Suture Removal After Care Instructions

Here is the information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After your stitches (sutures) are removed, it is common to have:

• Some discomfort and swelling in the area.
• Slight redness in the area.

Follow these instructions at home:

If you have a bandage:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Change your dressing as told by your health care provider. If your dressing becomes wet or dirty, or develops a bad smell, change it as soon as possible.
• If your dressing sticks to your skin, soak it in warm water to loosen it.

Wound care

• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after touching your wound.
• Apply cream or ointment only as directed by your health care provider. If you are using cream or ointment, wash the area with soap and water 2 times a day to remove all the cream or ointment. Rinse off the soap and pat the area dry with a clean towel.
• If you have skin glue or adhesive strips on your wound, leave these closures in place. They may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Keep the wound area dry and clean. Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
• Continue to protect the wound from injury.
• Do not pick at your wound. Picking can cause an infection.
• When your wound has completely healed, wear sunscreen over it or cover it with clothing when you are outside. New scars get sunburned easily, which can make scarring worse.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have redness, swelling, or pain around your wound.
• You have fluid or blood coming from your wound.
• Your wound feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from your wound.
• Your wound opens up.

Get help right away if:

• You have a fever.
• You have redness that is spreading from your wound.

Summary

• After your sutures are removed, it is common to have some discomfort and swelling in the area.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing).
• Keep the wound area dry and clean. Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.