Facial Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Do you have a cut or puncture wound on your face?

See significance of a cut or puncture wound if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Can you see bone or pieces of bones in your wound or sticking out of your wound?

Yes

Do you have a object stuck in cut or puncture wound?

Yes

Do you have a cut or puncture wound more than deep and long with jagged edges or the cut gapes open? Note: Most deep cuts need to be evaluated by a health professional and should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some cuts that require closure can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury. For more information, see are stitches, staples, or skin adhesives necessary?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have a cut on the face, eyelids, lips, or another area that you are worried may scar?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	May 15, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer