Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Does stitch removal hurt? | CION Cancer Clinics
Stitch removal usually hurts far less than people fear. Most feel a tug or a quick pinch as each stitch is snipped and slid out, and staples feel more like pressure. For a short wound it is over in a few minutes. A swollen wound or a tight stitch can feel sharper. This page explains what happens, what helps, and when pain means something else. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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The short answer
What does stitch removal actually feel like?
For most people, stitch removal hurts far less than they feared. You usually feel a tug or a quick pinch as each stitch is cut and slid out, and for a short wound it is over within a few minutes.
With ordinary stitches
The nurse lifts the knot with fine tweezers, snips the thread close to the skin and draws it out. You feel a small pull, sometimes a tickle as the thread passes through, and now and then a sharper sting. Nothing is being cut except the thread.
With staples or clips
A small remover slides under each staple and squeezes it so the ends lift out of the skin. Most people describe pressure and a brief pinch. On a long abdominal wound there are many of them, so it takes longer, but each one is over quickly.
Why some people feel more than others
A wound that is still swollen or tender, stitches that have been in a long time, or dried blood crusted over the knots can all make removal sharper. Fear tightens the muscles and makes every pull feel bigger. On the other hand, the skin next to a cancer operation scar is often numb, and many people feel very little there at all.
On the day
What happens at the removal appointment?
A look first
The nurse or doctor checks that the wound edges are firmly joined and there is no redness or leaking. If the wound is not ready, some or all of the stitches may stay in for now.
Cleaning
The area is cleaned, and any crust over the knots is softened with sterile water or saline. This makes each stitch slide out more easily and is a good moment to say you are nervous.
One at a time
Each stitch is snipped and pulled, or each staple lifted. On some wounds every other one comes out first, so the team can check the edges stay together before removing the rest.
Support strips
Paper strips are often laid across the line to support it. You are told how to care for the scar, and when to call if something changes.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistMaking it easier
What can make stitch removal hurt less?
None of these are complicated, and most people never need more than one or two of them.
Ask about your usual pain tablet
Ask the ward whether you can take the pain medicine you were already prescribed, such as paracetamol, a little before the visit. Do not add a new medicine on your own.
Keep the wound clean beforehand
A wound kept clean and dry has less crust over the knots. Do not pick at scabs to make it easier, because that can open the surface.
Breathe slowly and look away
Slow breathing out relaxes the muscles around the wound. Many people find it easier not to watch. Talking to the nurse or a family member helps the minutes pass.
Ask for a pause
You can say stop at any point. A short break costs nothing, and the nurse would rather know than have you hold your breath through it.
Also worth saying
- If one spot feels sharper than the rest
- If you feel faint or dizzy
Commonly feared
What do people fear about removal that is not true?
"Pulling out the stitches will tear the wound open."
Stitches are only removed once the edges are joined, and the nurse checks this first. If the wound is not ready, the stitches are left in. Paper strips are then added for extra support.
"They will need to give an injection to numb it."
Usually not. Removal is quick enough that a numbing injection would hurt more than the stitches do. It is used only now and then, for a stitch that is buried deep or a wound that needs more work.
"It hurt a lot going in, so it will hurt coming out."
The stitches went in while you were under anaesthesia, so what you remember is the wound pain after surgery. Removal is a different and much smaller thing, done on skin that has healed.
"My elderly mother will not be able to bear it."
Older people usually manage removal well. What helps is a family member beside them, a clear explanation before each step and permission to pause. Tell the nurse about any memory problems or anxiety.
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Afterwards
What is normal once the stitches are out?
- Small red dots where each stitch or staple sat, fading over weeks
- A little soreness along the line for a day or so
- A tiny spot of blood from one or two holes
- Itching as the surface finishes healing
- A firm ridge under the scar that softens slowly
- Numb patches near the scar, which may last a long time
Did you know
Numbness around the scar is common after cancer surgery, because small skin nerves are cut along with the tissue. It is one reason many people feel less during stitch removal than they expected. Feeling often returns slowly, though some patches stay numb.
Being straight with you
When is the pain more than a normal pinch?
A sharp sting that fades in seconds is normal. Pain that keeps building after removal, or a wound that is hot, swollen and throbbing, is not what removal causes. That points to something else, such as an infection, and the surgical team should look the same day.
When a stitch is tight or buried
Swelling can pull a stitch into the skin so the knot is hard to reach. Removing it may take a little longer and feel sharper. The nurse may wait for the swelling to settle, or ask a doctor to help. Do not try to reach it yourself at home.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you how removal will feel for you. That depends on the wound, how long the stitches have been in, and how your body reacts. It also cannot tell whether your wound is ready. The person looking at it on the day is the one who decides that.
If you are dreading the visit, say so when you book it. The nurse can plan a little extra time.Questions we are asked
Common questions about stitch removal
How long does stitch removal take?
For a short wound, a few minutes. A long wound with many stitches or staples takes longer, and a wound where every other one is taken out first may need a second short visit. Most of the time is spent looking and cleaning, not pulling. Allow extra time for waiting at the clinic.
Does removing staples hurt more than stitches?
Not usually. Staples feel like pressure and a pinch as the tool squeezes each one, while stitches feel like a tug. People differ in which they find easier. A swollen or tender wound makes either feel sharper, so tell the nurse if one spot is sore.
Can I take a painkiller before the appointment?
Ask the ward first. Many people are told they can take their usual prescribed pain medicine, such as paracetamol, a little before the visit. Do not start a new medicine or change a dose on your own, especially if you take blood thinners or have kidney or liver problems.
Why did one stitch hurt much more than the others?
That stitch may have been tighter, sat in a swollen spot, or had crust stuck to it. Skin in some places is also more sensitive than in others. A single sharper stitch is common. If that spot stays painful, red or leaking afterwards, show it to the team.
Is it normal to bleed a little after removal?
A tiny spot of blood from one or two stitch holes is common and stops with light pressure from a clean pad. Bleeding that keeps coming, soaks a dressing, or comes with the wound opening is not normal. Press on it with a clean cloth and call the ward.
I faint at the sight of blood. What can I do?
Tell the nurse before they start. You can lie down rather than sit, look away, and have a family member talk to you. Eat something light and drink water beforehand. Fainting from fear is common and nothing to be embarrassed about, and the team will simply work around it.
Can my child or a relative be with me?
Usually yes. Having someone familiar beside you often makes it easier, especially for older patients. Ask when you arrive. The person with you should wash their hands and avoid touching the wound. In a small room, the nurse may ask them to stand to one side.
When can I shower after the stitches are out?
Usually the same day or the next, unless the team tells you otherwise. Keep it short and pat the scar dry. Leave paper strips on until they loosen. Avoid soaking in a tub or bucket until the wound is fully closed and the team has said it is fine.
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Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
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Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- NHS — Stitches
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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