What is it?
A laceration is a deep cut to the skin or flesh. In some cases, your GP can repair your cut. If your wound requires specialist treatment, you may need to have it treated at hospital. It’s important to see your GP and repair your cut as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection.
What will my GP do now?
To repair your cut, your treating doctor will clean the wound, remove any foreign objects, and close the wound with stitches. Glue and steri-strips may be used to close minor wounds. Your GP will show you how to care for your wound at home and give you tips to prevent an infection.
Your GP will also:
- Give you painkillers or a tetanus shot, if needed
- Discuss any issues that may affect healing, such as diabetes or recent illness or injury
- Give you a referral to a specialist if needed
If your wound needed stitches, your GP will tell you when to come back to have these removed.
What can I do?
Follow your GP’s instructions about wound care. Resist the temptation to look at your wound or change your dressing yourself if your GP has advised you to leave it alone. If your wound is making daily tasks difficult or uncomfortable, talk to your GP about how to manage this.
