the site, and prevent infection. Perhaps your cut isn't even a cut at all, but an animal bite, a puncture wound, or an injury caused by a rusty or dirty object.
Your wound may need stitches or other medical treatment if it meets any of the following criteria: The cut is deeper than a quarter of an inch. The cut was made by a dirty or rusty object and/or there is a risk of infection. Fat, muscle, bone, or other deep body structures are visible due to the wound.
GPs can assess and treat a wide variety of conditions, and can refer you to specialists if required. When you make the call for an appointment, check that your GP's clinic can treat your condition – for example, that a triage nurse will be available for dressing wounds, fractures, and administering stitches.
Your wound likely requires stitches if: it's deeper or longer than half an inch. it's deep enough that fatty tissue, muscle, or bone is exposed. it's wide or gaping.
Signs your cut requires stitches at an emergency room
The cut is deeper than a quarter of an inch. The cut was caused by a dirty or rusty object. Fat, muscle, bone, or other interior body structures are visible. The cut is over a joint, and the edges open when you move the joint.