3 months for sutures to dissolve? 3 weeks post and my body is spitting them out.

There's nothing wrong here. Sutures take six weeks to dissolve. Some materials spit more than others (vicryl is the worst for this). Some patients spit more than others. Tenderness goes along with the spitting process. In six weeks, it's over.

Yes, it can take a long time for stitches to dissolve. If you have any sticking out and poking you, you could ask to have those trimmed. It takes about 6-8 weeks for them to dissolve, sometimes longer and the soreness can last even beyond that time. 

Labiaplasty recovery is hugely dependant on the skill & technique of your surgeon, and very much dependant on the specific sutures utilized. I (and many other experienced genital plastic surgeons) figured out years ago that, while for other uses Vicryl is a great suture, that it was not good for labiaplasty, either for "underneath scaffolding" (the "spit out rate is ~ 1/100) or for the skin, where it takes FOREVER (6+ weeks) for it to dissolve. However, it is important for the "underneath" sutures to be strong and last a while. This is the reason that, after experimenting for years with every kind of suture imaginable, that I use fine monofiliment (5-0 Monocryl) suture underneath. Sure, it takes 3 months to fully dissolve, but causes virtually no problems, is very non-reactive, and virtually never "spits out." For the skin I use 5-0 Vicryl Rapide, a specialized type of Vicryl that is much less reactive, dissolves in 10-14 days, and does not spit out. Both of these sutures (Monocryl and Rapide) are more expensive, which maybe is why some surgeons do not use them, but you are paying a lot and deserve the best.For your personal situation you really need to speak with your surgeon. Having no photos and not knowing either your surgeon's technique nor sutures utilized = no way on earth I can truly help you... While by 6 weeks you will have a good idea re: outcome, it will not be until 3-4 months (when the underneath sutures are fully dissolved) that the firmness & bumpiness are fully resolved...Best wishes,Michael P Goodman, MDDavis, CA, USA

Your surgeon is telling you the truth. The stitches, depending on type, usually take 6 to 8 weeks to dissolve. But, seeing stitches at a post operative appointment is not unusual. If the stitches are causing tenderness, they can be trimmed. Spitting of the sutures are dependent on the type of material they are made with, and your bodies reaction to it. But, if your concern is that they are simply there, they should be. Firmness and tenderness in the area is also a normal part of the healing process. Good luck.

Thanks for your question.  Absorbable sutures are one of the great advancements of surgery, and modern semi-synthetic sutures can be significantly stronger and last significantly longer than old-fashioned "catgut" sutures did.  Indeed, some absorbable sutures can have strength that lasts up to six months, and any absorbable suture will still be present even after it has lost its strength, until the body finally absorbs it.Obviously, I don't know what sutures were used in your surgery, but I use two layers of absorbable sutures when I perform labiaplasty, because I want the closure to be solid (especially important for the wedge-type labiaplasty that I usually perform), and don't want to put the patient through the discomfort of removing non-absorbable sutures, especially in that area.The deeper absorbable sutures generally retain some strength for four to six weeks, but can, indeed, take three months to completely dissolve.  Usually, they can no longer be detected long before that, but I would expect that some of the suture material is still present for three months.Therefore, although I know nothing about how your procedure was done, I can still answer your question: I do believe that it is OK for sutures to take three months to completely absorb.Hope that helps!

Everything that you are experiencing is normal. The sutures should be dissolved by 6 weeks. Tenderness at three weeks postop is expect. It’s will get better soon.