Does it hurt when removing stitches after surgery?
Generally, surgical suture removal refers to the removal of sutures after surgery. Whether suture removal is painful mainly depends on the surgical site and the wound healing condition. If the surgical site is a part of the body with thick skin, such as the limbs, or the wound heals well, the pain is usually mild. However, if the surgical site is an area with thin skin, such as the face, or if the wound heals poorly, the pain might be more significant. A detailed explanation is as follows:
Due to the relatively thick skin and less dense nerve distribution in areas such as the limbs, patients typically experience only mild pulling sensations or pain during suture removal after surgery. Additionally, when the wound heals well, the surrounding tissues have relatively weak adhesion to the sutures, resulting in less pulling during suture removal after surgery, and thus the pain is generally mild.
The facial skin is thin and has a rich nerve supply, so more noticeable pain may be felt during suture removal after surgery. Moreover, if the wound heals poorly—for example, with signs of infection, redness, swelling, or pus—the tissue is in an inflamed state and more sensitive to stimuli. Suture removal at this time may irritate the inflamed tissue, leading to increased pain.
After suture removal following surgery, it is important to follow the doctor's instructions for regular wound checkups to ensure proper healing and to prevent infection and other complications.