When you go to your surgery appointment, you will register and sign a consent form. You will go to a preoperative area and change into a surgical gown. You may have same-day tests, such as a CBC, blood chemistry panel, and urinalysis.
An intravenous (IV, in a vein) line will be placed in your arm or hand, and you will have your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and breathing rate checked. Your oxygen saturation will be checked with a noninvasive pulse oximeter that is placed on your finger, which will stay in place during your surgery.
You may have a urinary catheter placed in your urethra either in the preoperative area or when you get to the operating room.
Before the Surgery
Your skin will be prepared for the procedure and your anesthesia will be started.
You will have a drape placed over your body and the skin of your labia will be exposed. The surgical and surrounding area will be cleansed with a cleaning solution. If needed, your pubic area will be shaved at this time.
Anesthesia will be administered:
You may have a sedative medication injected into your IV to make you drowsy and reduce pain if you are having monitored anesthesia sedation.
If you are having local anesthesia during your procedure, you will have medication that controls pain injected directly near the incision site after your skin is cleansed. If you are having it along with IV sedation, you would have your local anesthetic injected after the IV sedation starts to work.
If you are having general anesthesia, you will have an anesthetic medication injected into your IV to put you to sleep and a breathing tube inserted into your throat for mechanical breathing assistance during surgery.
During the Surgery
Your surgeon will begin by locating the area of tissue that will be reshaped and/or resized.
The next steps can include any of the following:
Trimming a small piece of tissue from the edge of one or both sides of the labia minora
Cutting away a portion of tissue from the inner region of the labia minora
Injecting hyaluronic acid into the labia majora to enlarge it
Removing fat from your abdomen or thigh with a needle and injecting it into the labia majora to enlarge it11
For gender affirmation, using tissues from the penis to create the labia12
Cutting and tissue excision may be done with either a surgical scalpel, special surgical scissors, or radiofrequency.3 Injections are administered via a syringe.
Bleeding will be controlled throughout your surgery. Your Labiaplasty Surgeons in Florida will close any open surgical incisions with absorbable suture. Your wound will be covered with surgical dressing.
Your anesthesia will be stopped. If you have had general anesthesia, your anesthesia team will remove your breathing tube and make sure that you are breathing comfortably on your own. Then you will go to the recovery area.
After the Surgery
In the recovery area, you will start becoming more alert. Your medical team will give you pain medication as needed. Your urinary catheter (if you have one) will be removed, and you will get help walking and using the toilet or a bedpan, if needed.
Your medical team will check for bleeding and will explain to you how much bleeding you should expect once you go home.
Before you are discharged, you will get instructions about wound care, bathing, pain control, activity restrictions, and your follow-up appointments.
Recovery
It takes approximately six weeks to fully recover after a labiaplasty surgery.10 During this time, you will see your healthcare provider for one or more follow-up appointments. You will likely have absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed.
You will have instructions for pain control, which may include prescription pain medication or over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol (acetaminophen). Your healthcare provider may also give you a prescription for an oral anti-inflammatory medication and/or topical antibiotics to apply to your surgical wound.
Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if your pain is not adequately controlled with the pain medication that is recommended to you.
Keep in mind that if you are having gender-affirming surgery, labiaplasty is only a part of this, and you can expect your surgery and post-operative healing process to be more extensive than those who get a labiaplasty alone.
Healing
Follow instructions you are given regarding wound care, bathing, and cleaning yourself after you use the toilet.
You may be instructed to wash your wound with lukewarm water, but avoid exposing it to soap or other products in the first week after your surgery. Avoid rubbing the surgical area by gently wiping or washing after urinating or having a bowel movement. Using a peri bottle can help.
You may have some bleeding, and you can wear a sanitary pad to absorb it.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a diet or medication to prevent constipation because straining can increase pain and may stretch or break your sutures.
Expect to have some swelling. You can use ice packs on swollen areas, but don't place ice packs directly on your skin.
Swelling should begin to go down after about one to two weeks, and you might be able to stop pain medication at that time.
You may still have some bleeding, but it should be decreasing.9 Continue to keep your wound clean and use any medications your healthcare provider suggests.
What to Expect After Labiaplasty: Recovery Week
Warning signs of post operative complications to look out for include:
Excessive or worsening pain
Increasing blood
Clumps of blood
Discolored discharge or pus
Opening of the wound
Severe pain with urination or bowel movements
Fever
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms.
Physical Activity
In the first few days, take it easy. Limit activity to just walking around your home. Pushing yourself too hard can compromise your sutures.
While you are still healing, you shouldn't exercise, run, ride a bike, swim, or begin sexual activity for 4 to 6 weeks, or unless your healthcare provider has cleared you. You may need to stay home from work if your job involves a lot of physical activity, such as lifting.
Only resume such activities when your healthcare provider gives you the OK to do so.
Labiaplasty Recovery Timeline (Week 3): What to Expect
Long-Term Care
As you are continuing to improve, you will follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure that healing is complete. You may be instructed to use vaginal lubrication to avoid abrasions during sexual activity if you have developed a tendency to experience dryness or tenderness after your surgery.
Some individuals may have dysuria (discomfort with urination) after labiaplasty due to exposure of the labia to the urine, which can be acidic.7 This should improve over time as your skin adjusts. However, you should discuss dysuria with your healthcare provider because it can be the sign of a urinary tract infection.
Possible Future Surgeries
Generally, labiaplasty surgery is a one-time procedure that doesn't involve multiple surgeries. However, if you have complications, you may need additional surgical intervention to repair any problems that arise.
If you have had an injection-based procedure, you may need "touch-ups" after the effect of the filler material wears off, which can be about six to 12 months. However, if fat was injected, it's considered a permanent filler after six months.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Over time, you shouldn't have to adjust your activities or lifestyle after you recover from your labiaplasty. You should be able to have sexual intercourse, exercise, and move around without any special restrictions or limitations once your healthcare provider says it is safe to do so.
A Word From North Florida Labiaplasty
A labiaplasty is a procedure that is gaining popularity.10 Generally, it is done for cosmetic reasons. If you are thinking about having this procedure, consider your options and objectives carefully as you decide if proceeding is right for you.
In a world flooded with opinions and advice from multiple sources such as friends, family, the media, and theinternet, it’s hard to decide where to begin when deciding something as important as how to find a plastic surgeon.Don’t make a big mistake by thinking it’s as simple as turning on your computer, typing in “plastic surgeon near me” and calling the first person you find that seems like a decent fit to perform the procedure you’ve been longing for.
After all, the doctor you select will alter your appearance for the rest of your life.It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many options.
Let’s take a look at some tips that will help you pick the best plastic surgeon for the job and ensure you will gain self-confidence and happiness that will last for years to come.Consider the Different Types of Plastic SurgeryIn 2018 alone, plastic surgeons in the United States saw more than 250,000 patients for each procedure.
Each surgeon has a particular area of expertise.
Find someone that has a style you love.To do this, begin by looking at before and after pictures of patients provided by the surgeon.
Pay particular attention to body types that are similar to yours and the results those patients were able to achieve.
