Don't Want a Weird Scar? Get Those Stitches Out!

When a cut is too deep for a bandage, stitches and staples are necessary to keep the wound together during healing. While some stitches are made to be dissolved over time, some stitches still require the patient to come in for manual removal. But what would happen if the patient forgot to come in to remove the stitches?

In short, the body treats the sutures like a foreign object. If left in for too long, new tissue will grow around them, causing the stitches to be buried under the skin. This makes removal difficult and increases the chance for permanent scarring.

So, to minimize the risk of complications, go have those stitches removed at the appropriate time!