Your incision feels like it's pulling due to normal healing processes like scar tissue formation, nerve regeneration, or tension on the wound, but it could signal a serious issue like wound dehiscence (separation) if accompanied by increased pain, redness, swelling, or drainage, requiring immediate medical attention, especially if you notice gaps in the stitches. Mild pulling is often normal, caused by inelastic scar tissue or nerves reconnecting, but watch for worsening symptoms.
Wound dehiscence (pronounced “duh-hi-since”) is when the incision (cut) a surgeon makes opens or pulls apart after surgery. (Think of a closed zipper that separates in the middle.) The condition happens when an incision doesn't heal as it should.
Deeper wounds heal by forming scar tissue which shrinks and tightens as it forms. When scar tissue forma over or near a joint, this “shrinking” (or contraction) pulls nearby tissues inwards. This tightening can cause movement at a joint to be limited.
You may have scarring from your suturing or limited movement of the surrounding skin. This can be uncomfortable and feel like your skin is being pulled.
Symptoms of wound dehiscence
Staples or stitches are broken. Pain. Feeling of pulling or ripping like something popped. Drainage or bleeding from the wound, most often a clear to pink fluid.
Six signs that your wound is not healing
Pain in and around your incision may last for up to several weeks, but it should gradually get better as the days progress.
However, surgery is only one step of the healing process, and no healing is complete if the surgical wound remains open. In the days and weeks after surgery, your wound goes through four stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
Moisturizing creams hydrate the skin, reduce itch, soften scars, and prevent water loss—key for healing young or inflamed scars. Regular use supports smoother, more flexible scar tissue with minimal side effects.
Wound reopening: If sutures are removed too early, or if excessive force is applied to the wound area, the wound can reopen. The doctor may restitch the wound or allow the wound to close by itself naturally to lessen the chances of infection.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
In the first few weeks after your wound is stitched or glued, the skin is still weaker than normal. It takes several months to fully heal. That's why it's important to take care of the wound. Also avoid putting pressure or strain on the area, even after the stitches or dressings have been removed.
Most stretching occurs in the first three months after surgery but the process can continue for up to a year. There is no age, gender or racial predisposition. However, a stretched scar is more likely when the skin is inherently weak during repair.
Common descriptions include: A pulling, tugging, or tightness: As scar tissue attaches to surrounding tissues, it can create tensions that restrict mobility and flexibility, which can feel like an internal tightness or pulling sensation with movement.
The causes of dehiscence are similar to the causes of poor wound healing and include ischemia, infection, increased abdominal pressure, diabetes, malnutrition, smoking, and obesity. [1] Superficial dehiscence is when the wound edges begin to separate and by increased bleeding or drainage at the site.
If you notice any pain, swelling, warmth around the site or fluid oozing out of your wound, visit a healthcare provider, as you may have an infection.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, which can be harmful to healing wounds. The presence of debris, bacteria or other impurities in open skin can trigger infection and extend the inflammation period. Fisher says prolonged inflammation enhances scar formation.
Once there is no more scab and the wound is visibly closed (which means that the skin has healed) you can start caring for your scar with topical creams or oils.
Follow product guidance: Silicone strips, Arnica gel, medications, and supplements are among the products that may be recommended to speed up your healing process and soften your scars. 5. Protect from sun exposure: The delicate new skin that is forming as your incisions heal is particularly vulnerable to sun damage.
Redness, warmth, or discoloration
While this can indicate healthy healing, you should contact your doctor if this redness or warmth worsens, especially if it starts spreading. It's also cause for concern if you notice your skin darkening at the edges of your wound.
Nutrients That Help Your Wounds Heal
The inflammatory stage is characterized by redness around the wounded area, swelling, pain, and heat. This phase of the healing process can last for six days or longer.
The most common cause of surgical scar pain after surgery is a nerve that is injured or stuck in scar tissue. You may not only experience pain from scar tissue, but may also have swelling, itching, and increased sensitivity. Some common causes for surgical scar pain are: Tightness.
The factors discussed include oxygenation, infection, age and sex hormones, stress, diabetes, obesity, medications, alcoholism, smoking, and nutrition. A better understanding of the influence of these factors on repair may lead to therapeutics that improve wound healing and resolve impaired wounds.
For open surgery, you will have a sticky dressing over your wound. Please leave your wound covered with the sticky dressing for 2 weeks. Open surgical wounds should be kept dry for two weeks. Sometimes we ask you to keep your bulky bandages on until two weeks.