How long do I keep the dressing on after a skin excision?

Follow your clinic's specific instructions, but a common pattern is to keep the original dressing dry and intact for the first 24–48 hours, then switch to a simple dressing change as advised. Avoid submerging the wound (baths, swimming) until the sutures are out and the clinic says it's healed enough.

When do my stitches come out?

It depends on the site: face and eyelid sutures are often removed around 3–5 days, the scalp, neck and ears around 5–10 days, the arms and trunk around 7–14 days, and the back, hands, legs and feet around 10–14 days or more. Your clinic will confirm your specific removal date — these are typical ranges, not a fixed rule.

When should I call my GP after a skin excision?

Call sooner than your scheduled review if you notice spreading redness, warmth or swelling; pus or smelly discharge; a fever over 38°C; bleeding that won't stop with 10 minutes of firm pressure; worsening pain after the first day; or the wound edges separating or sutures coming loose.

Post-Excision Wound Care — Day 1 to 14

Had a skin spot cut out or a wound stitched up? Here's what to do, day by day, and when to call your GP.

📋 Source: Standard wound-healing references (Trott AT, Wounds and Lacerations, 4th ed., 2012) as used elsewhere on this site's suture-removal guidance.
General information only — your clinic's specific instructions for your wound always take priority over this page.

🇦🇺 Australia

Day by day

Day 1

Keep the original dressing dry and intact for at least 24–48 hours, unless your clinic tells you otherwise. Some oozing or light bruising around the site is normal. Take simple pain relief (e.g. paracetamol) as needed.

Day 2–3

If advised to change the dressing yourself, wash hands first, gently clean around (not directly over, unless instructed) the wound, and apply a fresh dressing. Watch for increasing redness, swelling or pain — some is expected, but it should not be getting worse.

Day 4–7

Most wounds settle into a steady healing pattern by now — redness and swelling should be reducing, not increasing. Avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting if the wound is under tension (trunk, limbs) as this can pull sutures. Keep the area out of direct sun — this matters for scarring.

Day 8–14

This is the typical window for suture removal, depending on body site (see table below). Your clinic will tell you the exact date. After sutures come out, the wound is still healing underneath — avoid heavy strain on the area for a further 1–2 weeks, especially over joints or the back.

Suture removal timing by body site

Site	Typical removal
Face / eyelid	3–5 days
Ear / neck	5–7 days
Scalp (incl. staples)	7–10 days
Arms	7–10 days
Chest / trunk / abdomen	10–14 days
Hands	10–14 days
Lower leg / foot	10–14+ days
Back / over a joint	12–14 days

These are typical ranges, not a fixed rule — your clinic sets the actual removal date for your wound. For a tool that calculates your exact return date, see the Wound Aftercare Card linked below.

⚠️ Call your GP sooner — or go to ED — if you notice:

Spreading redness, warmth or swelling around the wound
Pus or discharge that's yellow, green, or smells bad
Fever over 38°C
Bleeding that doesn't stop with 10 minutes of firm pressure
Pain that's getting worse, not better, after the first day
Sutures coming loose or breaking, or the wound edges gaping open

If in doubt, call the clinic — don't wait for your scheduled appointment if the wound looks or feels wrong.