Facial Laceration Repair
Careful repair of facial wounds by a surgeon who does this work every week.
If this is an emergency, do not wait. Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, an injury involving the eye, a suspected broken bone, a bite from an animal or person, or any loss of consciousness needs the nearest emergency department now. Call 911 if the injury is severe. This page is for planning care, not for managing an emergency.
Why a facial plastic surgeon
A cut on the face is not the same as a cut anywhere else. Near sensitive areas of the face, such as the eyelid margin, the vermilion border of the lip, and the rim of the nostril, a repair that is off by a few millimeters has the potential to be persistently visible. Aligning those landmarks precisely at the time of repair is the single biggest factor in how the scar eventually reads.
Dr. Hsue is a fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose practice is limited to the face and neck and who has a decade of experience in closing lacerations in this area. The same techniques used in aesthetic facial surgery, tension-free closure, layered repair, and careful handling of tissue are the ones that apply here.
Injuries commonly treated
- Cuts to the cheek, forehead, chin, and jawline
- Lip lacerations, including those crossing the vermilion border
- Eyelid and brow lacerations
- Nasal and ear lacerations
- Wounds from falls, sports, motor-vehicle collisions, and dog bites
- Poorly healed or widened scars from a previous repair
Timing
Fresh facial wounds are generally best evaluated and repaired promptly rather than left, so if you have an injury, call the practice at (626) 449-9992 and describe what happened — the appropriate timing and setting depend on the wound. Dr. Hsue sees patients from Pasadena and throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County for this. If the injury has already been closed elsewhere, that is not a problem: scars can be revised later, and there is usually good reason to let a repair mature before deciding whether it needs anything further.
What to expect
Dr. Hsue will examine the wound, check the structures underneath it, and talk through what the repair involves before anything is done. Most facial lacerations are repaired under local anesthetic in the office, though sometimes complex ones may require closure in the operating room under deep sedation or general anesthesia. The wound is cleaned and irrigated, any devitalized tissue is addressed, and the repair is done in layers so the skin edges come together without tension.
You will leave with specific wound-care instructions and a follow-up plan. Sutures are typically removed within several days on the face; the exact interval depends on the site and the repair.
Scars, and what comes after
Every wound that goes through the full thickness of the skin leaves a scar. The goal of a careful repair is a scar that is fine, flat, and sits along the natural lines of the face rather than across them. Scars change for a year or more after an injury, usually improving well past the point most people expect.
If a scar remains conspicuous once it has matured, scar revision is a separate conversation Dr. Hsue is glad to have. That may involve surgical revision, resurfacing, or simply time and sun protection; the right answer depends on the scar.
Frequently asked
Do facial cuts need stitches?
Most cuts that go through the full thickness of the skin need to be closed, and on the face specifically, precise closure matters even for small wounds because of how visible the result will be. Some very shallow or short cuts can be managed without sutures. Dr. Hsue can tell you which applies once he's examined the wound.
Will a scar on my face go away?
No wound heals scar-free, but scars fade and flatten considerably over the first year, often more than people expect. A well-placed, well-closed repair gives a scar the best chance of settling into something faint and unnoticeable, and careful post-operative wound care on your part plays a real role in that outcome too. If a scar is still bothering you once it's matured, scar revision is a separate option worth discussing.
Can a plastic surgeon see me the same day for a cut?
Fresh facial wounds are generally best evaluated and repaired promptly, so call the practice directly and describe the injury — timing and setting depend on the wound itself. Same-day evaluation is often possible. The office can tell you what's realistic once they know what happened.
Do you treat children with facial lacerations, or only adults?
Yes. Dr. Hsue treats facial lacerations in children as well as adults, including common injuries like dog bites and falls.
Can you improve a scar from a repair done elsewhere — ER, urgent care, or another provider?
Yes — scar revision is something Dr. Hsue has extensive experience with. Come in for a consultation so the existing repair can be evaluated, and he can talk through what's possible and the right timing for it.
Do you accept insurance for laceration repair?
No. Laceration repair at this practice is self-pay only.
How much does facial laceration repair cost?
Cost depends on the extent of the injury and whether it's closed in the office or requires the operating room. The office can walk you through this once the wound has been evaluated.
Do you accept referrals directly from urgent cares, ERs, or other physicians?
Yes. Dr. Hsue accepts direct referrals from urgent care centers, emergency departments, and other physicians.
Will I need a follow-up visit, and when are stitches removed?
Most patients have more than one follow-up visit after a facial laceration repair. Sutures are generally removed within 5 to 7 days, though the exact timing depends on the location and extent of the injury.
Call the practice
For a recent injury, calling is faster than the form. For scar revision or a non-urgent question, either is fine.