Do surgical stitches leave a scar?

Surgical stitches do leave scars, according to About.com. The appearance of scars is affected by the patient's age, the color of her skin, heredity, how fast her skin heals, and how long and deep her incision is. However, scarring can be minimalized.

To reduce the appearance of scarring, the patient should not smoke or drink alcohol, at least while her scar is healing, says About.com. She should eat a balanced diet and make sure she stays well-hydrated. She should also try to lose weight, get plenty of rest and make sure that the surgical wound is kept clean and dry to prevent infection.