what happens if you leave stitches in too long

Leaving stitches in too long can cause the skin to grow around them, making removal harder and more uncomfortable, and it can increase the chance of scarring, skin marks, irritation, or infection.

What can happen

• More scarring or “track marks.” The stitches can leave visible marks if they stay in past the recommended time.

• Harder removal. Skin may grow over the sutures, which can make taking them out more difficult.

• Higher infection risk. Prolonged contact can irritate the area and raise the risk of local infection.

• Tissue irritation or damage. The area can become tender, red, puffy, or inflamed.

What to do

• Follow the removal timing your clinician gave you. Timing varies by body area, and examples range from about 4–5 days on the face to 10–14 days on fingers, toes, or joints.

• If you missed the removal window, book care soon. A clinician can remove them safely and check the wound.

• Get medical advice promptly if you notice redness, swelling, fever, worsening pain, or discharge. Those can be signs of infection.

Important note

If your stitches are dissolvable , they are meant to break down on their own and usually do not need removal.

TL;DR: Too-long stitches can lead to scarring, skin embedding, pain, and infection risk, so they should be removed on schedule.