Stitches (sutures) close wounds and support the body’s natural recovery. Their primary function is to hold damaged tissue edges together, ensuring alignment while the injury heals. This temporary support reduces tension, minimizing scarring and preventing the wound from reopening. Deciding when to remove external sutures balances allowing enough time for tissue strength gain against preventing irritation or marks from the stitches.
General Removal Timelines by Location
The timing for removing non-dissolving stitches depends on the wound’s anatomical location, as different body areas heal at varying speeds. Areas with excellent blood supply and less movement, such as the face, require the shortest duration. Facial stitches are typically removed three to five days after placement to optimize cosmetic outcomes and avoid noticeable marks.
Wounds on the scalp and trunk (chest and abdomen) require a slightly longer healing period to withstand normal skin tension. For these areas, the removal timeframe is commonly seven to ten days. This intermediate period ensures the skin layers have adequately bonded before external support is removed.
Areas experiencing high movement, tension, or stress need the longest time before removal. This includes extremities like the arms and legs, and wounds over major joints (knees or elbows). Stitches in these high-tension sites are often kept in place for ten to fourteen days, or longer, to prevent the wound from separating (dehiscence).
Dissolving vs. Non-Dissolving Stitches
Sutures are categorized into two groups based on material and their fate within the body.
Non-Dissolving (Non-Absorbable)
These stitches are made from materials like silk, nylon, or polypropylene, which the body cannot break down. These external stitches must be manually removed by a clinician once the wound has achieved sufficient tensile strength.
Dissolving (Absorbable)
These stitches are designed to be broken down and processed naturally by the body, eliminating the need for a follow-up removal procedure. They are often used for deep tissue layers beneath the skin or in areas where removal is impractical, such as inside the mouth. The materials are typically made from animal proteins like catgut or synthetic polymers such as polyglactin (Vicryl) or polydioxanone (PDS).
The time it takes for absorbable sutures to disappear varies significantly based on material composition. Some materials, like certain types of gut sutures, may begin to lose their strength and dissolve within ten to twenty-one days. Other synthetic polymers, chosen for prolonged support, can take sixty days up to several months to be fully absorbed.
What to Expect During and After Removal
The procedure for removing external sutures is generally quick and seldom painful, requiring no anesthesia. A healthcare professional cleans the area, uses a specialized instrument to snip the thread near the knot, and gently pulls the suture material out of the skin. Patients usually report only a slight tugging or pulling sensation as each stitch is removed.
Post-Removal Care
Immediately following removal, the wound site may appear slightly red, and minor scabbing is normal as the incision completes its final healing phase. Clinicians often apply small adhesive strips (Steri-Strips) across the incision line to provide minor continued support for a few extra days. It is important to keep the area clean and avoid strenuous activity or direct sun exposure for several weeks, as the skin has only regained a small fraction of its original strength.
You should contact your healthcare provider if you notice signs of complication after the stitches are out, such as increasing redness, warmth, or swelling around the incision. Persistent pain, discharge of pus, or the wound edges beginning to separate are indicators that immediate medical attention is necessary.