Vaginoplasty is good news to women who are concerned about the look, feel, and function of their genitalia after giving birth or as they grow older. Beyond its cosmetic benefits, vaginoplasty improves vaginal sensitivity and enhances sexual pleasure, which can ultimately have a positive impact on a woman’s sense of well-being.
If you’re contemplating having a vaginoplasty, you’re probably wondering what the recovery entails and what you can do to make it as comfortable as possible. The following information will help set your expectations of its recovery process.
Vaginoplasty Recovery Time
The recovery time for vaginoplasty varies, depending on a number of factors, including the type of procedure you’ve had and your adherence to your doctor’s post-operative care instructions.
For example, typical hospital stays are six to seven days following full-depth vaginoplasty and three to five days for shallow-depth vaginoplasty. Recovery from a full-depth vaginoplasty typically takes about six weeks and about four weeks for shallow-depth vaginoplasty. However, it can take up to 12 months for your body to fully adjust and heal after surgery.
What Happens Right After Surgery
Immediately after your vaginoplasty surgery, you will be wheeled into the recovery room where your care team will monitor you as the general anesthesia wears off. As soon as you are ready, your care team will move you to your hospital room where you may need to remain in bed for a couple of days.
You will eventually be encouraged to get out of bed and walk. Doing so will help you recover quickly and lower your risk of any complications, such as blood clots. Most of the time, however, you will need to rest while your care team manages your pain and monitors your vital signs and the progress of your recovery.
If you’ve had full-depth vaginoplasty, your care team will remove the stitches on the sixth day after the procedure and teach you about vaginal dilation. You should be able to urinate a few hours after your catheter is removed. If this isn’t the case, your care team will replace the catheter and set a follow-up appointment to remove it within a week after they send you home
Recovering at Home
When you get home, it is important that you review and follow your discharge instructions. These may include having to drink plenty of liquids, eat healthy foods, and engage in gentle movement. During the first month following your surgery, you need to walk for 10 to 15 minutes a few times each day, avoid lifting anything over 10 pounds, and get enough rest.
Your vagina will likely feel sore for several weeks. To manage any pain or discomfort, take your medications as directed, with food to prevent nausea. Do not combine pain medications. Do not drink alcohol. If your pain medication isn’t giving you adequate relief, contact your doctor.
It is also important to keep your intimate area clean and dry after surgery. Some vaginal discharge and urine leakage are normal after vaginoplasty; you will likely be advised to wear pads. After urinating, wipe from the front of your body to the back and shower each day to keep your incisions clean. Check with your care team when it will be safe to take a shower.
Vaginoplasty Surgery in Miami, Florida
At Levin’s Women’s Health & Wellness Center, our board-certified OB/GYNs have been a part of thousands of success stories of women desiring to regain their self-confidence, restore the function of their genitalia, and improve their sexual pleasure through vaginoplasty and other types of vaginal rejuvenation procedures. You can count on us to guide you through the entire recovery process with personalized and compassionate care.
To learn more about vaginoplasty surgery and other vaginal rejuvenation options, schedule an appointment with one of our highly qualified providers today. Contact us at (305) 981-0231 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!