Will keeping the bandage on effect the stitches from healing the wound? (Photos)

Question

I was hit in the nose 8 days ago and recieved a broken nose on the bridge and 5 stiches. After 7 days I went to my local walk In clinic to have the stiches removed. He was only able to remove 2 as 3 were not ready and was told to come back in 5 days to see if the remaining 3 were ready to be taken out. He also advised me to keep a bandage on. Will keeping the bantage on effect the stiches from healing the wound? Im scared that the stiches will not be ready to be taken out and the wound may reopen.

Donald Groves, MD · Answer

Typically, at 8 days after repair of a nose or any face laceration, the main benefits for keeping on a bandage would just be to help keep the wound clean, and to help keep you from touching/looking at it. That said, the bandage is not necessary and should not negatively affect wound healing one way or another, so long as you keep the wound clean, and keep the wound edges moist to promote proper healing (e.g. w/ bacitracin or neosporin). In my practice, after repairing face lacerations, I advise patients to clean the wound a few times/day w/ hydrogen peroxide, then apply a thin layer of bacitracin or neosporin- and continue this until the wound is healed (usually 1-2 weeks later). I hope this helps!Best,Dr. Donald Groves

Will keeping the bandage on effect the stitches from healing the wound? (Photos)

Answers (1)