Labiaplasty has continued to be a popular procedure to address irregular tissue around the vaginal opening. The pieces of tissue here, the labia majora and labia minora, can create persistent discomfort if they are bulky or long. A lack of proportion in this area also causes some women to feel emotionally uncomfortable when wearing certain garments of clothing, such as a bathing suit or leggings. Labiaplasty is a customized procedure that Dr. Rosenthal performs as an outpatient surgery to help her patients feel more comfortable in their own skin. Here, we break down the recovery timeline associated with this beneficial procedure.

The first few days of healing

The majority of the discomfort and swelling resulting from surgery is experienced in the first few days. It is now when you must take prescription pain medication as directed by your surgeon. Do not wait to see if pain becomes intense. In addition to taking medication at regular intervals, you can also apply an ice pack for about 20 minutes. You can do this several times a day. When recovering from labiaplasty, wear loose clothing, including loose underwear that will not rub against the skin.

Week 1

Near the end of the first week after labiaplasty surgery, swelling has usually subsided nicely. During this phase of recovery, you may feel itching as your incisions continue to heal. If itching persists or becomes severe, contact our office to discuss how this may need to be managed. Sometimes, itching can be a sign of a bacterial infection. This is not a serious complication but could improve more quickly with medication. After about a week of rest, you may feel ready to return to work. You are not ready to resume your exercise routine, regardless of how much progress you have made.

Week 2-3

After two weeks of recovery, you may begin to see the improvements achieved from labiaplasty. Swelling, itching, and discomfort should be nearly resolved by this time. You may resume light activities like walking and other low-impact exercises. Do not yet ride a bike, motorcycle, horse, or other vehicles that put pressure on the labia. Sexual activity and tampon use must still be avoided.  

Week 3-6

Between week 3 and week 6 of your labiaplasty recovery, you may be back to most of your normal activities. Those that put pressure on the labia, including sexual intercourse, bike-riding, and the other activities previously mentioned, must be avoided until after the 6-week point. After that time, the tissue is usually fully healed and all normal activities can be comfortably and safely resumed.

Give yourself the gift of labiaplasty. Call our office near San Jose at 408-840-2553.