What happens when surgical staples stay in the skin too long?

Surgical staples: Just as with any incision, there is always a risk of infection. In most cases, staples are less likely to cause infections than sutures. The down side is that they often lead to more scarring. This also depends on how well the staples are aligned and how long the staples remain in the skin. Staples are left in the skin for 10-14 days.

They leave a mark!: Staples (and stitches) provide support and alignment to healing tissue cuts, though the ones on the skin surface are the ones patients see and worry about. Depending on the tension on the wound closure, the presence and type of deeper sutures used, and how healing is observed to come along, staples are removed in several days to as long as two weeks. The longer in place, the more likely scars.