Labiaplasty is a surgery that is done to reshape a woman's labia minora, a component of the vulva. It is growing in popularity. A 2016 survey showed that 39 percent of women in the USA are interested in the procedure, both to alleviate physical discomfort and increase sexual pleasure. If the labia has excess tissue just above the vaginal opening, it can lead to discomfort, especially for athletes.
If you are interested in a labiaplasty, seek out an experienced, well-trained specialist who will know how to assess your problem and deliver the results you need. In Los Angeles, Dr. Courtenay Poucher is a leading authority on women's health, and is happy to welcome new patients at the Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles.
After a successful labiaplasty, there are several post-care steps you should take to ensure a speedy recovery. You've woken up in the recovery room and you're getting ready to head home now. Make sure you get the proper post-care medication from your surgeon before you leave. Your vaginal area will likely be swollen, but there shouldn't be too much pain. The area will tend to throb as your numbing medication wears off about six to eight hours after the procedure.
Have your pain medication ready but only use it if you need to, as well as your anti-nausea medication. Your incisions are closed with an absorbable suture, so no additional care is required beyond avoiding intense physical activity. You will be provided with a tube of ointment to use if the area feels dry or irritated. Blot the surgical area gently after urination, and after a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to avoid any contamination of the incision site. Otherwise, continue your normal hygiene.
If you have had fat grafting done to the external labia, significant swelling will probably occur. The internal labia might also be swollen, though usually to a lesser degree. You may have some drainage or bruising at the incision site, but generally all the incisions on the external skin will be covered, and again, the sutures are dis solvable.
You can shower normally, but you should avoid baths and hot tubs for the first week or two after the procedure. Swimming is permissible after 5-7 days.
Try to minimize rigorous physical activity such as exercise for a few days post-procedure, but once you feel up to it, you can resume your normal routine. In the first few days, icing the surgical area will help, particularly the first day and night.
As far as your inner wear is concerned, you should wear a panty liner for the first few days. Use a soft bandage inside the panty liner to deal with any drainage of incisions. This drainage can be yellow or blood-tinged. When your stitches dissolve, the remnants of stitches may stay behind, which is considered normal. Keep the pad in your inner wear for at least a week and keep changing it after six to eight hours to avoid itching and infection. It is highly recommended to visit your surgeon a week after labiaplasty for a checkup.
Other procedures such as vaginoplasty, which eliminates undesired vaginal skin, and hymenoplasty, which repairs a torn hymen, can also be important for a woman's health. These and other procedures are available at Dr. Courtenay
Poucher's practice. If you are interested in surgery or just a general women's health checkup, contact the Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles.
