How Long Does It Take for Stitches to Heal?

Stitches play a crucial role in closing wounds, promoting faster healing, and reducing scarring. But while the stitching itself happens in minutes, the healing process takes days to weeks as your body works to repair tissue beneath the surface.

In this article, we’ll break down how long it takes for stitches to heal.  You’ll also learn practical tips to protect your stitches and ensure the smoothest recovery possible.

The 3 Phases of Biological Healing of Stitches

To truly understand healing timelines, you need to know what's happening beneath the surface at every stage. The body's repair process unfolds in three distinct yet overlapping phases.

Inflammatory Phase (0–3 days)

This is when your body immediately responds to injury, setting the foundation for all healing that follows. Blood vessels constrict initially to stop bleeding, then dilate to bring immune cells to the wound site. 

You'll notice redness, warmth, swelling, and some discomfort during this phase.

These are all completely normal signs that your immune system is working to prevent infection and clear damaged tissue.

Proliferative / Granulation Phase (Day 3 to ~2 weeks)

Once inflammation settles and the groundwork is laid, your body shifts into active repair mode. New blood vessels form to supply nutrients, and fibroblasts begin depositing collagen to rebuild tissue structure. 

During this critical window, you'll see the wound start to close and fill in, though the new tissue remains fragile and vulnerable to disruption. This is why protecting the wound during these weeks is absolutely essential.

Maturation / Remodeling Phase (Weeks to months, up to a year)

The final stage focuses on scar formation and strengthening after the stitches are removed. Collagen fibers rebuild and tighten, slowly making the wound stronger.

This phase can last from a few weeks to over a year, which is why scars keep changing in look and texture over time. Knowing this helps you set realistic expectations for healing.

When Do Stitches Heal / Are Removed

Now that you understand the biological process, let's get practical about timing. Keep in mind these are guidelines, not guarantees. Individual healing varies based on many factors we'll explore later.

Absorbable Stitches

Absorbable stitches are made from special materials that your body can naturally break down and dissolve over time.

After the wound is closed, your body’s natural enzymes and immune response begin to break down the suture material into harmless components like water and carbon dioxide.

This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the suture type and the tissue where it’s placed.

Fast-dissolving varieties typically disappear within 7–10 days, making them ideal for surface wounds in areas with good blood supply. Medium-duration absorbable sutures last 2–4 weeks and work well for most internal and external closures. 

For deeper structures requiring extended support, slow-dissolving options remain for several months and are reserved for deep internal sutures supporting tissues that need prolonged healing time.

Non-Absorbable Stitches

Non-absorbable stitches are made from strong materials like nylon, silk, or polypropylene that your body can’t break down. They’re used for wounds that need more time to heal, such as skin closures or deeper surgical incisions. 

Once the tissue has healed, a healthcare provider must remove the stitches to prevent irritation or infection. The timing of removal depends on the wound’s location and how quickly it heals:

• Face: 3–5 days
• Scalp: 7–10 days
• Arms and legs: 10–14 days
• Joints: 10–14 days
• Abdomen, chest, and back: 7–14 days
  

Removing stitches too early can cause the wound to reopen, while leaving them in too long may lead to marks or make removal more difficult.

During removal, you might feel mild tugging or a quick sting, similar to plucking a hair. The process is brief and rarely painful.

Stitch removal is best done by a healthcare professional, but in some cases, you can remove your stitches at home if your doctor has given clear instructions and the wound has fully healed.

When "Fully Healed" / Scar Maturity

Even after stitch removal, the healing journey isn't quite finished. True healing continues beneath the surface, with full scar maturity taking up to 12 months or more. During this extended period, the scar gradually softens, flattens, and fades to its final appearance.

Factors That Influence Healing Time of Stitches

As you might expect, not everyone heals at the same rate, and multiple variables affect your personal timeline.

Wound Depth, Size, and Tissue Type

First and foremost, wound characteristics play a fundamental role in determining healing speed. Deeper wounds naturally take longer than superficial ones because they require more extensive tissue regeneration.

Some tissues like facial skin heal faster than areas with less blood supply, while wounds in highly vascular areas close more quickly than those in poorly perfused regions.

Location and Movement / Tension

Similarly, location and movement create tension that can slow the process considerably. Wounds over joints or on hands experience constant stress that challenges the repair process at every turn. 

Areas subject to frequent motion—like elbows, knees, or fingers—face repeated micro-trauma that can delay healing or even cause wound reopening.

Patient Health & Systemic Factors

Your overall health also affects how well you heal. Younger people usually recover faster than older adults because cell repair slows with age.

Good nutrition supports tissue repair, while a lack of protein, vitamins, or minerals can slow healing. Conditions like diabetes reduce blood flow and immunity, and smoking limits oxygen supply—making it harder for the wound to heal properly.

Infection, Wound Complications, Re-opening

Of course, complications can derail even the most straightforward healing trajectory. Infection introduces bacteria that damage tissue and trigger prolonged inflammation, setting back your timeline by weeks. 

Wound dehiscence, or reopening, essentially resets the healing clock back to day one and may require additional interventions to achieve closure.

Quality of Suture Technique

Beyond these biological factors, the quality of suture technique matters tremendously in determining outcomes. Proper tension distribution prevents tissue strangulation while maintaining adequate approximation. 

Appropriate needle selection minimizes trauma, and suitable suture materials matched to tissue type and wound location support optimal healing.

Aftercare Compliance

Finally, aftercare compliance determines whether healing proceeds smoothly or faces preventable setbacks. 

Inadequate moisture balance can lead to excessive drying or maceration, poor hygiene invites infection, and excessive stress on the wound site from premature activity disrupts the delicate repair process unfolding beneath the surface.

Warning Signs, Complications & When to Seek Medical Help

While most stitches heal without incident, it's crucial to recognize when something's wrong. Watch for these red flags that indicate you need medical attention:

• Signs of infection — Increasing redness spreading beyond the wound, swelling that worsens instead of improves, pus or cloudy drainage, fever above 100.4°F
• Wound dehiscence — Wound edges separating or opening, especially if you can see deeper tissue layers
• Excessive bleeding — Continued bleeding that doesn't stop with gentle pressure, or sudden bleeding from a previously stable wound
• Non-healing wounds — No improvement after expected timeframes, or wounds that seem stuck in the inflammatory phase
• Hypertrophic scars or keloids — Raised, thickened scars that extend beyond the original wound borders or grow larger over time
• Delayed healing — Healing that extends well beyond expected windows without clear progress

FAQs

Does it hurt to get stitches out?

Most people feel only minor discomfort during stitch removal—nothing like the pain of the original injury. The sensation is typically described as a slight pulling or brief sting rather than actual pain. Your provider may apply a numbing cream beforehand if you're particularly sensitive, though this is rarely necessary for straightforward removals.

Can you leave stitches in longer than 10 days?

It depends entirely on the location and type of suture being used. Some stitches are meant to stay longer—areas over joints often need 12–14 days for adequate healing. However, leaving facial stitches beyond 5 days may increase scarring risk. Always follow your healthcare provider's specific removal timeline rather than general guidelines you find online.

Can you shower with stitches?

Generally yes, after the first 24–48 hours, though you should avoid soaking the wound in water. Brief showers with gentle patting dry are usually fine, but always confirm with your provider since some wounds require staying completely dry. Avoid harsh soaps directly on the stitches, and never scrub the area.

Can you swim with stitches?

Avoid swimming until your stitches are removed and the wound has fully closed. Pool water contains chlorine and bacteria that can cause irritation or infection, while lakes and seas carry even higher risks. Soaking the area can also soften the skin and weaken the closure. Wait until your wound is fully healed and your doctor says it’s safe before swimming again.

Is getting stitches considered surgery?

Not usually. Stitching a simple cut is considered a minor procedure, not surgery. However, if stitches are used during an operation or involve deeper tissues, it counts as part of a surgical procedure. The difference mainly matters for medical records and insurance, not for healing.

Heal Safely and Perfect Your Technique with the Artagia Med Suture Practice Kit

For medical students and healthcare professionals looking to master suturing techniques, The Artagia Med Advanced Suture Practice Kit provides realistic training scenarios. It’s designed with durable, high-quality suture materials, making it ideal for classroom instruction, clinical skill development, and at-home practice. 

This advanced kit helps users refine essential skills such as tension control, knot tying, and tissue handling before working with real patients.

Order now and start mastering your suturing skills with confidence.