Flying Back to the US With Stitches On Head?
 

I'm from the US but outside the US now. I had an accident and had stitches put on my head at a doctor. I fell on the floor and my head was bleeding for a while until I got to a doctor and that doctor did stitches on my head


I was given aftercare instructions including waiting up to 10 days until I would go back and get the stitches removed. Has anyone had an accident like this happen to them when in a foreign country or know someone that did? The thing is my parents from back in the US are very worried about me because of this and want me to fly back for them to take care of me because of this situation. They originally wanted to fly and meet me here but they prefer me to fly back to the US I have no idea about recovery time when it comes to these things.


You should always ask that doctor who did stitches on you if it's okay to fly soon right? Normally flying after removal of stitches is fine but what about the in between process? The thing is they are worried I'm not taking care of myself during this recovery process.


Do airlines allow you to fly without any issue if you have stitches on your head? Like especially if you have a big headband and gauze on your head area? Even if you remove the gauze but if you clearly have stitches on your head, are you allowed to fly?


Does anyone here recommend against flying in this situation until I get the stitches removed? They are concerned I'm not taking good care of myself during the recovery process and I myself am not good with after care by myself.

I am in the medical field and have never needed to do any special certification for someone to fly with sutures in

So you don't even need to ask the airline at all? So if it is very obvious someone has stitches on their head like without any gauze, or just with gauze or gauze with headband around it... there is no issue? You just let them know?


Now is it a good idea to fly few days after getting stitches? Or you should always wait until stitches are removed? The situation here is my parents want me to fly back to the US so they could take care of me there because of this situation.

Best advice will always be from your treating physician

some general points:
1) many/most airlines publish their medical clearance guidelines- for example here is the qantas has one (that with which I am most familiar)- https://www.qantas.com/content/dam/q...guidelines.pdf
you’ll notice there is no mention of stitches, in the head or otherwise. However you may wish to consider if there was an associated injury or surgical procedure leading to the stitches being put in (you will see that “head injury associated with loss of consciousness or skull fracture” and “cranial surgery” have their own section in the Qantas clearance)
most of these guidelines are publicly accessible with a Google search- this website seems to catalogue them https://www.fittotravel.net/medif

2) less so from a medical point of view than a social/security point of view, I would be looking to debulk the “turban” dressing before travel, if possible. Scalps bleed like stink and therefore bruise, the bulky dressing is in place to prevent these things immediately post injury but can generally be removed once the immediate threat has passed (24-48 hours)

3) on face value you haven’t told us anything that I would find to be outside of the routine or particularly concerning

I’m not a medical doctor, however, that was my concern when I read the initial post in this thread.

I'm checking the carriers like Jetblue and Delta and American and not sure about this.

Who would I ask this information? So whatever the carrier says, that is the policy? Or is it possible when you fly, they say you can't? Say you have a gauze and tape on your head.

Welcome to FT, please be aware that you will only be allowed one more post until 24 hours have passed from your first.
I am sorry to hear of your problem. I am scheduled for minor facial surgery soon and was advised not to travel for three weeks, though the dressing comes off after two days. This may be over cautious but gives you some idea of what seems to be recommended even with no related injury. Your safest thing will be to get a "fit to fly" letter from a doctor but I wouldn't be hopeful of getting that quickly. I am also instructed not to lift more than eight pounds for a week and not to bend over in that time. If you don't have any other problems and the wound is inconspicuous then you might get away with it but be prepared for a longer trip. Good luck!

Also, if you end up delaying your flight do get in touch with the airline and ask for their indulgence in postponing the flight and preserving any further flights on the reservation. They aren't obliged to help since it is really an insurance matter but some are helpful.

Doctor told me there is no issue with me flying at all.


My question is should I wait to have stitches removed first before flying back? Do people once who have stitches removed, then no longer put any gauze or tape on their stitches anymore? I haven't had stitches in a very long time so I don't remember the process. I certainly am not aware of how it is with the head area.


Now if you still have stitches on, you should always have a gauze over it no matter what right? Thing is what about when flying? The metal detector will certainly detect your stitches. I want to get some opinion from people who been in a similar situation?

Why would stitches be detected by a metal detector? Or are you perhaps talking about surgical staples?

good to see your doctor and me think the same way!


it seems the answer to this is no

no they don’t necessarily have to be covered at all times

I would imagine even staples would not trigger the metal detector- they have less metal than a zipper or metal popper

Right. Stitches are usually nylon or synthetic fibers. Even surgical staples probably wouldn't let a metal detector go off, but if it does, it's not a big deal - they'll wand you and realize its from the staples.

The real question is, do you have a concussion from the fall? Any headaches, loss of consciousness, etc?

There is no reason for stitches to stop you from flying, the concern should be regarding the injury that caused you to need stitches.

Okay so the stitches got removed. I don't even put any gauze or anything on my head anymore.


I don't think I had a concussion from the fall. I have no idea about that.


Okay so the stitches got removed. I don't even put any gauze or anything on my head anymore.


I have another question that is sort of related to this. I cut my finger really deep with a knife and fell on the floor as well not long ago after the first incident and I been putting gauze to cover it up as opposed to a bandage. Is it better to instead cover these areas with a bandage instead as I figure if you have gauze covering on your finger or your leg, you would get asked a lot of questions?


Is there any issue with doing that on the day I fly or just put a bandage in those areas and nothing else? The thing is if I put honey on it as I have been doing, well it's obvious that my finger is wet and moist from it. I have a very deep cut on my finger and some scraps on legs and bruises from another fall not related to the first situation so I wanted to know if it's fine or not. Do people who wear bandages for cuts on their fingers or legs get screened additionally?


Better to just do what I been doing so with gauze and honey or should I only use gauze and no honey or forgot about both that day and just put a regular bandage in those areas?


Thanks.

Not unless if the doctor has to say. If you ever have an accident in the foreign country. You have to stay in hospital. They will stitch up your head. If you have a health insurance policy. They will issue one for you. If you stay in hospital for 24 or 48 hours. The doctor will tell you when you are going home. They will be approved by your doctor to fly home. You must have an approved from airlines.