What to Expect Week by Week After Your Labiaplasty Procedure
Whether you’re considering labiaplasty surgery, or you’ve recently undergone the procedure, you may have questions about your recovery. You may be wondering what to expect or if you’re healing normally. Below you will find detailed facts and information about labiaplasty recovery.
One thing you should know is that every woman experiences the procedure and recovery differently. Some women are able to return to work after three days while others may require a week or longer. The healing process is as individual as the woman.
There are, however, some general guidelines that apply to most women that can give you a good idea of what you can expect. This guide is broken down into three sections: what to expect immediately after the procedure, one week following surgery and three to six weeks post treatment.
What to Expect Immediately After the Procedure
When you get home after surgery it’s possible you may still be numb from the anesthetic and pain medication. After the numbing wears off, you may start to feel a little discomfort or pain. This can last for 24 hours and by 72 hours post-surgery most pain should subside. You will be prescribed pain medication to keep you comfortable.
It’s normal to experience swelling and some minor bleeding or oozing for the first 72 hours. Don’t be alarmed if both the labia minor and majora, including the clitoris, are swollen. It may be difficult to wipe like you normally do. To clean the area after going to the bathroom we recommend using a clean, warm, wet towel as needed. Cold compresses can help with the swelling.
To facilitate the healing process we recommend not wearing any underwear for the first 72 hours. But if you feel that you must wear an undergarment we ask that you go up a size and also wear a thick pad with Aquaphor ointment. Resting for the first few days will minimize any friction or chaffing to the area.
One Week Following Surgery
By this time the surgical area should start to heal and you’ll be able to resume some of your normal activities. You’ll be able to go for a walk, run a quick errand or return to work as long as your occupation doesn’t require performing strenuous activities.
During the healing process you may experience itching as the body is undergoing repair. This is normal and expected, and you may find that cold compresses can offer some relief. If the itching intensifies over time instead of getting better, check with your physician to rule out a bacterial infection or yeast infection.
If you travelled from out of town for your procedure, or you need to travel for other reasons, you can do so one week following treatment.
Three to Six Weeks Post Treatment
By now you should have recovered enough for life to get back to normal. The stitches are dissolvable and should be fully absorbed after 3-4 weeks. Your surgical scars may still be visible at this point but should cause little discomfort. Once you’re fully healed, you can expect the scarring to be very minimal, if at all perceptible.
You’ll be able to swim and exercise 3-4 weeks post-surgery. We recommend abstaining from sexual activity for 4-6 weeks. After this time your sexual satisfaction will return to normal or be even better than before the surgery.
For more information about labiaplasty recovery or any other questions, feel free to contact us.
