You’ve heard your friends raving about vaginal reconstruction and wondering if giving your private part a “facelift” is really worth the risk. Not only does vaginal reconstruction help relieve pain and improve the appearance, function, and sensitivity of your vagina; it can also provide you with a renewed sense of self-confidence and well-being.
If you’re now entertaining the idea of getting a vaginal reconstruction, here is a guide to the typical recovery times and what the entire process entails.
Recovery Time for Vaginal Reconstructions
Recovery time from vaginal reconstruction will vary depending on the type of procedure (e.g., vaginoplasty, vulvaplasty, or labiaplasty) and the patient’s response to the surgery.
Full-depth vaginoplasty, for example, typically requires a hospital stay of six to seven days, while shallow-depth vaginoplasty usually needs only three to five days. The recovery time for a full-depth vaginoplasty is about six weeks, while shallow-depth vaginoplasty can take about four weeks, although it can take up to nine months to a year for your body to fully adjust and heal following surgery.
What to Expect During Your Recovery
Prior to your discharge, your doctor will give you a set of postoperative instructions that you need to follow to ensure the success of your recovery. Your aftercare instructions may include the following:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Getting enough rest
- Engaging in gentle movements – no strenuous activities
- Avoiding lifting anything over 10 pounds during the first month after surgery
- Taking medicines as prescribed – Take pain medication with food to avoid nausea and do not combine pain medications. Do not drink alcohol or drive. If your medication is not giving you adequate pain relief, contact your doctor.
Expect your genital area to be sore for several weeks following your surgery. You may also notice some vaginal discharge and urine leakage during the first few weeks if you have undergone a full- or shallow-depth vaginoplasty. Maintain your personal hygiene by keeping your genital area clean and dry to avoid the risk of infection. Ask your care team when it might be safe to take a shower as well as on the proper use of vaginal douche.
As with any other type of surgery, vaginal reconstruction can result in scarring. However, these scars usually fade within a year. Massage the scars using vitamin E or cocoa butter after the first month to help speed up the healing.
Vaginal Reconstruction in Miami, Florida
At Levin’s Women’s Health & Wellness Center, our board-certified OB/GYNs deliver superior outcomes for vaginoplasty and all other forms of vaginal reconstruction procedures. We take every precaution to make your procedure as pain-free, safe, and comfortable as possible, and you can count on us to guide you through the entire process with compassionate care.
To learn more about vaginal rejuvenation, arrange a consultation with one of our specialists today. Contact our friendly staff at (305) 981-0231 or use our online appointment request.