Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Stitches, staples and clips: when do they come out? | CION Cancer Clinics
Stitches, staples and clips that need removing usually come out within one to two weeks of surgery. Cuts on the face and neck are often ready sooner, and long cuts on the abdomen, back or legs later. Dissolvable stitches and skin glue do not need removing. Your discharge sheet should give your date. This page explains why it varies and what happens on the day. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- When will your stitches, staples or clips come out?
- Which kind of closure is holding your wound?
- What happens between discharge and removal day?
- Should you go back to the hospital or use a clinic near home?
- What do people get wrong about stitches coming out?
- What if the removal date does not seem right for you?
- Common questions about stitches, staples and clips
The short answer
When will your stitches, staples or clips come out?
Stitches, staples and clips that need removing usually come out within one to two weeks of the operation. Dissolvable stitches and skin glue do not need removing at all. Your discharge sheet should say which you have and when they are due.
Why the date depends on where the cut is
Skin with a rich blood supply heals faster. Cuts on the face and neck are usually ready soonest. Cuts on the back, the legs, over a joint, or a long cut across the abdomen usually need longer, because the skin there is under more stretch when you move, sit up or cough. Taking them out too early risks the edges pulling apart.
Why a cancer operation can mean a later date
Chemotherapy or radiotherapy before surgery, steroids, diabetes and a poor appetite can all slow the skin down. Your surgeon may leave closures in a little longer, or take out every other one first and the rest a few days later. That is a normal decision, not a sign that something has gone wrong.
The date on your own discharge sheet comes first. The range above is typical, not a rule for your wound.Know what you have
Which kind of closure is holding your wound?
Look at your discharge sheet or ask the ward before you go home. It changes what you need to arrange.
Stitches that need removing
Knotted threads, often blue or black, sitting on top of the skin. They are cut and pulled out by a nurse or doctor.
Dissolvable stitches
Usually hidden under the skin, with at most a small knot showing. They break down on their own and are not taken out.
Staples
Small metal staples in a line across the cut. They are quick to put in on long wounds and are removed with a special tool.
Skin clips
Similar to staples but with a slightly different shape. They are lifted out with a clip remover in the same way.
Glue and paper strips
Skin glue peels away by itself as the wound heals. Paper strips are usually left to fall off, or taken off when the team says.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistThe pathway
What happens between discharge and removal day?
-
At discharge
Ask three things: what closure you have, the date it is due out, and where it will be done. Write them on the discharge sheet if they are not there already.
-
The days before
Keep the wound clean and dry and look at it each day. If it becomes red, hot, wet or starts to gape, call the ward. Do not wait for the removal date.
-
The appointment
A nurse or doctor checks that the edges are firmly joined before taking anything out. If the wound is not ready, some may be left in and a new date given.
-
Removal itself
Each stitch is snipped and slid out, or each staple or clip is squeezed and lifted. For most wounds this takes a few minutes. You feel a tug or pinch rather than a cut.
-
Straight afterwards
Paper strips are often put across the line for extra support. Keep them on until they loosen. Carry on with gentle care, because the deeper layers are still healing.
Side by side
Should you go back to the hospital or use a clinic near home?
At the surgical hospital
At a clinic or nurse near home
The team who operated sees the wound
Saves a long journey for a short task
Any problem is handled on the spot
Take your discharge summary so they know the operation
Often combined with your follow-up visit
Ask them to call the ward if anything looks wrong
Usually needed for drains or complex wounds
Suits a simple, well-healed cut, if your team agrees
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Commonly believed
What do people get wrong about stitches coming out?
"Leaving them in longer makes the wound stronger."
Closures left well past their date can leave small track marks either side of the scar, can sink into the skin and can become a way in for germs. Strength comes from the tissue healing, not from the thread. Keep to the date you were given.
"Once the stitches are out, the wound has healed."
The surface is closed, but the layers underneath keep strengthening for months. Lifting and straining limits usually carry on after removal. Ask your surgeon when they end for you.
"We can snip them ourselves at home with a clean scissor."
Please do not. It is easy to cut the skin, to leave a piece of thread behind, or to take out stitches from a wound that is not ready. A trained person also checks the wound, which is half the point of the visit.
"If the date is missed, the stitches will dissolve anyway."
Only dissolvable stitches do that. Ordinary stitches, staples and clips stay where they are until someone removes them. If you cannot make the date, call and arrange another.
Did you know
The word "clips" is used for two different things. Skin clips close the cut and come out. Tiny metal clips placed inside the body, on blood vessels or to mark where a tumour was, stay in for life and are not removed. Your scan or operation report may mention either kind.
Being straight with you
What if the removal date does not seem right for you?
If the wound looks red, wet or open on the day, tell the person removing the closures before they start. They may take out only some, or none, and ask the surgical team to look. That is a sensible pause, not a failure.
If you cannot travel back in time
Long journeys from a district, a fever in the family or a shortage of money for travel are real reasons people miss the date. Call the ward before the date rather than after it. The team can often agree for a nurse near home to do it, or give a nearby date that suits you.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you the right date for your wound. That depends on the operation, where the cut is, what treatment you had before surgery and how the skin looks on the day. A range on a website is a guide for your questions, and your surgeon's instruction is the answer.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about stitches, staples and clips
How do I know if my stitches are the dissolvable kind?
Check your discharge sheet or ask the ward before you leave. Dissolvable stitches usually sit under the skin with only a small knot or nothing visible. Knotted threads sitting on top of the skin, staples and clips need removing. If the sheet does not say, call and ask rather than guessing.
Do staples hurt more than stitches when they come out?
Most people find neither very painful. Staples and clips feel like pressure and a brief pinch as the tool squeezes and lifts each one. Stitches feel more like a tug. A tender or swollen wound can make either feel sharper. Tell the nurse if you need a pause.
Can the wound open after the stitches come out?
It is uncommon, but it can happen, especially if the area is under strain or was slow to heal. That is why paper strips are often added and why lifting limits carry on. If the edges start to gape, cover the wound with a clean dressing and call the ward the same day.
Can I shower before the stitches are removed?
Usually yes, once your team says showering is allowed. Keep it short, let water run over the wound rather than aiming at it, and pat dry gently. Avoid soaking in a tub or bucket until the closures are out and the wound has fully closed.
A stitch looks buried in the skin. What should I do?
Do not dig for it. Swelling can make a stitch look sunk in, and it usually becomes reachable as the swelling settles. Point it out at the removal visit. If the area around it is red, hot or leaking, call the ward sooner.
My staples have been in longer than the date. Is that a problem?
A short delay is rarely serious, but do not let it drift. Closures left in far too long can mark the skin and let germs in. Call the ward or a nurse near home and arrange removal as soon as you can. Mention how long it has been.
Will I have a scan problem with metal clips inside me?
Skin staples and clips are removed, so they are not an issue afterwards. Small clips left inside the body are usually safe for scans, but always tell the scan team about any operation and any clips before an MRI. They will check the details from your reports.
What should I do on the day after removal?
Keep the wound clean and dry, and leave any paper strips in place until they loosen. You can usually shower as before. Keep to your lifting limits, wear loose clothing, and keep looking at the scar each day for a while. Call if it reddens, leaks or opens.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
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
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Sources
- NHS — Stitches
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
- American Cancer Society — Cancer 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.
Keep reading
Related pages
Does Stitch Removal Hurt?What removal actually feels like, and what helpsDissolvable Stitches: What to ExpectIf your stitches are the kind that are not taken outLooking After Your Surgical Wound at HomeDaily care until and after removalWound Opening Up After SurgeryWhat to do if the edges pull apart
Talk to us
Not sure when your stitches are due out?
Call the helpline with your discharge summary to hand. We will help you reach the surgical team. One helpline serves every CION centre.