Has anyone ever taken stitches out at home? My daughter has 3 stitches and I want to take them out myself.?

Question

Just wanted to add that, no, I am not a doctor, but I feel that doctors are often overused and overtrusted. There are many good doctors, and there are also many doctors that will insist on having things done that are unnecessary and sometimes unhealthy (i.e. medications, etc.). I would just assume do what I am able to do at home. I am not saying that doctors are useless, because I do believe that they can be useful, just often overused.

Thanks everyone. I was wondering what I could use in place of suture removal forceps, but tweezers sound like a perfect replacement. I appreciate all of your advice. And to all of you who believe that you need to call a doctor for every single little thing: this is not because you are being intelligent, but because you are being ignorant. Email me if you want to know [e-mail]

Just to update everyone: I took the stitches out today (7 days after they were put in) and it was really very simple. Her cut has healed very nicely and she did very well while I was removing them. For those of you who think that I am ignorant for believing that I was capable of doing this, I'm sorry you feel that way. Just because I am not a doctor does not mean that I am an idiot. Sadly I feel that you are the ignorant ones if you feel that a degree says anything about a person's ability or intelligence. I really hope that you will do your own research instead of trusting information from a single source (i.e. school teachers, doctors, nurses, etc.) God bless!

Answer 1

Its easy. When the wound has healed up simply use a pair of small scissors and clip the stitches. Then you can easily remove them with tweezers. It should not hurt if the wound is healed properly. If it begins to bleed then it is too soon and you should immediately get medical advise. If you are not sure whether you should remove them, go to any ER or urgent care. I am sure that they could advise you without charge so long as they do not remove them.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Has anyone ever taken stitches out at home? My daughter has 3 stitches and I want to take them out myself.?

Answer 3

taking the stitches out is the easy bit and most nurses will do this...not doctors

the hard bit is assessing if the heal is correct and if there is an underlying infection - if there is antibiotics will be prescribed. Or indeed if the wound needs -re opening and cleaning - you CANNOT TELL JUST BY LOOKING at the surface. You need to check the structure under the wound, check for fluid, changes to the pain response in the area - all signs of either nerve damage or infection.

If you damage the skin taking them out you do risk increased scaring.

If you are going to do it yourself rather than using tweezers - so to a sowing shop and buy some stitch cutters - they are almost the same as the hospital will use - but remove them at your own risk...

Answer 4

Yes I have. Im 50 and not afraid of pullin a few well healed stitches. Use a sterilized really narrow and small bladed sharp scissors, like a Dr. would use, and push one blade in just under a spot where you can snip the stitch gently.

If your daughter is young, or you do not think the wound is completely healed, let a professional do it. I sure wouldn't try doing open heart surgery on myself.

Answer 5

How To Remove Stitches

Answer 6

I have never actually gone to a doctor in my life to take stitches out, and I've had a lot of them.

My father used to just use his Swiss Army knife to take them out when I was little, and when I was 10 or so I started doing it on my own.

Answer 7

I worked for several years as a dental assistant, and so I removed sutures many times.

Just use some tweezers, and very sharp small scissors. Wipe down instruments with alcohol, if you have no other way to sterilize them. Then carefully cut and slowly pull out each suture. Be careful not to cut skin or pull too fast on suture. Repeat until all sutures are removed.

It's really easy, and saves you another trip to the Dr.s office.

Answer 8

If there is no rub, swelling, or pus, you can take them out with a little and tiny scissors.....previously disinfected. Just stretch the skin around the wound while you're cutting the stitches. At the end put on it some alcohol or some antiseptic solution.
Good luck.

Answer 9

Actually we weren't even at home, but in a hotel room on vacation. My mom removed 11 stitches, she just sterilized tweezers and hair cutting scissors. Worked just fine, it felt a little funny to me though, the pulling of the thread through the muscle. That would have felt the same no matter what, but I mention it in case the same feeling bothers your daughter.

Answer 10

well what you need to do is you could do is get something and numb up that spot where the stitches are......then.....make sure the've been it there long enough.....(the stiches).....then take surgical tweesers and if you used nylon witch you probably did......take the tweesers and try to get one of the loose parts of the nylon.....(first make sure the area where the stiches are is numbed up, or else your daughter might be sceaming).......then pull the part gently.....(you might want to start with a stich thats near the end).......pull it slowly and gently.....when you have all the stiches out......put a piece of clean cloth or a piece of goss on it so it wont get infected....(you might want to check with a doctor before taking them out so you can make sure it has healed properley......let it "free" n about a day or so (beceause open cuts heal faster)....then when its healed make sure not to fall on it or hit it for three days or so. Good Luck and Happy Healing