Pre-Operative Instructions
- Please advise the doctor if you are taking any blood thinning medication (e.g. Warfarin, Disprin, Aspirin, etc.)
- This will need to be discontinued prior to surgery as per doctor’s instructions.
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises the risk of bleeding complications in all forms of surgery – please ensure your blood pressure is well controlled prior to your surgical date.
- DO NOT take any of the following medications prior to surgery:
– Anti-inflammatories (e.g. Brufen, Ibuprofen, Myprodol, Voltaren, etc.).
– Homeopathic medications (e.g. Arnica, Rescue Remedy, St John’s Wort).
– Vitamin E (oral or topical).
- Prepare your skin for 3 weeks before surgery with Dermalac Lotion and Vitamin A, C & E Body Oil from Environ.
- Take a bath or shower with antibacterial soap (or Bioscrub) on the morning of your admission.
- Do not apply any body lotion.
- Regardless of whether you are having a general anesthetic or conscious sedation – you should not eat or drink anything for 6 hours prior to surgery.
- If you are a smoker – NO SMOKING for 3 months prior to surgery.
- Bring comfortable cotton underwear.
Post-Operative Instructions
- You will need someone to drive you home after your surgery and help you for 1 to 2 days.
- You will need plenty of rest.
- Decreased activity and pain medication may promote constipation, so you may want to add more fruit and fiber to your diet.
- Be sure to increase your fluid intake.
- Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
- If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
- Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increase the risk of complications.
Activites
- Start walking as soon as possible – this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
- Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications.
- Discuss your time off from work with your surgeon; this varies according to the surgery.
- Resume sexual activity as comfort permits, usually 4 to 6 weeks post-operatively.
- Start walking as soon as possible – this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
- Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications.
- Discuss your time off from work with your surgeon; this varies according to the surgery.
- Resume sexual activity as comfort permits, usually 4 to 6 weeks post-operatively.
Incision Care
- No soaking in the bath while sutures or drains are in place.
- The surgical dressings can be removed anytime they are saturated and then replaced with a sanitary pad.
- Discomfort will be maximal in the first 3 days, improving each day thereafter.
- You may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness, and swelling.
- You may tire easily for several weeks.
- There will be bloody or blood-tinged drainage for a maximum of 1 to 2 weeks following your labiaplasty.
Follow Up Care
- Surface stitches will be removed in 4 to 7 days post-operatively.
- Remaining sutures will dissolve 6 to 8 weeks post-operatively.
When To Call
- If you have increased swelling or bruising.
- If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
- If you have increased redness along the incision.
- If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
- If you have any side effects to medications, such as rash, nausea, headache, and vomiting.
- If you have an oral temperature over 37°C.
- If you have any drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
- If you have bleeding from the incisions that does not stop with light pressure.
Emergency Contact: 078 867 61372