How to Remove Stitches

While it's recommended that you visit your physician or health care professional to have your stitches removed, that's not always practical. You may be able to remove small stitches on your own. If the recommended healing time has elapsed, and the wound appears completely closed, you may want to remove them. All you need are some tweezers and scissors!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Wound Cleaning and Preparation

Download Article

1
Make sure you’ve healed enough before removing your stitches. In some cases, you absolutely shouldn't remove your own stitches. If your stitches were inserted after a surgical procedure, or if the recommended healing time (usually 10-14 days) hasn't elapsed, removing them yourself can put you at greater risk for infection and may prevent your body from healing properly. Your skin needs to have grown back together before your stitches are removed.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceFamilyDoctor.orgFamily-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family DoctorsGo to source}
- Keep in mind that when you go to the doctor, adhesive strips are often placed on the skin after stitch removal to continue to facilitate the healing process. If you do it at home, you may not be getting the care you require.
- If you want to double check whether it's OK to remove your stitches, give your doctor a call. They will let you know whether it's safe enough to do it yourself. However, they will likely recommend you come into the office to get your stitches removed.
- If your wound looks as if it's getting red or more sore, do not remove your stitches—go to your doctor. You may have an infection.
- Keep in mind that in many cases, you can get your stitches removed without going through the regular doctor's appointment process. You might be able to walk right in for a quick stitch removal. It's likely that a nurse can check your wound and remove the stitches if the wound has healed. Call your doctor and ask.
To remove your stitches, you’ll need a small pair of scissors.^{[2]XResearch source} Use a sharp pair of surgical scissors if possible. Sharp nail scissors may also work. Avoid using any type of blunt edge, and don't use a knife—it's too easy for knives to slip.
Advertisement
3
Sterilize your scissors and a pair of tweezers in boiling water. Drop them in a pot of boiling water, cover the pot, and let the tools boil for at least 20 minutes. Carefully remove them, let them thoroughly dry on a clean paper towel, then swab them thoroughly with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. This will ensure the scissors and tweezers don't transfer bacteria to your body.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- Use sterilized tongs or chopsticks to take the tools out of the pot so that you don’t burn your hands or contaminate the tools.
There are a few other things you should have on hand. Gather sterile bandages and antibiotic ointment in case you need to treat an area that starts to bleed. You shouldn't need to use these supplies, since if your skin has properly healed, no bandage is necessary, but it's important to have them on hand just in case.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceFamilyDoctor.orgFamily-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family DoctorsGo to source}
5
Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Before you touch the wound, carefully wash your hands. Take off any jewelry and wash your hands with soap and warm water, making sure to wash the front and back of both hands as well as in between your fingers. When you’re done, pat your hands dry on a clean paper towel.^{[5]XResearch source}
- If your hands aren’t visibly dirty or greasy, you can also clean them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Rub the sanitizer over all surfaces of your hands and fingers for at least 20-30 seconds, then let your hands air dry.
6
Wash and sterilize the stitch site with soap, water, and alcohol. Wet the site with warm water, then apply soap. Rinse the soap away with warm water, and pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Use a rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton ball to dab around the stitches. Be sure the area is completely clean before proceeding.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Cleaning and disinfecting the area will help prevent an infection. It will also help remove any dried blood or crusted fluids around the wound and make it easier to remove the stitches.^{[7]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Safe Removal

Download Article

1
Sit in a well-lighted spot. You'll need to be able to see every stitch clearly to do the job properly. Don't attempt to remove your stitches in a place that's too dark, or you could accidentally cut yourself.
- If there isn’t enough natural light available, sit near a bright lamp so you can see what you’re doing.
Use the pair of tweezers to gently lift the knot of the first stitch slightly above the skin. Hold the tweezers in you non-dominant hand, since you’ll be cutting the stitch with the scissors in your dominant hand.^{[8]XResearch source}
Holding the knot above your skin, use your other hand to insert your scissors under the knot. Snip the suture next to the knot, as close to the skin as possible.^{[9]XResearch source}
4
Pull the thread through. Use the tweezers to continue grasping the knot and gently pull the stitch through your skin and out. Put the removed stitch aside on a piece of gauze or paper towel.^{[10]XResearch source} You might feel a bit of pressure as you remove the stitch, but it should not be painful.
- Do not pull the knot through your skin. It will catch on your skin and cause bleeding to occur. To avoid this, hold onto the knot itself with the tweezers as you pull out the stitch.
- If the skin starts to bleed when you remove the stitch, your stitches are not ready to come out. Stop what you're doing and see a doctor to remove the remaining stitches.
Use the tweezers to lift the knots, then snip with the scissors. Pull the thread through and set it aside. Continue until all the stitches have been removed.^{[11]XResearch source}
6
Cleanse the wound with a wipe or soap and water. Make sure there's no residue left around the area of the wound. Gently cleanse it by wiping it with an antiseptic wipe or cleaning it with soap and warm water. If you'd like, you can place a sterile bandage over the area and allow it to continue to heal.^{[12]XTrustworthy SourceMedlinePlusCollection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of MedicineGo to source}
- To reduce the chance of scarring, put a gentle moisturizer, such as petroleum jelly or Vaseline, on the wound.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Aftercare

Download Article

If your wound is not fully healed or your skin splits again, you're going to need more stitches. It's very important to see a doctor immediately if this happens. Bandaging the wound and trying to let it heal without new stitches won't be adequate.^{[13]XResearch source}
2
Avoid exerting yourself too much so the wound doesn’t reopen. Skin regains its strength slowly. After your stitches are removed, the skin may remain weak as it continues to heal. Don't overuse the body part where you had stitches.^{[14]XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service (UK)Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source}
- For instance, you may need to avoid doing any heavy lifting until your doctor says it’s safe, since too much strain could cause the wound to reopen.
- If you’re concerned about the wound opening up again, put a series of Steri-Strips along the incision where the stitches used to be. These will help keep the edges of the wound together as it heals.^{[15]XResearch source}
3
Protect the wound from UV rays. Ultraviolet light is damaging even to healthy tissue. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 if your wound will be exposed to the sun or when using tanning beds.^{[16]XResearch source}
- You can protect the area even more effectively if you also cover the scar with protective clothing (such as long sleeves or pants) and stay in the shade as much as possible.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question
How many days should I leave the stitches in?
Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Expert Answer
Stitches assist in wound healing and keep the edges of the wound together. Depending on the location of the stitches, the amount of time for them to be removed varies. Stitches generally should be removed within 4-14 days. Get guidance and instructions on the removal from your healthcare provider who put the stitches in.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 3 Helpful 22

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Leave stitches in for the full duration your physician suggests.
Thanks
Helpful263 Not Helpful91
Keep your wound clean.
Thanks
Helpful262 Not Helpful93
If possible, use a disposable stitch cutter rather than scissors. They are sharper and flatter, so they pull less on the stitch during cutting.
Thanks
Helpful8 Not Helpful0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Removing stitches from major surgery yourself is not recommended. This article is designed for removal of minor stitches.
Thanks
Helpful140 Not Helpful64
Do not attempt to remove surgical staples at home. Doctors use a specialized tool for extraction, and at-home methods may result in greater injury, pain, or infection.
Thanks
Helpful6 Not Helpful0
Don't get sutured (stitched) cuts wet if you have been advised not to, and do not wash them with soap.
Thanks
Helpful5 Not Helpful1