What Is the Labiaplasty Recovery Timeline?

Labiaplasty Recovery Timeline: Labiaplasty reduces the size of the labia minora, which are the inner lips of the vulva. Often, large labia minora are associated with discomfort or pain during physical activity, exercise, or intercourse. Some women naturally have larger labia minora. Or, aging and childbirth can increase labia size as well.

Labiaplasty Houston— also known as vaginoplasty or vaginal rejuvenation — provides a simple and effective solution for these issues.

In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the recovery timeline for labiaplasty.

What Is the Labiaplasty Recovery Timeline?

Labiaplasty recovery timeline

Complete recovery from labiaplasty will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks. After this time, most patients are able to return to their regular physical activities, including most types of exercise.

It’s important to wait until this point — or whenever your surgeon gives you the go-ahead — to return to exercise, intercourse, and other activities. Doing any of these things before your incisions have fully healed could compromise your results and may cause other complications.

Let’s break down the recovery timeline for labiaplasty.

Day By Day breakdown of Labiaplasty recovery timeline

First 1 to 3 Days of Labiaplasty recovery timeline

During the first one to three days after labiaplasty, you will experience the most discomfort and soreness. You’ll also notice a considerable amount of swelling, which is completely normal.

Overall, swelling should go down within a few days, but Dr. Ashley Steinberg will also provide you with helpful recovery instructions to reduce swelling and discomfort. This will include prescriptions for pain medications and possibly ointments or creams.

Try to avoid moving unnecessarily during this time. You’ll likely need some help at home for things like preparing meals and doing household chores. You’ll definitely require assistance if you have small children to care for. Overall, try to relax and refrain from any strenuous activities, including exercise and sex. Do not use tampons during this time.

1 to 2 Weeks After Labiaplasty

Most labiaplasty patients will be able to return to work or school within four days to a week. Again, always consult with Dr. Ashley Steinberg to know exactly when you can go back to your regular activities.

Swelling should be considerably reduced by this time, so you will be able to be a bit more active, meaning you’ll be able to walk around more. At the same time, make sure you are still refraining from intercourse and strenuous exercise. Any symptoms related to swelling, such as difficulty urinating should be dissipated by this time. You should also notice far less soreness and pain.

4 to 6 Weeks After Labiaplasty

After four to six weeks, you should be able to return to most of your regular daily activities. Any incisions should be healed, and side effects such as swelling and discomfort should be mostly gone. You’ll meet with Dr. Steinberg around this time for a follow-up appointment to ensure complete and quality healing of the treatment area.

How to Speed Up Labiaplasty Recovery

1. Invest in a donut pillow.

Initially after your recovery, you’ll likely want to spend most of your time lying down so as to take pressure off of your bottom. This may also be true after you return to work; however, you may need to start sitting down at your desk.

When this is the case and you need to sit for long periods of time after labiaplasty, a donut pillow can help. A donut pillow has a hollowed-out center, which relieves pressure on the bottom and the labiaplasty treatment area.

If you don’t want to purchase a pillow specifically designed for labiaplasty recovery, look for one designed for recovery after pregnancy, or use a breastfeeding pillow like a Boppy. Breastfeeding pillows or nursing pillows are in a C-shape to go around a woman’s abdomen while nursing. They can work just as well as a donut pillow to sit on after undergoing labiaplasty.

2. Gently rinse the area.

After surgery, you won’t want to wipe with toilet paper as you usually do when you use the restroom as this can exacerbate pain and may cause problems for any stitches. So, instead, use a spray bottle with warm water to gently rinse the area after using the restroom.

This will clean the area as necessary, and you can use a clean cloth or toilet paper to gently pat the area dry afterward. This can be a bit cumbersome at first, but it’s far gentler on the treatment area and will only be required for a short time.

3. Get comfortable.

It can be difficult for those who are used to a fast-paced lifestyle to slow down and relax. But that’s exactly what you’ll need to do after labiaplasty surgery if you want to recover as soon as possible — so get comfortable!

Wear clothing that is loose and made of natural fabrics like cotton. Don’t wear anything that hugs too close to the surgical site. Avoid fabrics that might rub on this area. As time goes on, choose undergarments that are also relatively loose and made of natural fabrics. Synthetic fabrics can sometimes be unnecessarily irritating to the skin.

4. Keep the area clean.

One of the most important things to do during your recovery from labiaplasty is to keep the surgical site clean. Using warm water spray after using the restroom and patting gently dry with a clean cloth or toilet paper is a start.

You should also make sure to clean the area according to instructions from your surgeon. Generally, you are not to submerge the area in water — especially right after surgery. But you may shower over time, and you’ll receive directions regarding how to clean and care for the area to avoid infection and complications.

How Painful is Labiaplasty Recovery

Surgery will be performed with anesthesia, and you will feel minimal discomfort, but some mild post-op pain will occur. Remember it is surgery, and operating on a sensitive area like the labia will cause some discomfort.

Labiaplasty Recovery Stitches

Labiaplasty sutures take about 3 – 4 weeks to dissolve. Sutures used in deeper layers of tissue may take a few months to fully dissolve. During labiaplasty recovery, patients must take great care to keep the healing tissues and sutures clean and dry.

Schedule Consultation

Dr. Ashley Steinberg

Have you been considering labiaplasty? This surgery can provide much-needed comfort for patients who are bothered by large labia. Don’t continue to live with discomfort and pain because of this issue. Labiaplasty is an effective surgery that can improve your daily life and give you a boost of confidence as well.

Contact Dr. Ashley Steinberg’s office today to schedule your consultation to learn about labiaplasty recovery timeline and read labiaplasty recovery testimonials.