How to get stitches out

A clinician checks whether the wound edges are joined, dry and free from signs of infection. They then lift and cut each exposed stitch before gently drawing it out. Dissolvable sutures are designed to break down or loosen and usually do not need removal. The timing depends on the wound's location, depth, tension and healing progress, so follow the plan given after Wound Suturing rather than removing thread at home.

Keep the wound clean and follow the dressing instructions from your Wound Care and Dressing plan. Do not pull, cut or pick at stitches yourself. After removal, protect the area from friction and follow advice about bathing, exercise and heavy lifting. Mild tenderness can occur, but increasing redness, warmth, swelling, discharge or separation of the wound needs medical review. Tell the clinician if you have an allergy or previous reaction to Lidocaine Local Anaesthetic.

Contact a clinician promptly if the wound opens, bleeding does not settle with gentle pressure, pain is increasing or pus develops. Seek urgent help for rapidly spreading redness, fever with marked illness, loss of feeling or a serious wound problem. Ask whether Tetanus Vaccination is needed after a dirty or deep injury, particularly if your vaccination history is uncertain.

Ask whether your sutures are dissolvable, when the wound should be checked, how to protect the scar and which activities to avoid. Confirm what to do if a stitch loosens or the wound edges separate.