Staple Removal: What It Is and What to Expect
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
Which doctor performs staple removal?
A primary care doctor (family medicine or internal medicine) usually performs staple removal, taking out the metal staples used to close a wound or surgical incision once it has healed enough. Staples are usually removed at a doctor's office or hospital.
What it is
Medical staples are metal clips used to close surgical incisions that have fairly straight edges. They are made of special metal and are not the same as office staples. They often provide the strongest closure.
Your provider should tell you when you need to have a wound check and the staples removed. How long staples stay in depends on where the wound is and how fast you heal.
Why a doctor might recommend it
Staples are one way to close an incision.
Other ways to close an incision include the following.
- Stitches on the outside of the body.
- Stitches under the skin, on the inside of the body.
- Small sticky strips called Steri-strips, which fall off when the incision has healed.
- Skin adhesive, a liquid film that a doctor puts on the wound to hold its edges together.
How to prepare
Until the staples are removed, you care for the wound at home. Common steps include the following.
- Keep the area completely dry for 24 to 48 hours after staples are placed.
- Then you can start to gently wash around the staple site 1 to 2 times daily with cool water and soap.
- Do not wash or rub the staples directly.
- Dab the site dry with a clean towel, and do not rub the area.
- Prevent the wound from reopening by keeping activity to a minimum.
- If your provider does not tell you when to have the staples removed, contact your provider for an appointment.
What happens during it
Your provider checks the wound and removes the staples. This usually takes place at a doctor's office or hospital.
The usual time until removal depends on where the wound is.
- Face: 3 to 5 days.
- Scalp: 7 to 10 days.
- Arms: 7 to 10 days.
- Trunk or torso: 10 to 14 days.
- Legs: 10 to 14 days.
- Tops of hands or feet: 10 to 14 days.
- Palms or soles: 14 to 21 days.
Recovery
You can take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, as directed for pain at the wound site. Follow up with your provider to make sure the wound is healing properly.
Contact your provider right away in these cases.
- Redness, pain, or yellow pus around the wound could mean an infection.
- Foul odor or pus coming from the wound is a reason to call.
- Wound tissue that changes from pink to white, yellow, or black in color is a reason to call.
- Increased swelling around the wound is a reason to call.
- New numbness or tingling around the wound area or beyond it is a reason to call.
- A fever is a reason to call.
- Pain at the site that does not go away, even after taking pain medicine, is a reason to call.
- A wound that has split open is a reason to call.
- Staples that have come out too soon are a reason to call.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing, chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, fainting, or bleeding that will not stop.
Risks and side effects
There may be some redness around the staples for the first few days. If the redness increases, it may be a sign of a wound infection.
Who performs it
Your provider takes out the staples. This is usually done at a doctor's office or hospital.
Common questions
Does staple removal hurt?
Pain at the wound site can be treated with pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, taken as directed. Contact your provider if the pain does not go away, even after taking pain medicine.
How quickly can I be seen for staple removal?
Contact your provider for an appointment if you were not told when the staples should come out. Staples come out after a set time that depends on where the wound is, as the time list above shows.
How long do staples stay in before removal?
How long staples stay in depends on where the wound is and how fast you heal. It can be as short as 3 days for the face. It can be as long as 21 days for the palms or soles. Your provider should tell you when you need to have the staples removed.
Sources
- American College of Surgeons - Wound Home Skills Kit: Surgical Wounds
- MedlinePlus - Laceration - sutures or staples - at home
- MedlinePlus - Incision closures
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
