The decision to undergo labiaplasty surgery is a very personal one but just like any surgical decision, there are a number of different factors to consider, including recovery.
Labiaplasty is always performed on an outpatient basis but fortunately, it also requires very little downtime when compared to other invasive procedures. With that being said, it’s still best to know exactly what to expect during your recovery for the best possible results.
Understanding Your Labiaplasty Recovery
Here is what you can expect after your labiaplasty surgery.
Bruising and swelling can be expected . Unfortunately, most surgical procedures come standard with some bruising and swelling. After your labiaplasty, you can expect swelling and bruising for several weeks, which could potentially cause discomfort when you urinate. If this is the case, it’s best to urinate in the shower or when you can run warm water over the area while you’re on the toilet. You can also use a cold compress on the area to help reduce the swelling. Know that it’s also completely normal for one side to be more swollen than the other.
Mild pain is likely. Even though an anaesthetic will be used during your surgery to make the procedure completely comfortable, patients can still expect some mild pain after the procedure. Remember that this is still an invasive procedure that’s being performed on a sensitive area so some discomfort is par for the course. Dr Justin Perron is a top labiaplasty clinic in Brisbane that provides all patients with the medication they need to alleviate any symptoms such as this after their procedures.
Intercourse will need to be avoided for a while. Even though it can be tough to abstain from sex, but if you want to enjoy the results of your surgery, you need to abstain from intercourse for at least 6 weeks. Once this 6-week period has passed, you will be able to slowly resume sexual activity but let your doctor know should it be too uncomfortable so that your recovery period can be adjusted.
Choose your clothing carefully. During your labiaplasty recovery, wear loose-fitting clothing, particularly underwear. By wearing tight clothing and underwear, there is a higher risk of friction that can lead to pain and a longer recovery too. You will also need to refrain from using tampons while you’re healing. Pads and liners are a much safer and comfortable choice until you’re completely healed.
Bonus labiaplasty tip
Even though most patients can return to work within a few days, it should be noted that you will only be completely recovered from your labiaplasty 4 to 6 months following your surgery. This means that it pays to be patient and to follow each of your surgeon’s post-operative instructions to achieve the results you were hoping for without any harmful side effects such as infection.
If at any point during your recovery you are feeling overly uncomfortable or you’re experiencing additional side effects, notify your doctor as soon as possible.