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Make You Well Richardson
Book Appointment
Patient Portal
Make You Well Richardson

Sutures and Stitches Richardson

Sutures

Sutures are required when patients receive an injury known as a laceration. The providers at Make You Well are highly skilled in repairing this type of injury, by “stitching” up the wound with special threads called sutures. Sutures, also known as stitches, are sterile surgical threads used to repair cuts. They are also commonly used to close incisions from surgery. Some wounds may require an alternative method like metal staples instead of sutures. It all depends on the wound.

Application by the providers at Make You Well generally involves using a needle with an attached length of thread. There are numerous types of suture which differ by needle shape and size as well as thread material and characteristics. Selection of surgical suture should be determined by the characteristics and location of the wound or the specific body tissues being approximated.

The provider will first numb the area with a numbing agent called lidocaine. Then they will sew up the wound so that proper healing can take place. 8 to 10 days later, the stitches are removed after the skin has had proper time to bond to itself.

There are many different complex lacerations that the staff at Make You Well is well prepared to access and repair. If you have had an accident where a laceration has occurred, contact the Make You Well office in Richardson immediately to have the injury repaired.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A wound likely needs stitches if it is longer than half an inch, has jagged or gaping edges that don’t close on their own, is deep enough to see yellow fatty tissue, is on the face or over a joint, or won’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes of firm pressure.
Your provider will clean and numb the wound with local anesthesia, then close it with sutures (stitches) or, in some cases, medical staples or skin closure strips. You will receive wound care instructions and information about when to return for suture removal.
The timing depends on the wound location. Face sutures are usually removed in 3–5 days; scalp sutures in 7–10 days; arm or leg sutures in 10–14 days. Always follow your provider’s specific instructions.
Signs of infection include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pain around the wound, pus or discharge, a bad odor, or fever. Return to Make You Well Richardson or seek care promptly if you notice any of these signs.