Stitch removal 5 days after nose surgery — if the columella looks gapped, before worrying about contracture

2024. 3. 20.

If the columella area looks gapped after stitch removal 5 days after nose surgery and ointment stings — organized why early confirmation matters when the wound looks open, plus care principles, as a Q&A note.

Key points

Stitch removal timing differs by suture location·thread type·wound state — 5 days can't be concluded as appropriate for every case.
A little blood showing right after stitch removal or a stinging feel when applying ointment are reactions that can appear while the wound is still healing.
If the columella looks gapped, what comes first is early confirmation at the surgical hospital of whether the wound has actually opened and whether there are infection signals — before worrying about contracture.

"I had my stitches removed 5 days after nose surgery, and the columella area seems slightly gapped."

In the period when the surgical site still feels unfamiliar, even small changes look big. The columella especially is a spot where the incision line shows externally — so if a gap-like space appears after stitch removal, worry easily follows: "could bacteria get in through this gap and cause contracture?"

This article organizes that question and answer posted on the Q&A note.

What situation is this question about?

The situation the asker wrote is as follows.

Stitches were removed 5 days after nose surgery.
In photos the columella part looks slightly gapped.
There's a stinging feeling when applying ointment.
A little blood came out right after stitch removal, but not now.
They heard contracture comes from bacterial infection, so they worry bacteria might enter through the gap.
The hospital guided them to visit Monday — they wonder if it'll be okay until then.

Here the worry splits into two branches. One is whether the stitches were removed too early, and the other is whether the gap-looking space might lead to infection.

Is it okay to remove stitches 5 days after surgery?

There are cases where stitches are removed 5 days after surgery, but the appropriate timing differs by suture location·thread type·wound state.

The bit of blood that showed then stopped right after removal, and the remaining stinging feel when applying medicine, are reactions that can appear while the wound is still healing. What made the asker anxious and stressed was mostly these two sensations.

The bothering part	How it's viewed
Stitch removal 5 days after surgery	Appropriateness of timing is judged by the medical team who directly saw the surgical method and wound state
A little blood right after removal (stopped now)	Can be viewed as a reaction in the period when the wound is healing
Stinging when applying ointment	A sensation that can appear in the same period
Columella looks slightly gapped	Don't conclude contracture from photos alone — check wound gaping·inflammation early

Does a gap-looking space cause contracture nose?

If the columella looks gapped, contracture or infection possibility can't be ruled out from photos alone. Rather than deciding on your own whether to wait until the appointment date, send photos to the surgical hospital and confirm wound gaping·infection status and the visit timing.

What matters here is the basis of judgment. How a wound is healing is hard to confirm from a single photo. The degree of gaping, surrounding tissue state, and the pattern of continuing pain are parts distinguishable only by direct examination — so visiting the hospital on the guided date for treatment is the surest method. What to monitor in the period right after surgery can also be seen in the rhinoplasty recovery guide.

What do you do until the hospital visit?

If like the asker the next appointment is a few days away, the order is simple.

Follow the care instructions as guided — don't arbitrarily change methods the hospital taught, like ointment application.
Don't keep touching or spreading the wound site — the very touch of checking can be an irritant.
Record changes if any — noting whether blood shows again or whether the stinging decreases or increases makes explaining at the visit easier.
Visit on the scheduled date — parts needing direct visual confirmation get resolved fastest at the appointment.

Summary — the size of worry and the size of the situation differ

Whether stitch removal 5 days after surgery is appropriate differs by wound and thread type. Blood and stinging can occur during recovery, but if the columella looks gapped, don't be reassured by photos alone — get early confirmation at the surgical hospital.

If you want your current state visually confirmed, you can ask first via 1:1 video consultation — and above all, visiting the hospital on the guided date for treatment is the surest.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.

When are nose surgery stitches usually removed?

Stitch removal timing differs by surgical method, suture location, and wound recovery state. It can't be concluded as appropriate by the number 5 days alone — if the wound looks gapped after removal, sending photos to the surgical hospital or confirming an earlier visit is safer than waiting until the appointment.

Is a little blood after removal and stinging when applying medicine a problem?

A bit of blood showing then stopping right after removal, and stinging felt when applying ointment, are reactions that can appear while the wound is healing. Still, if symptoms continue or worsen, contacting the hospital without waiting for the appointment is better.

If the columella looks gapped, does it become contracture nose?

In this asker's photos, no findings warranting contracture worry were seen. The degree of gaping and wound state are hard to judge from photos alone — visiting on the guided date for direct confirmation is most accurate.

Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.

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