If you are unhappy with the appearance of your most intimate area, you may be considering labiaplasty (otherwise known as vaginal rejuvenation). Labiaplasty is a very common plastic surgical procedure that can make your vagina more aesthetically pleasing. However, in most cases, the procedure is more than cosmetic; it truly improves a woman’s quality of life.
Before having a procedure like this done, it is important to know what the recovery process is like and what to expect. Cosmetic surgery patients often have many questions about their healing time, how their body will feel, and what aftercare entails. Read on to find out more about what the labiaplasty recovery process is like.
What Is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty, sometimes referred to as labial reduction, is a cosmetic surgery procedure aiming to improve the appearance of the labia minora, whether that be meticulously shortening or artistically reshaping the vaginal lips. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in America, with about 10,000 performed each year.
To better understand the procedure, you must have a good understanding of the female anatomy. The labia minora refers to the small folds of skin that surround both sides of the vaginal opening. The labia minora sits just inside the labia majora, which are the two large cutaneous folds that extend from the mons pubis to the perineum.
The labia minora and labia majora together form the outer, visible part of a woman’s genitals. The entirety of the external female genitalia (the mons pubis, labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, and vaginal opening) is referred to as the vulva.
How Is Labiaplasty Performed?
Dr. Cat Begovic is a board-certified female plastic surgeon that specializes in Labiaplasty. She has developed a unique technique that makes the recovery process painless and less likely to leave scars or swelling. You can find out more about recovering from labiaplasty below.
Before learning about the recovery process, it’s essential to know how the actual procedure is performed. Labiaplasty takes place in a plastic surgery facility under general anesthesia. Patients can leave the surgery center the same day as their procedure and recover at home. Depending on the complexity of the procedure, the patient may need to remain in a cosmetic surgery aftercare facility overnight.
What occurs during the procedure varies depending on the patient’s desired outcome since Dr. Cat tailors each procedure to the patient. If the labia minora is too long, it may be trimmed or resected. That involves removing the edges of excess skin and then bringing the edges further inwards with dissolvable sutures.
The entire procedure typically takes around two to four hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the procedure and if you are also having clitoral hood reduction done in conjunction with labiaplasty. Nearly all patients can go home a few hours after surgery, while some remain in an aftercare facility until the following day if they do not have a caretaker.
9 Things to Know About the Labiaplasty Recovery Process
Are you considering labiaplasty or vaginal rejuvenation? If you are, you should understand the recovery process before scheduling this (or any) procedure. Keep reading to ensure a seamless recovery!
The following are nine of the most common questions patients have about the recovery process:
1. How Long Does Labiaplasty Take to Heal?
After labiaplasty, the healing process can differ from patient to patient, but in general, you should be able to fully return to regular activity in four weeks. It takes about three to four months to see the final results of the procedure.
Dr. Cat advises patients to avoid sex, vigorous exercise, tampon use, and tight clothing for the first four weeks after their procedure. After four weeks, the patient is considered fully healed and can resume all normal activities. Most patients can return to work a few days after surgery, but it is recommended that you take things easy and not strain. The more movement, the more swelling a patient will have which causes discomfort.
At around three to four months, labiaplasty swelling will have subsided entirely, the tissues will be settled, and you should be able to see the completed results of your procedure.
If you notice any unusual or worsening symptoms during or after this period, check back in with your doctors. Signs of infection include a high temperature, chills, redness, swelling, worsening pain, and discharge from the incision site.
2. How Painful Is Recovery?
Most women report very minimal pain after labiaplasty with Dr. Cat. That is because Dr. Cat has developed a specialized technique that minimizes pain for a quick recovery. Minor swelling and soreness are to be expected in the first few weeks. These symptoms will ultimately subside after four weeks.
Your surgeon may give you a prescription for pain medication for the first few days post-surgery, but after that, pain should be manageable with an over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol. World-authority in Labiaplasty, Dr. Cat Begovic has developed a gentle and meticulous technique that does not require pain medication.
Dr. Cat recommends using ice to minimize swelling and wearing a thick maxi pad with antibiotic ointment applied to ease discomfort. Avoid sitting directly on the surgical site for the first few weeks. When lying down, the most comfortable position to reduce pain is with the legs bent upwards at a 90-degree angle.
3. How Long Does Swelling Last After?
Swelling on the labia after labiaplasty is absolutely normal. Generally, swelling will be at its peak immediately after the procedure. Dr. Cat recommends icing the area and minimizing movement to reduce swelling at this point. Over the next three to four weeks, the swelling will subside.
4. When Can I Go Back to Work After Labiaplasty?
Most patients return to work within the first week after labiaplasty. If you have a high-intensity, physical job, you may want to wait two to three weeks to return to work. If you work remotely or mostly on a computer, returning to work within the first few days is completely fine as long as you take things easy.
5. Can You Lose Feeling After Labiaplasty?
Most patients feel significant improvement with intimacy after labiaplasty because removal of excess tissue that pulls or causes discomfort is no longer there. If a patient has excess clitoral hood, this excess tissue often blocks the clitoris so reduction helps with sensation and makes it easier for patients to orgasm. The confidence patients gain from the way their vagina looks after labiaplasty report an improvement in their sex life.
6. Can You Drive After Labiaplasty?
You should avoid driving or anything that involves sitting directly on the surgical site the first few weeks after your procedure. Driving may be uncomfortable due to the remaining swelling so it is best to take it easy and listen to your body. It is recommended that you wear a thick maxi pad with a thick layer of ointment applied to it. That will help ease some of the discomforts in the area.
7. Is Labiaplasty Recovery Painful?
With Dr. Cat’s specialized approach, labiaplasty or vaginal rejuvenation recovery will have little to no pain. The first few days after surgery are be the most uncomfortable, but for Dr. Cat’s patients, Tylenol is all that is needed for pain. No need for prescription pain medication!
The patient may experience discomfort when sitting directly on the area or lying in certain positions. That is why Dr. Cat recommends repositioning yourself to avoid applying pressure to the surgical site. Lying with the legs bent up can reduce discomfort in the area as well as wearing a thick maxi pad with medicated ointment.
It is recommended that patients apply ice to the surgical site to reduce swelling when it is severe. Swelling may persist for up to three to four weeks before subsiding depending on how much the patient is moving.
8. Does Labiaplasty Cause Vaginal Dryness?
Some women do report vaginal dryness after their labiaplasty or vaginal rejuvenation procedures. Patients typically treat dryness with personal lubricants.
9. How Long After the Procedure Can You Wear Jeans?
Dr. Cat does not recommend wearing jeans within the first four weeks after your labiaplasty surgery. Jeans tend to be tight and can cause too much friction at the surgical site. For this reason, patients should wear loose clothing for the first month after their procedure until they are fully healed.
Labiaplasty in Los Angeles
If you are interested in having labiaplasty in Beverly Hills, look no further than the expertise of Dr. Cat Begovic. Dr. Cat is a pioneer in the field of vaginal rejuvenation and has developed a unique approach that reduces scarring and minimal pain during recovery while achieving a nature-looking, symmetrical result. Book your consultation with Dr. Cat today and start your plastic surgery journey.
