What is the Absolute Longest Stitches Should Stay in the Face?

Our treatments use combination therapy to improve the epidermis and dermis for most deep scars. The options available for acne scars depend on the character of your scars, in terms of topography and contour. We see atrophic and hypertrophic acne scars, as well as scars that have hypo and hyperpigmentation. We begin each scar evaluation with an assessment of scar quality and subtype. Our main concern is rebuilding collagen and that is why we use a HIDEF protocol that includes combination therapy. Morpheus 8, scar subcision, fibrous release, fractional laser, CO2 laser, Thulium laser, PDL Vbeam laser, and fractional resurfacing can be used in addition to TCA Cross and chemical peels to further improve skin. Patients should start Melarase AM and Melarase PM for active hyperpigmentation. Always begin with a consultation to decide whether early subcision should be started.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Depending on how an acne scar is excised, if there are deep dissolving stitches, the superficial non-dissolving stitches can be removed between 5-7 days on average. There are exceptions for shorter and longer term stitches but not by many days.I close wounds with multiple layers of stitches so the deeper dissolving stitches take all the tension off the surface of the skin and the top layer of stitches (that get removed in a week) create no tension on the skin surface so they don't create the railroad track marks. I also can use a very fine diameter suture on the surface as there is no tension in this layer and the stitches don't leave marks.

If you have deep sutures, then you can remove the sutures in a few days.  I would not recommend leaving them in longer than seven days as they risk leaving little pin point tracks.  If you want to do everything to minimize the appearance of the scars, then I would also recommend using lasers afterwards.

Hi there-

Typically, sutures in the face would be ideally removed 5-7 days after placement, but the final decision about when to remove them would depend on careful examination of the wound for signs of adequate healing before removal.

It is not unusual or inappropriate to remove them a day or two later if the surgeon's judgment indicates this would be in your best interests, so if scheduling limitations require this you should not assume it will be harmful to your outcome.

As previously noted, the face has an excellent blood supply which allows for very favorable scars (assuming a tension free closure and meticulous technique). I would maintain that stitches should stay in at least 5 days and no longer than 8 (wound separation can potentially occur if sutures are removed too soon). The type of skin suture used in my practice is a 5-0 or 6-0 prolene, which is a non-reactive mono filament suture.

In most cases, I remove sutures from the face in 4 to 7 days.  After this time, the suture holes start to scar and may leave permanent changes.  In some cases, you can have internal dissolvable sutures inside and surgical glue (Dermabond) outside, so there is no evidence of sutures externally.  Good luck. 

Depending on what type of procedure was done 5-8 days or so. The type of procedure will influence the degree of tension or tightness on the skin closure. For example a laceration where the skin edges remain close together will close under less tension than a skin cancer excision in which a sizeable gap in the skin has been created by removing the lesion and, therefore, there is more tension on the closure. Ultimately, your surgeon will advise on the most appropriate timing, but tension, as mentioned, is always a primary consideration.

Sutures in the face after a procedure usually are removed between 5-7 days. Certainly they can stay in a day or two longer if scheduling does not permit removal.

For IDEAL healing- the incision needs to be placed within the facial wrinkle lines so the scar ends up with little to now pull on it- the margins of the wound need to be undermined so the wound is closed with little to no tension- dissolving stitches need to be put with the knot placed deeply (IE buried) to place any tension in the deep layer and not in the skin itself- fine (5-0 or 6-5) non reactive stitches (Nylon or Prolene) are placed in the skin with the needle penetrating the skin vertically- Stitches need to be removed within 5 days to avoid in growth of skin into the stitch tunnels resulting in "railroading"- You should keep a 45 SPF and higher sun block on the wounds for the next 6 months to prevent scar darkening
Good Luck.
Dr. P. Aldea

I like to remove facial stitches 5 days after they are placed. I think your plastic surgeon has you right on target as far as the interval for stitch removal. Occasionally stitches can be removed sooner than 5 days if the area appears to be really well healed, but if they are removed too soon, you risk having the wound edges pull apart. After the stitches are removed, the area can be left to heal on its own or resurfaced either with manual dermabrasion, CO2 or erbium:YAG laser. Sun protection/avoidance of the healing scars is important.
Good luck.