i just had stitches in my face how do i know if they need to be taken out or dissolve, can i tell?

Question

i was under and the i didn't see the doc.

Answer 1

I agree with everyone who said that you need to contact your doctor…just call his/her office and they should be able to tell you over the phone. Make sure that you look over everything first, before you call, to make sure that you don’t have written discharge instructions (you should have received these). Also, check with whomever took you home...the staff should have given the discharge instructions to them if you were "out." The color of the sutures does not actually matter…different manufacturers make different things and different colors are used for different things. Clear suture is seldom used, it is hard to see for removal…and it usually must be removed. Sometimes blue suture is used to make it easier to see them on removal. Some types of suture are black and must be removed, while others that are black will dissolve. Sutures placed in the face (at least those to the skin that are visible) are usually not dissolving and must be removed in 5-7 days. The reason for this is skin irritation and scarring. Dissolvable sutures have to go somewhere, and they can cause localized swelling and irritation that can result in worsening of a scar. Similarly, sutures that remain in the face past 7 days can cause irritation and worsening of a scar.

Make sure that, after the first 24 hours, you wash the area at least twice a day with soap and water, otherwise keeping it clean and dry. Rather than soap and water, you can use a solution of half hydrogen peroxide and half water to gently clean it with, using a Q-tip. Do not go swimming or otherwise get the area soaking wet. Watch for any sign of infection: your getting a fever, pus, spreading redness, etc. Follow up with your doctor if you have any concerns, and if the sutures must be removed then follow up with them to do so—do not attempt to remove them yourself. Good luck.

Answer 2

you should have been given discharge instructions by the nurse that took care of you. they should have explained what kind of stitches were used and whether or not you needed to return to the er or your family dr for removal (if they were the non-dissolvable kind)

stitches usually take 10-14 days to heal and they either have to be removed or have already dissolved.

if you are uncertain and cannot find your dishcarge instructions-call the facility where you had them done and ask-they should be able to tell you

Answer 3

Well you usually get stiches taken out in 1-2 weeks go to the doctors in a week to see if you should or shouldn't...

Answer 4

Someone should have told you anyways. If they are a black color, they will need to be taken out. If the doctor didn;t mention it, then they very well may be dissovalbe.

Answer 5

I had stitches on my forehead and they had to take them out, but that was 20 years ago...

Answer 6

YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHATEVER YOU HAD DONE, IF NOT CALL THE WHOMEVER DID THE STITCHES AND ASK, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE DISSOLVEABLE OR NOT YOU DON'T WANT INFECTION.

Answer 7

Ask the doctor who put them in there.

Answer 8

your doctor should have given instructions to you in writing. If in doubt call him/her.

Answer 9

Are they black? Normally the ones that dissolve are clear.

Answer 10

you doctor should have given instruction and told you when to come back to remove them.