Many people are concerned about red, firm, raised scars that appear after stitching an injury or surgical site and removing the stitches, as time passes. These so-called stitched scars can occur due to the skin's regenerative response, no matter how precisely the sutures are done. The most common initial question ultimately boils down to one: "Can I make this mark fainter?" To answer directly, with staged management tailored to the scar's nature and timing, we can help them become noticeably lighter.
Why Do Stitched Scars Form?
When skin is torn due to trauma or incised during surgery, the area is sutured. Even with good suturing, the suture site can widen, leaving hypertrophic or keloid-type stitched scars.
If suturing intended to minimize scars instead leaves a large, unwanted mark, the concern can be significant. Therefore, we will sequentially explain how to best improve stitched scars after suture surgery and what treatments are helpful for existing scars.
Scars Don't End When Stitches Are Removed
For those sensitive to scars, early scar treatment to reduce marks is most important. Stitches are usually removed 1-2 weeks after an injury and suturing.
At this point, skin regeneration at the suture site may appear complete, but in reality, skin cells continue to regenerate for several months, or even up to a year. If regeneration occurs excessively during this process, a stitched scar will remain.
Core Principle of Early Scar Treatment
Preventing excessive skin regeneration is the basic principle of early scar treatment.
Unnecessary blood vessels that cause excessive regeneration can be constricted and removed with a vascular laser like Vbeam Prima, which significantly helps prevent excessive stitched scars.
Treatment can begin immediately after stitch removal. While a slight delay doesn't cause major problems, it's best to start as soon as possible.
If you are concerned about a suture site, also review Cosmetic Surgery Scar Management Information and inquire about any questions via Stitched Scar Treatment Chat Consultation.
Why Scars Differ by Area
The main reason stitched scars remain most often after suture surgery is skin tension. Areas with strong skin tension tend to regenerate excessively.
Therefore, areas with strong tension, such as the arms, legs, and torso, are prone to scars widening and leaving large marks. Conversely, areas with thin skin like the face have weaker tension, so stitched scars are relatively less common.
| Area | Skin Tension | Scar Tendency |
|---|---|---|
| Arms, Legs, Torso | Strong | Prone to widening and large scars |
| Face | Relatively Weak | Relatively less common |
| Eyelids | Weakest | Reported as the area with the fewest scars |
The eyelids, the thinnest skin on our body, have weak tension, so scars are less common than in other areas. Therefore, if suture surgery was performed on an area with strong skin tension, more aggressive treatment is necessary.
Scar Reconstruction Requires Caution
Another case where significant skin tension occurs is with suture scars from Surgical Scar Revision or tissue expansion, where existing scars are removed and re-sutured. The process of surgically removing and re-suturing a scar can actually lead to a larger scar, so careful consideration is important.
4 Things to Remember for Existing Stitched Scars
In the clinic, we see many people who come in after their marks have already settled. In such cases, remembering the following four points can help achieve satisfactory results:
- Reduce red marks as quickly as possible with a vascular laser
- Avoid excessive exercise or movements that put tension on the suture site
- Consistently use scar ointments or patches in conjunction
- If marks remain after the redness subsides, consider a second stage of treatment with a regenerative laser
The basic flow involves quickly reducing red marks with a vascular laser, refraining from activities that put tension on the suture site, and using scar ointments or patches in conjunction. If marks are still prominent after the redness has sufficiently subsided, a second stage of treatment will be performed with a skin regenerative laser such as Ultrapulse Encore or StarLux.
The Goal: As Close to Normal Skin as Possible
However, it is difficult to return a scar to the exact same state as the original skin. It is also good to understand in advance that the degree of improvement may vary from person to person.
Nevertheless, if you set the goal of improving it as close as possible to normal skin and continue treatment consistently, it can improve enough to significantly reduce daily stress. If you have similar concerns, information on Keloid Scars or Triamcinolone Scar Injection may also be helpful. We recommend starting treatment as early as possible for scars.
The most accurate direction is determined after directly examining the condition of the scar. If you are curious about the right treatment for your scar, please feel free to inquire below.
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Sang-Joo Lee, Chief Director · Board-Certified Dermatologist He is a board-certified dermatologist who has long treated scars and pigmentation. He is the Chief Director of Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon, an adjunct professor at the Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, and will serve as the President of the Korean Dermatological Association in 2026. View Chief Director Sang-Joo Lee's Profile · First published 2024-11-25 · Last reviewed July 23, 2026
This content is general medical information, and the condition of scars and the degree of improvement may vary from person to person. Please consult with a board-certified dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.