NOV 02, 2017 3:32 PM PDT

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

WRITTEN BY: Xuan Pham

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!
About the Author
Doctorate (PhD)
I am a human geneticist, passionate about telling stories to make science more engaging and approachable. Find more of my writing at the Hopkins BioMedical Odyssey blog and at TheGeneTwist.com.
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