After a cut or an operation, a wound is usually closed to hold its edges together so it heals neatly. Surgeons use several methods depending on the wound: dissolvable or removable stitches (sutures), staples, adhesive strips, or skin glue — and some wounds are deliberately left open to heal from the bottom up. This guide explains the different closures, how to look after a closed wound, roughly when stitches come out, and the warning signs of infection or a wound coming apart that mean you should seek help.
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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.
There is no single “correct” day for stitches to come out — it depends on the wound and its location, and your team will tell you. Seek medical advice if a wound becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen, painful or leaks pus, if you develop a fever, or if the wound edges pull apart or the wound reopens. Call 995 for heavy bleeding that will not stop.
Why wounds are closed
Bringing the edges of a wound together helps it heal faster and more neatly, reduces the risk of infection, and gives a better scar. The method a surgeon chooses depends on where the wound is, how deep and how long it is, how much tension is on it, and cosmetic considerations. Some clean, straight surgical wounds are closed with a single method; larger or deeper wounds may be closed in layers, with deep dissolvable stitches under the skin and a separate closure on the surface.
Stitches: dissolvable and removable
Stitches, or sutures, are threads that hold the wound edges together. Dissolvable (absorbable) stitches break down and are absorbed by the body over days to weeks and do not need removing — they are often used under the skin or where removal would be awkward. Removable (non-absorbable) stitches stay until a nurse or doctor takes them out. Deep dissolvable stitches are sometimes used together with surface stitches. Which type you have depends on the wound, and your team will tell you what was used and what to expect.
Staples, strips and glue
Other closures suit particular wounds. Surgical staples are quick and strong and are often used for longer wounds, including some after keyhole surgery; they are removed with a special device. Adhesive strips (thin sticky tapes across the wound) suit small, shallow, low-tension wounds and simply peel or fall off in time. Skin glue (tissue adhesive) seals suitable wounds and comes away on its own as the skin heals. Small keyhole surgery wounds are often closed with dissolvable stitches, strips or glue.
When wounds are left open
Not every wound is closed straight away. Some wounds — for example those that are infected, contaminated, or where there has been tissue loss — are deliberately left open to heal gradually from the base upward, often with dressings that are changed regularly. This is a planned, appropriate approach for those wounds, not a mistake, and your team will explain the dressing routine and how healing will progress if this applies to you.
Caring for a closed wound
General principles apply to most closed wounds, but always follow the specific advice you are given. Keep the wound clean and dry, and follow instructions on when you can shower or get it wet — many wounds can be gently showered after a day or two, but soaking in a bath, pool or the sea is usually discouraged until it has healed. Do not pick at scabs, stitches, strips or glue, and avoid stretching or straining the area. Keep dressings clean and change them as advised, and our wound care after surgery guide covers this in more detail.
When stitches or staples come out
There is no single universal timing — when removable stitches or staples come out depends on the type of wound and where it is on the body, because different areas heal at different rates and are under different amounts of tension. Wounds on the face tend to have stitches removed sooner, and those over joints or on the back later, but your team will give you a date or arrangement. It is important to keep that appointment: leaving non-dissolvable stitches in too long, or removing them too early, can affect healing and the scar.
Red flags and the Singapore picture
Most wounds heal without any problem, but watch for signs of trouble. Seek medical advice if the wound becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen or painful after the first day or two, if it leaks cloudy fluid or pus or smells bad, if you develop a fever or feel unwell, or if the wound edges gape or the wound reopens (this can happen if it is put under strain too soon). Heavy bleeding that soaks through dressings and will not stop with firm pressure needs urgent attention — call 995 if it is severe. In Singapore, stitch removal and wound checks are done at GP clinics, polyclinics and hospital clinics, and HealthHub offers general information. The reassuring bottom line is that wound closure is a routine, well-practised part of surgery, that the method chosen is matched to your particular wound, and that simple care — keep it clean and dry, do not disturb it, and keep your removal or review appointment — is usually all it takes for a wound to heal well.
Related procedure & surgery topics
- Preparing for surgery
- Fasting before surgery
- General anaesthesia
- Sedation for procedures
- Day surgery
- Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery
- Wound care after surgery
- IV drip & cannula
- Blood transfusion
- How to pay for surgery
- General surgeons in Singapore
Sources
- NHS — How do I care for a wound (stitches): nhs.uk
- MedlinePlus — Surgical wound care: medlineplus.gov
- HealthHub Singapore: healthhub.sg