What happens if a cut that requires stitches ... doesnt get stitches?

It depends where it is and the size and stuff. But more then likely it will bleed for awhile and your scar will be really big and ugly. And you won't get a infection for sure. As long as you clean it, it shouldn't get infected. And if you have a pretty sweet immune system thats a plus.

more chance of infection and the scar will be bigger

it takes longer to heal and the scar will be bigger

first of all, if still bleeding, use clean gauze/cloth to apply light/ moderate pressure on the wound until bleeding stops. (gently!) you're pretty on target w/ possible outcomes. depends on the body will try to close the wound and skin will start to grow. but if the wound is stitched asap, the scar can literally become invisible (might take a year or two, but absolutely possible). if you don't get stitches & are lucky enough to avoid infection, the scar will be much larger and much more noticeable. the skin that grows to fill the gap is noticeably different & will probably always be obvious. if it's a really ugly scar, you may decide to have it scar removed (doctor cuts it out & stitches the wound as it should have been in the first place). infection can set in if the wound isn't clean (for example, cutting yourself with a knife just used to cut a piece of fish, or stepping on a dirty can with rusted edges). if bacteria from dirt or other foreign substances isn't completely cleaned out, infection sets in. if a wound does become infected, the edges will look red & inflamed, you may have fever, increased pain, etc. if this happens, go to the doctor immediately!! not seeking medical attention can be fatal in a worse case scenario. at the very least, you'll end up with doctor cleaning /flushing/stitching the wound and then taking a course of antibiotics. wounds that aren't stitched will eventually heal & close if you can keep from traumatizing it further (if it's on your knee, you may re-open the wound every time you bend your knee when you walk). it will take longer to heal & scarring will be much worse. if you aren't getting to get stitches tonight, clean out the wound. then get "butterfly" bandages at drugstore & use them to pull the edges of the wound as close together as possible (put the bandages fairly close to each other). cover the whole area with sterile gauze & keep area dry and clean. honestly, go to the emergency room & get stitches now. otherwise, you'll end up looking at a scar the rest of your life and each time you'll think, "damn, i wish i'd gotten stitches that night". good luck!

All of the above..if it gets infected you will need to see a Dr. for antibiotics and dressings...It is a fact it will leave an ugly scar..and depending where it is and how big it is, that may not matter to you..It needs to be stitched within 12 hours, as it is starting to grow together after that time..you may also need your tetnus updated, depending how long ago you had a booster shot..and what caused the wound...

First and foremost you stand a higher chance of developing infection. You'll also face a longer healing time and unneeded scarring. You've most likely missed your chance for receiving stitches, but I'd highly recommend a visit to your primary doctor to ward off any possible infections. He or she might give you an oral antibiotic which you couldn't receive over the counter. :)

It takes a little longer, but as long as its kept clean and dry, it will heal fine. My husband had cut his arm BAD and refused to go to the hospital. It took like 2 weeks to just scab over. Two months later and its perfectly fine. The scar is alot bigger than it would have been were it stitched up properly. But he always kept it clean and never got an infection.

Make sure you clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide frequently (at least 3x's a day) and change the dressings often and you'll be ok. If it starts to swell up and become painful or if alot of puss starts comming out of the wound, it needs to be treated for infection.

It depends on where the wound is and how much movement is recieves. At least get it checked out at a pharmacy or ambulance station if you can't face a hospital or a doctors surgery.