Asking how to remove stitches is answered with difficulty. In reality, you shouldn't remove stitches on your own because there is a risk of infection. Most importantly, you should never remove stitches from surgeries on your own. An infection at a surgery site can easily lead to severe infection or a wound reopening. Despite warnings, some people may at least want to remove the stitches from small cuts, and while this should be done under a doctor's care, there is a way to do it at home.
Stitches are usually one seam only, unlike sewing on cloth. Each stitch has to be removed individually. Most resemble a small tied knot that has pulled the skin together. Before planning to remove the stitches, gather together a few items. These include a pair of tweezers, nail or small scissors, rubbing alcohol, and possibly a magnifying glass to see the stitches. The tweezers and the scissors should be sterilized or soaked in alcohol prior to beginning, and the stitched area should be cleaned with alcohol and allowed to dry before you begin.
The first step is to cut the stitch. Start at one end of the stitched area, and cut only one stitch at a time. If you note excessive bleeding when you cut a stitch, it is not ready to be removed. You may note a tiny bit of blood, which is relatively common. You want to cut the stitch as close to the knot on one side of the knot instead of through it. Gently either thread the bottom part of the scissors underneath the stitch, or use only the top of the scissors, and be careful not to cut yourself!
When the stitch is cut, you can remove stitches by grasping the longer side with tweezers and pulling it out. If you did cut straight through the knot, all is not lost. Simply grasp a former knot point and pull through on one side. Then repeat on the other side. The last thing you want to do is pull any of the knotted part through the skin as this can cause injury or reopen a cut. After each stitch is removed, dab the area with alcohol before moving onto the next stitch. Repeat this step when you've removed them all.
A few don'ts should be observed when you remove stitches:
- Don't remove your stitches prior to the recommended time for removal, usually ten to 14 days.
- Don't remove surgical stitches.
- Don't continue to remove stitches if a wound reopens and starts bleeding.
- Don't, out of fear of embarrassment, neglect seeing the doctor if you've removed a stitch and the wound reopens.
If stitches drive you crazy — they can grow increasingly itchy as wounds heal — consider asking your doctor to place stitches that don't require removal. Dissolving stitches can be used in place of the standard stitches. Surgical glue is also a fine alternative to stitches. Neither of these methods will require you to remove your stitches at home, which can be risky and is definitely not medically recommended.
When Do Patients Have To Get Stitches?
It can be difficult to know when to go to an urgent care clinic, visit the emergency room, or make an appointment with your regular provider to assess a wound for stitches. If you've never had stitches before, they are exactly what they sound like: A physician or nurse practitioner will use a medical-grade version of a needle and thread to sew up your wound. But does every wound need stitches? And how long does it take for stitches to dissolve? Learn more below about the types of wounds that need stitches, when stitches can be removed, and how to care for your stitches before their removal.
After Deep Cuts or Wounds
If you sustain any type of injury that you are worried about, it's important to visit your doctor or medical provider to determine whether it needs further treatment than self-care at home. There are a few guidelines as to whether a cut needs stitches. Cuts deeper than 0.25 inches or longer than 0.75 inches, deep cuts that appear to have a high risk of infection, a large cut where the edges do not touch or gape open, or a wound in a sensitive, visible area such as the face or hands will likely be considered for stitches.
After Surgery
Your doctor will give you stitches after most major and minor surgeries, though you may not need stitches after small biopsies (such as shave biopsies to test for areas of skin cancer). Pay special attention to the care orders given to you during the discharge process while you are still in the hospital or clinic. These instructions will contain information on how to care for the stitches, whether you should return to have them removed, or whether they will dissolve on their own after a few days.
Some surgeries involve closing an incision on the inside of the body as well as the outside. For example, if you deliver a baby by Cesarean section, you may receive both internal and external stitches. You may not need internal stitches after all surgeries. Be sure to ask questions of your medical team before and after the surgery if you don't feel confident in caring for your post-surgery stitches.
How Long Does it Take for Stitches To Dissolve?
Dissolvable stitches may be made of synthetic materials (such as polydioxanone) or natural materials (such as collagen or silk), and they can be used internally and externally. External stitches that dissolve will break down and disappear within a week at a minimum and many months at a maximum. If you need more information about your specific type of dissolvable stitches, be sure to ask your care provider what to expect. It's not necessary to try to remove dissolvable stitches on your own as they will go away with time.
How Can I Remove Stitches?
Usually, it's not a good idea to remove your own stitches as you risk reopening a wound that is not yet healed and allowing it to become infected. If you have no choice but to remove stitches from a small wound at home, you'll need to collect the following items:
- Tweezers to pull out each stitch (you don't want to leave any of them in your skin or this can cause infection)
- Rubbing alcohol to sterilize your scissors and any other instruments or tools that touch your wound
- A magnifying glass, if you need one, to see extra-tiny stitches
- Nail scissors to provide a small, sharp cutting area
Be sure to sterilize your scissors and tweezers with rubbing alcohol before you begin. Focus on keeping your hand steady and cut the stitches one by one. If you start bleeding or experience pain, do not continue: The stitch should not be taken out yet!
Does Removing Stitches Hurt?
Removing your stitches may feel uncomfortable, but it shouldn't cause severe pain. If your wound bleeds or oozes pus when you begin cutting with the nail scissors or pulling with the tweezers, please don't continue and seek out medical advice.
When Are Stitches Ready To Come Out?
Removing stitches too soon can lead to the wound reopening or becoming infected. Please do your best to leave your stitches in for the time your doctor recommended. If you notice a problem with your stitches, experience severe pain, or see red streaks or pus leaking out of the stitches, contact your medical team immediately. These signs could represent a larger problem that needs medical intervention. Do not try to remove the stitches by yourself or you could make the situation worse!
