No, you generally should not wipe with toilet paper after a labiaplasty; instead, you need to gently rinse the area with warm water (using a peri bottle or shower head) after using the toilet, then pat it gently dry with a clean towel or gauze, avoiding rubbing to protect the sensitive stitches and incisions. Wiping with dry toilet paper can cause pain, irritation, and potentially disrupt healing.
Do not use tissue or toilet paper to wipe for 2 weeks. Your sutures are dissolvable and may cause itching while healing. The Telfa surgical dressings can be removed anytime they are saturated and then replaced with a sanitary napkin or maxi pad.
You should rinse the area with warm water when ever using the toilet (you can use a clean cup and rinse the area while on the toilet). After rinsing, pat the area dry with a gauze pad or toilet paper, put antibiotic ointment along the incision lines, and replace your maxi pad.
What Should You Avoid After Labiaplasty Surgery?
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER LABIAPLASTY. Drainage: Drainage can occur from the incision sites for the first week following surgery. The drainage will be blood-tinged. You may use a pad or liner if this occurs.
Use lukewarm water only (no soap) to wash your wound. Gently wipe or dab the area dry after peeing; don't rub the surgical area. Your surgeon may have you take medication or recommend a diet to prevent constipation so that you don't strain, which could stretch or break your stitches.
Stinging during urination is pretty common post-labiaplasty just like after childbirth. Keep a spray bottle with water close by and squirt it gently at your vagina when you pee. This will dilute your urine, minimizing the burning sensation and keep you clean in the process.
Weeks 3-4 After Labiaplasty Surgery
Your labiaplasty recovery is well underway. Any sensitivity should be completely resolved and your vaginal area should start to look more normal. It's possible to have some minor residual swelling; however, overall most swelling and inflammation should be gone.
Some signs of a botched labiaplasty: The edges of the labia are “scalloped,” meaning they have uneven edges that resemble small curves. The edges of the labia are discolored; they can either look paler or darker than the rest of the tissue. The two labium are not even; one labium may hang lower than the other.
Many of my patients feel more comfortable lying on their side, reclining, or using a donut or soft pillow to take pressure off. By the second week, sitting usually gets much easier, and by week three, most women are back to normal.
If you are very uncomfortable, try to hold your tummy and massage it slightly. This may help the trapped gas release. It is normal to gently push to start a bowel movement. Do not be afraid to do this after surgery.
How can I recover faster from Labiaplasty?
On average, labiaplasty sutures take about 3 – 4 weeks to dissolve. Supportive sutures used in deeper layers of tissue may take several months to fully disintegrate. During labiaplasty recovery, patients must take great care to keep the healing tissues and sutures clean and dry.
Our goal is to prevent serious constipation as the pressure of straining can damage the healing wound in the perineal area. We recommend over the counter stool softener Colace, 100 mg taken twice daily, starting right after your surgery. The next step would be to use a MiraLAX laxitive.
Labiaplasty Healing in the Post-operative Period. Keeping Clean:You will be given a peri-bottle to take home with you. Rinse yourself well with your peri-bottle and gently dab (DO NOT RUB) the area with a Tucks (witch-hazel) pad or wet wipes after urinating or after a bowel movement. Then apply a clean sanitary pad.
Most patients recover quickly after labiaplasty. You will need to limit activity and exercise for a time: Immediately After Surgery – Gentle walking is safe after labiaplasty as soon as you're comfortable. Most patients rest the first day and then begin gentle walking the next day.
Some women's labia hang out because it's a normal variation in size and shape, often due to genetics, hormones, or childbirth, and is called labia hypertrophy, but it's usually harmless unless it causes physical discomfort, irritation, or emotional distress, in which case a doctor can offer reassurance or treatment options like surgery.
The first week: What to expect in labiaplasty recovery. The first week brings the most noticeable physical changes. Swelling typically peaks around day three or four, which might feel discouraging. This is normal, though.
Dr. Dimitri Koumanis tells patients that if they notice an odor, this may indicate a vaginal or wound infection is present. Redness, tenderness, itchiness, and vaginal discharge may also indicate the wound should be examined for an infection. If an odor does develop, one should see their doctor promptly.
For the first six weeks the genital area will appear bumpy, swollen and irregular while healing. The sutures used in surgery will dissolve over time, but may reach the surface of the skin during recovery.
Loose clothing and underwear are mandatory for the first 72 hours after labiaplasty surgery, and most labiaplasty patients should wait a minimum of 2 weeks before wearing jeans, if not longer.
Hygiene: No shower for 48 hours. Using a squirt bottle (not spray) wash pubic area after using toilet. Pat dry NO HAIR DRYER. Re-apply antibiotic ointment as needed.
While labiaplasty is generally reserved for women over 18, there are rare exceptions for younger patients who experience significant discomfort or functional issues. In those cases, medical necessity—not aesthetics—drives the decision. Even for adults, emotional maturity matters. Labiaplasty is not a casual procedure.
Every patient has a different experience, but many wear maxi pads or period panties for one to two weeks after their procedure. These tools keep the area sanitary and protect your clothes from any bacitracin ointment or bleeding that may occur from the incision during the healing process.
Itching can be expected throughout the first week or two and is typically very manageable. By 2 weeks after your labiaplasty, pain will be minimal, itching will be subsiding, and swelling should be decreasing.