What should you know about types of stitches for wounds?

Some sutures dissolve as the wound heals, while others stay in place until a clinician removes them. A clinician may use separate stitches, a continuous line, or deeper supporting stitches beneath the skin. The material and thickness are selected to hold the edges together without placing unnecessary tension on the tissue. The face, hands, joints, and areas under movement may need different approaches. Local anaesthetic such as lidocaine can numb the area during the procedure. Read more about [Surgical Sutures](/materials/surgical-sutures/) and [Lidocaine Local Anaesthetic](/materials/lidocaine-local-anaesthetic/).

Keep the dressing clean and follow the wound-care instructions you were given. Avoid pulling, soaking, or stretching the area until advised that normal activity is suitable. Do not cut or remove stitches yourself. Attend the planned check so the wound can be examined and non-dissolving sutures can be removed at the appropriate time. Guidance on [Wound Care and Dressing](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/wound-care-and-dressing/) explains practical aftercare. Ask whether your tetanus protection needs review, especially after a dirty or deep wound; see [Tetanus Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/tetanus-vaccination/).

Get prompt medical attention if bleeding does not settle with firm pressure, the wound opens, numbness or loss of movement develops, or the area becomes increasingly red, swollen, hot, or painful. Pus, fever, or red streaks can signal infection. A wound caused by a bite, a dirty object, or a deep puncture may need assessment even if it looks small. [Wound Suturing](/treatments/minor-procedures/wound-suturing/) describes when professional closure may be considered.

Ask which suture type was used, whether it dissolves, how to protect the wound during washing, when activity can resume, and which changes should trigger a review.