Can I have stitches removed at a clinic? Cost, timing and what to bring
Stitched at a hospital but want the sutures out closer to home? Whether a clinic can do it, which day depending on the wound site, the clinic's price, what to bring, and how to care for the scar afterwards.
Stitched in an emergency room late at night, then handed an appointment to have the sutures out in 7 days at the same hospital far from home. This happens a lot. Any medical clinic can remove stitches to the same standard, as long as you know when and where you were stitched and the wound is healing well. Below is what to know before you come.
Key takeaways
- Stitches can be removed at the clinic. You do not need to return to where they were put in. The doctor checks the wound has healed enough before removing them.
- Timing depends on the site: face 5–7 days, scalp 7–10 days, trunk and arms 10–14 days, legs, joints, palms and soles 14–21 days.
- The clinic charges by wound size: small 100-250 baht, medium 300-600 baht, large 800-1,000 baht, including dressing and materials.
- Bring your appointment slip or a note of the date you were stitched, and come early if the wound is swollen, red, discharging or increasingly painful.
Stitched at a hospital: can a clinic remove them?
Yes. Removal does not have to be done by the same doctor or at the same place. The doctor removing them needs to know the date of suturing, the site, the number of stitches, the type of suture (absorbable or not), and whether there were any problems in between. This is usually on the appointment slip or the discharge summary from the emergency room. If you have neither, photograph the wound on day one and remember the date.
Wounds from major surgery, wounds with drains, or wounds the surgeon specifically wants to review should go back to the original appointment, because the operating surgeon needs to assess more than just the stitches.
Which day, by wound site
| Site | Typical timing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Face | 5–7 days | Excellent blood supply, heals fast; early removal reduces stitch marks |
| Scalp | 7–10 days | Heals fast but under tension from movement |
| Trunk, chest, abdomen | 10–14 days | Thicker skin, tension from movement |
| Arms, back of hand | 10–14 days | Frequent movement |
| Legs, feet | 14–21 days | Poorer blood supply, slower healing |
| Over joints (knee, elbow), palms, soles | 14–21 days | Very high tension; early removal risks the wound opening |
These are averages. Older adults, people with diabetes, people on steroids, or wounds that have been infected may need longer. The doctor checks that the edges have knitted with no gaps before removing anything, and in a wound that is not quite ready may remove alternate stitches first and the rest 2–3 days later.
Good to know: Leaving stitches too long has downsides too: sutures left in place cause permanent track marks and raise the risk of infection around them. If you are past the date, do not wait any longer. Come in.
What happens at the clinic
- Tell reception the date and site when you register, and show the appointment slip if you have it
- The doctor or nurse takes down the dressing, cleans the wound and assesses healing; if it is not ready it is re-dressed and a new date set
- Each stitch is cut and lifted out with sterile scissors and forceps. It takes a few minutes and feels like a slight tug
- Adhesive strips (Steri-Strips) are applied where the wound is under tension, and aftercare explained
- Usually done in a single visit without an appointment, but a LINE message that you are coming lets us prepare the room
Cost
Suture removal at Mongkhondee Clinic is charged together with the dressing by wound size: small 100-250 baht, medium 300-600 baht, large 800-1,000 baht, including dressing materials and nursing fee. If the doctor needs to assess a complication there is a separate consultation fee, always quoted first. See all fees on the prices page and the service at wound care and suture removal.
Caring for the scar after removal
- Leave adhesive strips until they fall off on their own, about 5–7 days; do not peel them
- You can shower over the wound 24–48 hours after removal; pat dry. No soaking or swimming for 2 weeks
- Avoid activities that pull on the wound for another 2–3 weeks. A healed wound has only 10–20% of normal skin strength at first
- Apply sunscreen or keep the scar covered from the sun for at least 3–6 months so it does not darken
- Once fully closed, massage gently with moisturiser twice a day to soften and flatten the scar; silicone gel helps people prone to raised scars
Come early if you notice
- Redness, swelling, warmth or pain increasing after day 2–3 instead of settling
- Pus or cloudy, smelly discharge
- Fever, or a red streak running from the wound up the limb
- The wound edges pulling apart, or a stitch coming out early
- Numbness, weakness, or inability to move the part beyond the wound
Good to know: Read more on infected wounds and which wounds need stitches at Which wounds need stitches and which can you dress yourself.
Frequently asked questions
No anaesthetic is needed. It feels like a gentle tug for each stitch and takes a few minutes. Young children are often more frightened than hurt; a parent can stay with them.
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Sources
- Laceration Repair: A Practical Approach American Family Physician
- Stitches (Sutures): Care Instructions MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
This content is general information and does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personal advice from a doctor. Published 20 September 2026
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