When, How, and Who Should Remove Stitches at Home?

01. Understanding Wound Sutures

Medical professionals close wounds within six hours of injury to maximize healing potential. The treatment method—adhesive strips, medical adhesive, or sutures—depends on the wound's characteristics. Sutures are specifically used for deeper wounds and must be placed by qualified medical personnel or emergency room staff. These may be absorbable (self-dissolving) or non-absorbable, with the latter requiring professional removal after several days based on wound location. Suturing is not performed on weeping wounds or those with tissue loss.(1)

02. The Role of Sutures

Sutures are specialized medical threads designed to close wounds. They hold wound edges together when depth or location necessitates intervention. Healthcare providers select from various closure methods: dissolvable adhesive (lasting 5-14 days), staples, or threaded sutures through the skin. The objective is maintaining edge approximation throughout the healing process, before the material is either removed or naturally absorbed.(1,2)

03. Suture Removal Schedule

Non-absorbable sutures are removed once healing occurs(1):

• 6 days for facial injuries
• 7-14 days for arms, torso, or scalp
• 10-21 days for leg wounds

04. Suture Removal Process

Wounds are categorized as either uncomplicated or complex. Uncomplicated wounds typically don't require pre-removal examination, while complex wounds or those with elevated infection risk are assessed 48-72 hours post-suturing.(3)

Removal occurs at the designated time and may be advanced if threads or staples are immediately substituted with sterile adhesive skin closures to maintain tension-free edge alignment. The final approach depends on wound location and functional requirements. Following removal, patients receive written guidelines to quickly identify warning signs like redness, warmth, or drainage.(3)

05. Post-Removal Care Instructions

• Replace dressings daily for 2-3 days, then every other day if the skin stays clean and dry
• Skip baths and avoid submerging the wound until fully closed
• Shower gently without scrubbing, then pat the area dry

Post-healing, skin vulnerability persists for 6-18 months. Throughout this timeframe, avoid all sun exposure to prevent permanent pigmentation. To enhance scar appearance, apply vitamin E cream once or twice daily.(1)

Inspect the area each day and seek immediate medical attention if you notice redness, swelling, worsening pain, yellow-green discharge, or fever exceeding 38.5°C—potential infection indicators.(1) When uncertain, contact your physician or the nurse who performed the removal.

Tip: Shield scars from sun exposure for a minimum of 12 months using sunscreen, hats, or protective clothing once the wound closes.(3)

06. Home Nursing Services for Suture Removal

Suture or staple removal falls under "Standard Wound Care" nursing services. Home-care nurses can perform this procedure with a valid prescription. Removal may occur across two appointments, with billing based on the number of sutures removed per visit. The "home visit" designation on prescriptions is only necessary when the procedure occurs independently of other services.(4)

This information serves educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Self-diagnosis and self-treatment are not recommended.