How Long Do Stitches Stay In For? – (Tips To Speed Up Healing)

Have you had any recent surgery in the past day or even weeks? Then the question is simple: How long do stitches stay in for? Is it painful when they will remove it? Maybe it’s good to have them for a longer period than advised? If you are worried about any of those, then you can calm down because we will answer those questions later in this article, but for now, let’s cover the topic’s question… How long do stitches stay in for?

It depends on the wound you have, but in most cases, stitches will stay for 4 to 14 days. There are also absorbable stitches or dissolvable s

titches that can dissolve on their own, but there are many different types. Most of them should start to dissolve within a week or two, but for them to disappear completely it can take even up to several months. You can ask your doctor or even nurse about the type of stitches you have been given, they should also tell you how long will it take for stitches to dissolve.

Can I try to remove my own stitches?

You should avoid doing that, it can be unsafe because your wound can open up again with the slightest move and that can lead to infection, and start over the whole healing process. Also when the doctor or nurse will remove the stitches, they will also check for any signs of infection, and even can delay the process of removing stitches if they consider that wound needs some more time to heal. 

So if you try to remove stitches by yourself then the doctor won’t be able to see your wound condition. We advise you to leave this task to the professionals.

I am worried about my sutures

If you can see that something is off with your wound or sutures then you should immediately contact medical support, the most common things that can happen to your wound are:

• The wound becomes swollen or red
• The wound is unbearably painful after some time
• The wound opens itself
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• You have a fever in the first days
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• The stitches are loosened

If you have any of the above then consult with your doctor then someone will check them again.

How long do dissolvable stitches take to dissolve?

You have to know that there are two main types of stitches, ones that need to be removed with help of medical staff and ones that will dissolve by themselves. In the second case, your doctor should have told you how long will it take to disappear, but most types of stitches will start to dissolve in the second week so you will feel them loosen up a bit.

That process can be long due to the type of stitches that you have, in most cases that process will take one to two months but it can be even longer than that. The type of dissolvable stitches is based on the type of wound. If that wound is longer than 5 inches then it can take longer, so if you broke your arm, and you need to have a few stitches that process will be shorter than a kidney operation. The smaller wounds on the muscles like bitten tongue tend to heal faster than those on the body fat like the belly.

What should I do with my wound after stitches removal?

Let’s say that you have waited all that time and you’re finally free from stitches, but now you should take care of your wound because it’s not fully healed. Only your outer skin came together to prevent any bleeding and infection but the inside is still in the process of healing. You should clean the area according to your doctor’s advice, like washing with soap and cleaning with a soft towel afterward.

Check for any swelling or even internal bleeding, your doctor can advise you to wear a bandage to support your wound and cover it. Don’t use this part of your body too much and take care of it, if that wound is exposed to the sun then use sunblock in cream. Also, the scar can be visible after the stitches are removed. You should avoid anything that can weaken your body like catching a cold or flu. Check out our newest article about how to cure a common cold.

In conclusion – How long do stitches stay in for?

If the stitches are the normal old type then medical staff will remove them 4 to 14 days after your operation, but if your doctor called them “dissolvable stitc

hes” then they will disappear on their own within one or two months.

Also with dissolvable stitches, medical consultation will be needed after a few weeks to check if your wound is healing properly. Try to bear with that pain, and avoid touching that wound to prevent infection and reopening.