How Long After Stitches Can I Swim?

We are frequently confronting situations that we did not anticipate in life. We can become agitated and anxious as a result of breaking news stories. Have you ever been entangled in an accident that altered your life, even if it was just for a brief period of time?

It’s possible that you decided to drive your vehicle at a high rate of speed, or you were injured while participating in sports, or you were involved in a disaster. Those can lead you to have an open wound, and you may recall how terrible it feels to have an open wound.

Fortunately, there are currently medical methods available to treat open wounds that are practically painless. For today, we will answer your questions regarding stitches, and that includes: “How Long After Stitches Can I Swim?”

Sutures / Stitches

Sutures are medical procedures used to seal wounds, mainly in the skin or other parts of your body, by your doctor. In this instance, your doctor will have to use a needle hooked to a strand of thread to close the wound.

Suturing can be accomplished with a range of readily available materials. Your doctor will select a material that is compatible with the injury or treatment being performed.

Different Types of Wound That Need Stitching

  • Deep, ragged, or gaping wounds.
  • Wounds that travel deep into the tissue, bone, muscle, etc.
  • If you pull the margins of the wound apart, you can see tissue, muscle, nerves, or joint structures.
  • Hand or finger wounds.
  • Scarring on the face, cheeks, or any other place because of cosmetics. Eyelid wounds require care for both cosmetic and functional purposes.
  • Wounds 0.75 inches (20 mm) or deeper (6.5 mm).
  • Bleeding wounds during 15 minutes of continuous pressure.

Question: How Long After Stitches Can I Swim?

Typically, once your stitches have already been dissolved or removed and your incision has healed completely, you must be allowed to swim in the water. Following the healing of a wound, your chance of infection diminishes.

In most cases, stitches can be dissolved between 7 to 10 days post-surgery, though this can vary depending on the nature of the incision. It may take longer for absorbable stitches to disintegrate completely.

It will depend on the kind of procedure you have had. However, you should avoid swimming until after you have completed the following:

Don’t swim unless…

If your doctor, general practitioner, or physical therapist has determined that it is okay for you to do so after your wound has closed, then go ahead. Inquire with your surgeon about just how lengthy the wound will need to heal if the wound is not painful.

Conclusion

Healing time following an operation with stitches depends on your overall health and the surgical technique you had. If you have a large incision, it may take 6 – 8 weeks for it to heal correctly – and whether you have underlying medical conditions, it may take a lot longer.

If the skin is broken, the wound presents bacteria directly into the body, increasing the likelihood of infection. Microorganisms produce infected stitches, and the incision site becomes inflamed and sensitive as a result of the infection. Hence, avoid swimming when you haven’t fully recovered.

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