i once had a really nice doctor tell me this.

"if you can see the fat, then you need stitches. otherwise you can clean it and bandage the wound yourself."

and for me that has been my experience.

fat looks like bubbles of rice krispies. they kind of buldge out and are white almost.

i dont know why this was "the rule" he used, but that is what i go by. truth is, i once tried to take care of it myself with the fat showing, but it kept bleeding for days until i went to see the doctor.

try finding some butterfly bandages in the store. they work well for keeping the cuts together.

good luck and feel better.