How to make a butterfly bandage

A butterfly bandage can be used to hold the edges of a cut together while it heals. To make a butterfly bandage:

  1. Cut a strip from a roll of 1 in. (2.5 cm) adhesive tape and fold it in half lengthwise, sticky side out.
  2. Cut a notch not far from the fold in each long side of the tape.
  3. Unfold the tape, then fold the notched pieces together, sticky side in. The center of the tape will be non-sticky. Keep this part clean since it will be over the wound.
  4. Place one sticky end of the tape on the skin to one side of the wound, then pull the other sticky end tightly across the wound to pull the wound edges together. If the wound is long, you may need more than one bandage.

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerH. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofMarch 20, 2017

Current as of: March 20, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine