The injured area will continue to swell for the next 8-12 hours. Consider ice packing the wound and elevating the injured limb to help decrease swelling.
Keep the wound clean and dry. Avoid water making contact with the wound. Bandages should be changed immediately if wet. Cover the sutured area with waterproof coverings such as a plastic bag during showers.
If the wound is near a joint, try to minimize joint motion to prevent further bleeding and pain from wound irritation.
If the wound is on the face and neck, use the prescribed topical agents instead of iodine or pigmented ointments to prevent skin discoloration.
Return to the clinic as scheduled, usually 2 days after injury, for wound healing evaluation.
Depending on the nature and healing conditions of the wound, most sutures may be removed after 7 days.
There may be residual foreign body that cannot be completely removed (e.g. wood splinter, tiny glass pieces, specks of sand). See a doctor if there is persistent foreign body sensation after stitch removal or signs of infection such as increasing redness, rapid swelling, intolerable pain, pus and discharge, or fever.