This condition may be caused by:

• A motor vehicle crash.

• A sports injury.

• A violent attack.

• A fall.

Common symptoms of this condition include:

• An obvious cut on the face.

• Bleeding.

• Pain.

• Swelling.

• Bruising.

• A change in the appearance of the face.

Treatment for a facial laceration depends on how severe and deep the wound is. It also depends on the risk for infection. First, your healthcare provider will clean the wound to prevent infection. Then, your healthcare provider will decide whether to close the wound. This depends on how deep the laceration is and how long ago your injury happened. If there is an increased risk of infection, the wound will not be closed.

• If your wound needs to be closed:

  • Your healthcare provider will use stitches (sutures), skin glue (skin adhesive), or skin adhesive strips to repair the laceration.

  • Your healthcare provider may numb the area around your wound by injecting a numbing medicine in and around your laceration before doing the sutures.

  • Torn skin edges or dead skin may be removed.

  • If sutures are used, the laceration may be closed in layers. Absorbable sutures will be used for deep tissues and muscle. Removable sutures will be used to close the skin.

• You may be given:

  • Painkillers.

  • A tetanus shot.

  • Oral antibiotic medicines.

  • Antibiotic ointment.

Wound care

These instructions will vary depending on how the wound was closed.

For sutures:

• Keep the wound clean and dry.

• If you were given a dressing, change it at least once a day, or as instructed by your healthcare provider. Also change the dressing if it gets wet or dirty.

• Wash the wound with soap and water two times a day, or as instructed by your healthcare provider. Rinse off the soap with water. Pat the wound dry with a clean towel.

• After cleaning, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment as instructed by your healthcare provider. This helps prevent infection and keeps the dressing from sticking to the wound.

• You may shower as usual after the first 24 hours. Do not soak the wound until the sutures are removed.

• Return to have your sutures removed as instructed by your healthcare provider.

• Do not wear make-up in the area of the wound until your healthcare provider has approved.

For skin adhesive:

• You may briefly wet your wound in the shower or bath.

• Do not soak or scrub the wound.

• Do not swim.

• Do not sweat heavily until the skin adhesive has fallen off on its own.

• After showering or bathing, gently pat the wound dry with a clean towel.

• Do not apply liquid medicine, creams, ointment or make-up to your wound while the skin adhesive is in place. This may loosen the film before your wound is healed.

• If you have a dressing over your wound, be careful not to apply tape directly over the skin adhesive. This may pull off the adhesive before the wound is healed.

• Do not spend a long time in the sun or use a tanning lamp while the skin adhesive is in place.

• The skin adhesive will usually remain in place for 5–10 days and then naturally fall off the skin. Do not pick at the adhesive film.

For skin adhesive strips:

• Keep the wound clean and dry.

• Do not let the skin adhesive strips get wet.

• Bathe carefully to keep the wound and adhesive strips dry. If the wound gets wet, pat it dry with a clean towel right away.

• Skin adhesive strips fall off on their own over time. You may trim the strips as the wound heals. Do not remove skin adhesive strips that are still stuck to the wound.

General instructions

• Check your wound area every day for signs of infection. Check for:

  • More redness, swelling, or pain.

  • Fluid or blood.

  • Warmth.

  • Pus or a bad smell.

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as instructed by your healthcare provider.

• If you were prescribed antibiotics or an antibiotic ointment take them or apply it as instructed by your healthcare provider. Do not stop using the antibiotics even if you start to feel better.

• After the laceration has healed:

  • Know that it can take a year or two for redness or scarring to fade.

  • Apply sunscreen to the skin of your healed wound to minimise scarring. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can darken scar tissue.