How Can I Remove Stitches?
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Asking how to remove stitches is answered with difficulty. In reality, you shouldn’t remove stitches on your own because there is risk of infection. Most importantly, you should never remove stitches from surgeries on your own. An infection at a surgery site can easily lead to severe infection or a wound reopening. Despite warnings, some people may at least want to remove stitches from small cuts, and while wiseGEEK recommends this be done under a doctor’s care, there is a way to do this at home.
Stitches are usually one seam only, unlike sewing on cloth. Each stitch has to be removed individually. Most resemble a small tied knot that has pulled the skin together. Before planning to remove stitches, gather together a few needed items. These include a pair of tweezers, nail or small scissors, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol, and possibly magnifying glass to see stitches. The tweezers and the scissors should be sterilized or soaked in alcohol prior to beginning, and the stitched area should be cleaned with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and allowed to dry before you begin.
The first step is to cut the stitch. Start at one end of the stitched area, and cut only one stitch at a time. If you note excessive bleeding when you cut a stitch, it is not ready to be removed. You may note a tiny bit of blood, which is relatively common. You want to cut the stitch as close to the knot on one side of the knot instead of through it. Gently either thread the bottom part of the scissors underneath the stitch, or use only the top of the scissors, and be careful not to cut yourself!
When the stitch is cut, you can remove stitches by grasping the longer side without the knot, with tweezers and pulling it out. If you did cut straight through the knot, all is not lost. Simply grasp a former knot point and pull through on one side. Then repeat on the other side. The last thing you want to do is pull any of the knotted part through the skin as this can cause injury or reopen a cut. After each stitch is removed, dab the area with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before moving onto the next stitch. Repeat this step when you’ve removed them all.
A few don’ts should be observed when you remove stitches:
- Don’t remove stitches prior to the recommended time for removal, usually 10-14 days.
- Don’t remove surgical stitches.
- Don’t continue to remove stitches if a wound reopens and starts bleeding.
- Don’t, out of fear of embarrassment, neglect seeing the doctor if you’ve removed a stitch and the wound reopens.
If stitches drive you crazy — they can grow increasingly itchy as wounds heal — consider asking your doctor to place stitches that don’t require removal. Dissolving stitches can be used in place of the standard stitches. Surgical glue is also a fine alternative to stitches. Neither of these methods will require you to remove stitches at home, which can be risky and is definitely not medically recommended.
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22
This is the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Never use hydrogen peroxide on stitches. That's what causes keloid scars and the doctor tells you not to use hydrogen peroxide. I know this because my mom is an interventional radiologist and my sister is a nurse and I got six stitches two days ago and they told me. - anon53793
21
i got six stitches on saturday night and removed them myself the following friday afternoon, with finger nail clippers and tweezers. every person and every wound is different. use your common sense. you can tell if you need a doctor to remove them or not. - anon50800
20
If you are careful (or have someone careful help you), there is normally no reason you cannot remove a few stitches yourself at home and save $50-$100 for a doctor visit. If you have lots of stitches (>15), and it is one continuous stitch, you might be better off going to the doctor, especially if it was a large incision. - anon47213
19
The stitches that dissolve take time to dissolve (a lot more than 10-14 days, more like 2-3 months), so many doctors prefer to use regular stitches on the skin surface because they can be easily removed, so that the patient doesn't have to wait such a long time for the stitches to dissolve. - anon46685
18
Do not remove your stitches on your own, specially on your face. Even doctors screw it up sometimes. The thread may cut the skin itself if pulled incorrectly, creating a new scar. Have *only* a cosmetic surgeon do it, who has the most experience.
Many other mistakes could be made by you or a a doctor who is not a specialist. This article is not talking about specific dangers of doing it on your own! - anon44157
16
Earlier this week I was referred to a specialist to have two harmless but unsightly cysts removed: one from my upper right arm at my bicep, and one on the top of my head. The referral was made specifically because of the scalp cyst; the concern was excess of blood loss from my scalp compared to the cyst on my arm, which is most understandable.
I suspect the specialist was either having a bad day or was impatient, because although the stitching on my head (the first one completed) was conducted with fair precision, my right bicep was somewhat butchered - although the area was numb, I felt his scalpel slip and slice my arm a bit, and the skin's been bunched together and looks somewhat bulbous. He said nothing, of course, but I wanted it done and over with and said nothing either. I'm not at all convinced this fellow is incompetent, and I keep the necessary tools on hand for other physical issues which I shall use to remove these sutures myself. This is why I despise medical professionals who believe their training (and the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars in sponsored education that seem to equal 'expertise' on the parts of these self-proclaimed gods) supersedes the safety of their patients. Therefore, I'm choosing to remove the stitches myself, after which I'm slapping on some Polysporin and taping gauze to reduce the chance of infection and encourage the healing process (which I've already done twice). I have never experienced issues after performing such minor operations on myself. Just want to let you guys know how foolish these professionals make actual experts seem. Thank you very much for some most informative data, too. - anon43439
15
about one month ago I had part of a slipped disc removed, and was stitched up as you would expect with dissoving stitches...now you're not going to belive this but I asked my girlfriend to remove some dried blood cause it kept catching on my clothes and was uncomfortable...but she misunderstood what I said and cut the loop of the stitch (the stitch looked like fishing line) line above where I said with some scissors so now I have what lookes like 2 pieces of stitch sticking out of my skin not connected. what the hell do I do ?????? - anon35928
14
I got 16 stitches on my knee 8 days ago and I have a hockey tournament all the way in Calgary in 5 days. Does anyone know if I can play by then? (I'm the goalie) - hawkfrost43
13
I cut out my labodomy stitches. It was nice. Everything is nice. - anon31197
12
I had surgery 21 days ago and have a 6 inch scar on my arm with 23 stitches. The surgeon was supposed to take the stitches out after 2 weeks but he went on vacation and I couldn't get an appointment with another physician in his office and couldn't afford a visit to the ER. I am so angry at the *neglect* of his office staff (not willing to squeeze me in or cooperate in any way)and do not want to go back to this doctor but the stitches are *still in!!*My arm is trying to heal and the stitches are starting to disappear-my skin is healing *over* them. I want to take out the stitches on my own now but am afraid of infection. What the heck should I do now? My friend gave me special surgical scissors to take out the stitches or I could wait 2 more days and see this jerk~who is finally back from vacation on Friday. - bonnienmegan
11
i just got 10 stitches on my kneecap four days ago. how long is it before i can run again and when will my stitches be removed by the hospital? - anon27269
10
Just read this article and after reading the advice I've just taken out 4 stitches on the inside of my index finger using nothing but nail clippers.The way I did it was to cut the stitch at the furthest point from the knot and then pull the knot quickly. It was painless, I didn't feel a thing. - anon26876
9
2 months ago I had stitches in the back of my head. The stitches were removed, but now I find a dime sized red raised bump that is very sore where the stitches were. Is it possible another stitch is still there? I am on vacation. Would heat pad help, or ice? Should I try to find another doctor? - misskay
8
I took out my own episiotomy stitches twice because they were so aggravating (talk about a challenge, too. LOL!) They were the dissolving kind, but they didn't dissolve, and after a week and a half, I took them out. Not painful at all. It does help if you have a pair of the really sharp-pointed surgical scissors, though. I can't imagine trying to do it with regular scissors or nail clippers. - anon23755
7
i cut my hand open and had to have it stitched back up. they advised me that the stitching would dissolve by themselves and most of them have. i have one that still remains and there is no knot. i can see a tiny loop that comes out and re enters the skin. looks like a ingrown hair. but its not hair and looks more like a fishing line. it has been about 4-5 weeks since my hand was stitched.. can any 1 advise me accordingly, on what to do? - anon23007
6
I have 14 stitches on my forearm (outside) that I want to remove. I had them put in while on vacation and don't want to pay the $100 for an office visit to remove them! How bad does it hurt and how many days should I wait before I try this? I am a sissy. - anon19715
5
You can't use dissolvable sutures or the glue over a joint (such as a knee) because more strength is needed over an area that moves.
- anon18469
4
I bite my fingernails, and I just got cut on my finger...so I ended up chewing threw the knot on my stitches then pulling them out. Not really smart but hey :p - anon13890
3
its fairly simple. i used baby nail clippers just now to remove two stitches in my wife's lip. they were on the corner of her mouth and very very tiny. get some tweezers and pull up and slide the knot to one side to expose the line to cut, using the baby nail clippers(make sure they are new or sharp) snip the line under the knot. then pull em out. easy peasy lemon squeezy! - anon12492
2
good luck getting your stitches removed. i had about four stitches on the side of my wrist as a result of an injury in a car accident. my dad took them out for me (no, he's not a trained medical professional!). i think he was being too cheap to take me back to the doctor! it didn't hurt, and had healed nicely, so it wasn't a big deal. i don't know if i'd recommend it for all injuries, and now that i'm a parent, i don't know if i'd do it to my children! - mrjones
1
I recently had to get 6 stitches in my knee. I have to go back this Sunday to get them out., They are driving me insane, and am obviously on a "how to remove your own stitches" website because the thought has crossed my mind. I am just curious why they do not just use the glue, or the ones that dissolve in all cases. It said you could request them, but shouldn't Doctors just offer them? This whole ordeal is a first for me so I guess I will know next time, (eek or not!) But for now I guess I will enjoy the hot ER Doctor take stitches out of my hairy knee that can't be shaved at the moment, and just hope he has seen something more grotesque before me.. lol - anon10806
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Written by
Tricia Ellis-Christensen
Last Modified: 24 November 2009
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