Labiaplasty Stitches: Dissolving, Opening and Aftercare

Labiaplasty stitches are the fine, dissolvable sutures that close the wound after a labiaplasty, the operation to reduce or reshape the labia minora. They are one of the things women ask about most after surgery: what they look like, how long they take to dissolve, whether it matters if one comes out early, and what to do if the wound starts to open.

This guide answers those questions. It covers the type of stitches used for labia reduction, how long dissolvable stitches last, what normal healing looks like, why labiaplasty stitches sometimes open, and how to look after them. For the wider week-by-week picture, see our labiaplasty recovery guide, and for how the technique affects where your stitch line sits, our comparison of trim and wedge labiaplasty.

What Stitches Are Used for Labiaplasty?

When your surgeon has removed or reshaped the excess tissue, the cut edges are brought together with very fine sutures. The stitch line follows the new edge of the labia after a trim labiaplasty, or runs across the labia after a wedge. Some surgeons place a layer of buried stitches under the surface as well as the stitches you can see.

Dissolvable vs permanent stitches

Stitches fall into two groups: absorbable (dissolvable) stitches, which the body breaks down over a few weeks, and non-absorbable (permanent) stitches, which have to be taken out by a nurse or doctor.

Surgeons generally favour dissolvable stitches for labiaplasty. The area is delicate and sensitive, and removing stitches from the labia is uncomfortable, so a material that disappears on its own spares you an extra appointment and the discomfort of removal. At Centre for Surgery our surgeons use very fine dissolvable stitches, which are designed to lose their strength once the wound has knitted together and then fall away.

The evidence on which dissolvable stitches work best in this part of the body comes mainly from repair of tears after childbirth. In a 2002 randomised trial of 1,542 women published in The Lancet ↗, only 3% of women repaired with a more rapidly absorbed stitch later needed stitches removed, compared with 13% with the standard version of the same material, with no difference in pain at three months^[1]. A Cochrane review of 18 trials reached a similar conclusion: rapidly absorbing synthetic stitches caused similar pain to standard ones but needed removing far less often^[2].

How Long Do Labiaplasty Stitches Take to Dissolve?

Generally, labiaplasty stitches dissolve within about three to four weeks. The exact time depends on the stitch material, how the stitches were placed, and how quickly your own body breaks them down.

• Week 1: the stitches are intact and holding the wound together. They may look dark or slightly raised against swollen skin.
• Weeks 2–3: the stitches soften and start to loosen. You may notice small pieces of thread on your pad or underwear. This is the stage when itching is most common.
• Weeks 3–4: most of the visible stitches have gone.
• Up to about 6 weeks: an occasional knot or fragment, often at the ends of the wound, can take longer to come away.

A nurse checks your wounds at seven to ten days, and this is a good time to mention anything that is worrying you. Your surgeon reviews healing at six weeks before clearing you for sex and full exercise.

How do I know if my dissolvable stitches are dissolving?

The stitches change colour, become softer and looser, and the ends begin to fray. Small pieces may come away when you rinse or change your pad. The skin under the stitch should look closed, perhaps pink and a little raised, rather than open or moist.

Labiaplasty stitches not dissolving

If a stitch is still there after about six weeks, it is usually a knot or a short tail that has not yet softened. It is not harmful in itself, but it can catch on underwear and feel irritating. Do not try to cut or pull it yourself; at your review a nurse or surgeon can trim it in seconds once the wound underneath has healed.

Labiaplasty Stitches Opening: Is Wound Separation Normal?

A small gap at one point of the stitch line, a few millimetres across, is quite common as the stitches loosen and usually heals on its own over a week or two as long as it is kept clean. A wider opening, where the two edges of the wound come apart along a longer stretch, is called wound dehiscence or wound separation. It is the commonest complication of labiaplasty, and its frequency depends on the technique.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 53 labiaplasty studies ↗ found complications were generally rare, but wound separation was most frequent after wedge resection, at about 8%^[3]. An earlier meta-analysis of 3,804 patients put the rate after wedge resection at about 3%, and found that wound separation and aesthetic concerns were the commonest reasons for revision surgery^[4]. Rates vary a great deal between studies: one small single-surgeon series of 32 wedge procedures reported separation in more than a quarter of patients, much of it minor^[5]. Trim (edge) techniques, where the stitch line lies along the free edge of the labia rather than across it, generally have lower separation rates.

My labiaplasty stitches came out early. Is this normal?

One stitch working loose in the second or third week is common and usually does not matter, because by then the wound underneath has started to knit together. What matters is what you can see underneath: if the skin is closed, simply keep the area clean. If the edges have come apart, there is a raw or open area, or a flap of tissue has separated, contact us so your surgeon can examine it.

What happens if a labiaplasty wound opens?

Most separations are managed without further surgery. The wound is kept clean and allowed to heal from the base, which takes a few weeks; it may leave a small notch or an uneven edge. A wound that opens after the first few days is not usually re-stitched straight away, as fresh stitches hold poorly in swollen, healing tissue. If a notch or irregularity remains once everything has fully settled, usually after three to six months, it can be corrected with a minor revision labiaplasty.

What makes labiaplasty stitches split?

• Tension and swelling: heavy swelling in the first week stretches the stitch line, which is one reason resting with your hips raised and using cold packs matters.
• Friction and pressure: tight underwear, cycling, sex or tampons before the wound has healed.
• Straining: constipation and straining on the toilet put pressure on the area.
• Smoking: smokers have about twice the rate of delayed healing and wound breakdown of non-smokers^[6].
• Infection or a haematoma: a collection of blood or an infection under the wound can push the edges apart.
• Technique: as above, separation is more common after wedge than trim techniques.

Do Labiaplasty Stitches Hurt?

The stitches themselves are not usually painful. In the first few days the whole area is sore and swollen, and the stitch line can feel tight. As the stitches loosen in weeks two and three they often feel prickly or scratchy, catch on underwear or pads, and itch. Stinging when urine runs over the wound is common, and pouring warm water over the area while you pee helps. If you are worried about discomfort, our article on whether labiaplasty is painful explains what most women feel and how it is managed.

Itching and bumps around the stitches

Itching is a normal sign of healing. Small firm bumps along the stitch line are also common: they are usually knots, or the body’s reaction to the stitch material as it breaks down, and they settle once the stitches have gone. Keep the area clean and dry and try a wrapped cool pack; avoid scratching. A bump that becomes red, hot, tender or starts to discharge should be checked.

How to Care for Labiaplasty Stitches

Your surgeon will give you written aftercare instructions. As a general guide:

• Keep the area clean: you can shower from 48 hours after surgery. Use lukewarm water and no perfumed soap, shower gel or wipes, then pat dry gently with a clean towel rather than rubbing.
• After the toilet: rinse with warm water from a bottle or jug and pat dry, wiping front to back.
• Protect the stitches: a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the stitch line can reduce stinging and stop the stitches catching on your pad, if your surgeon recommends it.
• Use pads, not tampons: change them regularly to keep the wound dry.
• Wear loose, breathable cotton underwear: our guide to tight clothing and swimwear after labiaplasty explains when fitted clothes can return.
• Avoid soaking: no baths, swimming, saunas or hot tubs for six weeks. From week two, a brief, shallow sitz bath can help hygiene and comfort if your nurse agrees.
• Do not pull or trim stitches yourself.

Swelling puts extra tension on the stitch line, so the measures in our guide on how to reduce labiaplasty swelling also help protect your stitches.

Activities to Avoid While Your Labiaplasty Stitches Heal

The wounds usually close within a few weeks, but the tissue takes about six to eight weeks to regain its strength. For six weeks, and until your surgeon has checked you, avoid anything that rubs, presses or stretches the area:

• sex, and anything inserted into the vagina, including tampons and menstrual cups; our guide on how soon you can have sex after labiaplasty explains the timing
• running, high-impact exercise, cycling, spinning and horse riding
• tight jeans, leggings, thongs and shapewear
• shaving, waxing and hair removal creams

Walking is encouraged from the day of surgery. Doing too much too soon can open the stitches, delay healing or affect the final shape.

Do Stitches from Labiaplasty Leave Scars?

Every stitch line heals with a scar, but scarring from labiaplasty is usually minimal. The incisions tend to blend with the natural folds and colour changes of the labia minora. Once the dissolvable stitches have gone, the scar is often firm and pink at first, then gradually softens and fades over several months.

When to Call Your Surgeon About Your Stitches

Contact us straight away if you notice:

• the wound edges coming apart, or a raw or open area along the stitch line
• bleeding that soaks a pad, or a tense, rapidly enlarging swelling on one side
• spreading redness, heat, increasing pain, or yellow or green discharge with an unpleasant smell
• a temperature above 38°C, or feeling generally unwell
• difficulty passing urine

For the first 24 hours, call your surgeon on the direct number on your discharge summary. After that, call the clinic on 020 7993 4849, 9am–6pm Monday to Saturday, NHS 111 out of hours, or 999 in an emergency.

Labiaplasty Stitches and Aftercare at Centre for Surgery

Labiaplasty at Centre for Surgery is performed for women aged 18 and over by GMC-registered surgeons at our CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital. The surgeon who assesses you at consultation is the surgeon who performs your operation, and they will explain which technique suits your anatomy and what that means for your stitch line and recovery. Most labiaplasty is done as a day case under local anaesthetic with oral sedation, or TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia) for combined or more complex procedures; our guide to local anaesthetic labiaplasty explains the options. We use fine dissolvable stitches, so there is nothing to remove, and you have a nurse-led wound check at seven to ten days and a six-week review with your surgeon. Our labiaplasty nursing team is all-female.

Frequently Asked Questions

Labiaplasty in London

If you are considering labiaplasty, or would like to talk through recovery and aftercare with a surgeon, we would be happy to see you. The initial consultation is £100, redeemable against the cost of surgery if you go ahead.

Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation

References

1. Kettle C, Hills RK, Jones P, Darby L, Gray R, Johanson R. Continuous versus interrupted perineal repair with standard or rapidly absorbed sutures after spontaneous vaginal birth: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2002;359(9325):2217–2223. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09312-1
2. Kettle C, Dowswell T, Ismail KM. Absorbable suture materials for primary repair of episiotomy and second degree tears. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010;(6):CD000006. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000006.pub2
3. Géczi AM, Varga T, Vajna R, et al. Comprehensive assessment of labiaplasty techniques and tools, satisfaction rates, and risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 2024;44(11):NP798–NP808. doi:10.1093/asj/sjae143
4. Escandón JM, Duarte-Bateman D, Bustos VP, et al. Maximizing safety and optimizing outcomes of labiaplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2022;150(4):776e–788e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000009552
5. Nwaoz B, Sinnott CJ, Kuruvilla A, Natoli NB. Outcomes after central wedge labiaplasty performed under general versus local anesthesia. Annals of Plastic Surgery 2021;87(1s Suppl 1):S17–S20. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002803
6. Sørensen LT. Wound healing and infection in surgery: the clinical impact of smoking and smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Surgery 2012;147(4):373–383. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2012.5