Stitches (Sutures)

According to medical guidelines, you likely need stitches if your cut is deeper than 1/4 inch, has edges that gape open and won't stay together, won't stop bleeding after 10 minutes of direct pressure, or is located on your face, hands, joints, or other cosmetically important areas. Cuts longer than 1/2 inch typically benefit from professional closure. When in doubt, it's best to have a medical provider evaluate the wound, as proper closure within the first 6-8 hours leads to better healing and less scarring.

Our medical providers use local anesthetic to numb the area completely before suturing, so you should feel minimal to no pain during the actual stitching process. You may feel a brief pinch or burning sensation when the anesthetic is injected, but this subsides quickly. After the procedure, you may experience some soreness as the anesthetic wears off, which can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers as recommended by your provider.

Yes, we welcome walk-ins for suture services daily from 8am to 8pm at both our Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart locations. However, it's important to seek care as soon as possible after injury - wounds are ideally closed within 6-8 hours for optimal healing and infection prevention. If your injury is life-threatening or involves severe bleeding that won't stop, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Suture removal timing depends on the wound location and healing progress. Facial sutures typically come out in 5-7 days to minimize scarring. Sutures on the scalp, chest, or back usually stay in for 7-10 days. Sutures over joints or high-tension areas like knees may remain for 10-14 days. We'll provide specific instructions during your visit and can schedule your suture removal appointment. Some sutures are absorbable and don't require removal - your provider will let you know which type you receive.

Please bring your photo ID, insurance card if applicable, and a list of current medications and allergies. If you know your tetanus vaccination history, bring that information as well. It's helpful to have the wound covered with a clean cloth or bandage during transport. If the injury involved a foreign object or occurred in a contaminated environment, bring details about the circumstances to help us assess infection risk.

Antibiotics are not routinely needed for all sutured wounds. Our medical providers follow evidence-based guidelines to determine when antibiotics are appropriate, typically for wounds with high infection risk such as animal bites, heavily contaminated wounds, puncture wounds, or wounds in patients with compromised immune systems. If prescribed, it's important to complete the full course of antibiotics even if the wound looks healed.

Yes, we can remove sutures that were placed at another facility. Please bring any discharge instructions or wound care information you received when the stitches were placed. This helps us determine the appropriate timing for removal and ensures proper follow-up care. We can also evaluate the wound healing progress and address any concerns you may have.

According to CDC guidelines, watch for these infection warning signs: increasing redness or red streaks extending from the wound, increased warmth around the area, swelling that worsens after the first 2-3 days, pus or cloudy drainage, increasing pain rather than gradual improvement, fever above 100.4°F, or foul odor from the wound. If you notice any of these symptoms, return to urgent care immediately for evaluation. Early treatment of wound infections prevents more serious complications.