When do sutures need to be removed?

Your sutures are either absorbable or non-absorbable. Most of the time absorbable sutures are under the skin, so you won’t see them. If you can’t see your sutures, nothing needs to be removed.

Non-absorbable sutures are usually either black or blue in colour. These do require removal. The time to remove sutures depends on where they are on your body.

If they’re on your face or ear, sutures should be removed between 5-7 days.

If they’re not on your face or ear, sutures should be removed roughly 14 days after surgery.

I think I see a suture poking out of my wound!

“Dissolving” sutures don’t actually dissolve like sugar in water. They are actively digested by cells in your body under the skin. Sometimes, as a response to the foreign material, your body will opt to push the suture out before it can be digested. When this happens, you may see a pimple that pops and then what looks like either clear fishing line, or a purple or white thread. If this happens, do NOT pull on it as it will hurt. Instead, take a nail clipper or nail scissors and clip the thread at the level of your skin. The rest of the suture will duck back down and will either be digested or pushed out.