Cuts on the Face Closed With Stitches: Care Instructions

Overview

A cut on your face can be on your chin, cheek, nose, forehead, eyelid, lip, or ear.

The doctor used stitches to close the cut. Using stitches helps the cut heal and reduces scarring. The doctor may also have called in a specialist, such as a plastic surgeon, to close the cut.

If the cut went deep and through the skin, the doctor may have put in two layers of stitches. The deeper layer brings the deep part of the cut together. These stitches will dissolve and don't need to be removed. The stitches in the upper layer are the ones you see on the cut.

You will probably have a bandage.

You will need to have the stitches removed, usually in 3 to 5 days.

The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the cut dry.

  • Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to get the cut wet.

  • If your doctor told you how to care for your cut, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:

    • After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.

    • You may cover the cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.

    • Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.

  • Avoid any activity that could cause your cut to reopen.

  • Do not remove the stitches on your own. Your doctor will tell you when to come back to have the stitches removed.

  • Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.

    • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.

    • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.

When should you call for help?

../images/Call-for-help_icn.jpgCall your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

 

  • You have new pain, or your pain gets worse.

 

  • The skin near the cut is cold or pale or changes color.

 

  • You have tingling, weakness, or numbness near the cut.

 

  • The cut starts to bleed, and blood soaks through the bandage. Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.

 

  • You have symptoms of infection, such as:

    • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the cut.

    • Red streaks leading from the cut.

    • Pus draining from the cut.

    • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

 

  • You do not get better as expected.

Current as of: July 10, 2023

Content Version: 14.0

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

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