Without stitches, it may take 3 weeks or more for a wound to heal. Prolonged healing time isn't only a nuisance, it's also an infection risk. The risk of a wound infection continues as long as the wound hasn't healed. This is especially important to keep in mind if you have diabetes or you are immunocompromised.
Your body starts the healing process right away, and if you wait too long to get stitches, it will be more difficult to heal. 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Superglue. If for some reason you don't have duct tape to make butterfly bandages, or the bandages aren't keeping the wound shut, superglue can be used in a pinch. Doctors actually use a product similar to superglue to close wounds. Medical glue, however, uses chemicals that are less toxic and more flexible.
1. Size. If the cut or wound is deeper or longer than half an inch, you'll likely need stitches.
Super glue can be a viable option if used under the right circumstances (small and clean cut, not too deep and not infectious). If you choose to use household super glue or even over-the-counter adhesive products, do so with caution and full understanding of the risks, including infection and scarring.
Any open wound that may need sutures should be seen as soon as possible. Ideally, they should be checked and closed within 6 hours. Reason: to prevent wound infections. There is no cutoff, however, for treating open wounds.
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.
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.
A special glue (e.g. Dermabond) is another type of treatment used in hospitals and medical clinics to keep the edges of the skin together. It has the same effect as stitches, and only takes about a minute to apply and dry. The glue is transparent so you can see the wound.
Skin adhesives are sometimes called liquid stitches. If the cut went deep and through the skin, the doctor may have put in a layer of stitches below the adhesive. The deeper layer of stitches brings the deep part of the cut together. These stitches will dissolve and don't need to be removed.
Butterfly stitches, also known as “Steri-Strips”, are adhesive bandages used to close small, shallow wounds. Butterfly stitches are an alternative to traditional needle and thread sutures, which are useful in cases that a wound is large, uneven, or bleeding heavily.
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.
Lacerations, punctures, and incisions are all suturable wounds (they can be stitched). Avulsions that still have a flap of skin attached may also be suturable. Complete avulsions and abrasions cannot be stitched, but you still may need a doctor to treat the wound if it's serious enough.
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.
A minimum of 2 layers are required. In our practice we use 3 layers of closure stitching. All of the sutures are dissolvable so that you do not have to have any sutures removed. First, there is a deep anchoring layer that brings the abdominoplasty together.