Vaginoplasty Recovery Tips
Post-Op Vaginoplasty Advice
When it comes to recovery from genital surgeries, everyone has a different experience when healing. This is due to a number of factors including the surgery technique, genetic factors, co-existing health conditions, and how closely the patient follows instructions. If you’re developing your recovery plan for genital surgery, read through these vaginoplasty recovery tips to help you heal properly.
Immediately Post-Surgery
After your vaginoplasty, the doctor’s team will monitor you in the post-anesthesia care unit until you are ready to be transferred to the surgical floor for the next phase of recovery. You may feel sleepy, and you may not remember anything. You can expect to be on bed rest for one to two days post-surgery. Once you are ready to be discharged, it is imperative that you have someone you trust to take you home safely. As you continue recovering at home, we recommend you:
- Rest and manage your pain
- Walk when you’re medically ready
- Keep your discharge instructions close by
During Recovery
Part of your post-op vaginoplasty care includes reviewing and sharing your discharge instructions with your caregivers. You will need support after surgery, even once you’re home. Other vaginoplasty recovery tips to be mindful of include:
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Eating healthy foods
- Using antibiotic ointment on the incisions
- Resting more than usual for several months
- Trying gentle movements, like walking for 10 minutes several times a day
We suggest you avoid any heavy lifting (anything over 10 pounds) and minimize brisk activities for at least a few months after your operation.
Pain Management
You will be sore in and around the genital area for several weeks, especially when walking and urinating. To mitigate your pain during your vaginoplasty recovery, we suggest the following tips:
- Take your pain medication as scheduled, even if you’re not hurting yet
- Do not combine pain medications–take only what’s prescribed to you
- Do not drink or drive while using prescription medications
- Reach out if your medication isn’t controlling your pain adequately
Follow-Up Care
Keeping your genital area dry and clean after surgery is a must. You may experience some discharge or urine leaking–that’s completely normal. It’s also normal for your urine to spray instead of flowing until the swelling around the urethra subsides. Some helpful ideas to consider are:
- Wearing pads in your underwear
- Wiping from front to back after urination
- Showering every single day
- Using vitamin E or cocoa butter after the first month to minimize scarring
Full-Depth Vaginoplasty Aftercare
If you underwent a full-depth vaginoplasty, here are some additional vaginoplasty recovery tips exclusively for you.
- Douching: Keeping your vagina clean using a douche.
- Vaginal Dilation: Regular dilation will help maintain vaginal depth and openness.
When To Call Doctors
As you’re recovering, you may encounter situations there didn’t discuss in your discharge instructions. Here are a few symptoms that indicate you should reach out to us immediately:
- Bright red blood
- Symptoms of infection, like swelling, warmth, or redness
- Consistent nausea or lack of appetite
- Inability to keep fluids down
- Redness or swelling around the lower leg, thigh, groin, or back of the knee
- Numbness, discoloration, or tingling in your extremities
Follow-Ups
If you’ve followed all our vaginoplasty recovery tips without incident, you can expect to see your doctor for several follow-up appointments in the first three months post-treatment.
