Whether you’re getting a labiaplasty, vaginoplasty or some other cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, most surgeons agree that the healthier your skin, the better recovery you’ll have from the plastic-surgery procedure. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take care of your skin in the weeks just before your procedure.
Here are some suggestions to keep in mind. 1) Stop smoking. Of course, ideally you’ll stop for good, since smoking seems to be an exacerbating factor for just about any kind of illness. But even if you don’t stop permanently, it’s a good idea to go smoke-free for two weeks before and two weeks after your surgery. 2) Stay away from aspirin, Vitamin E and ginkgo biloba, since they are known to increase the likelihood of excessive bleeding. 3) On the other hand, B vitamins, Vitamin K, calcium derived from plants, ginger and burdock root are known to assist in the body’s natural healing process. So, with your doctor’s consent, include these in your diet a few weeks before your procedure. 4) Adhere to a healthy, well-balanced diet so that your body is not deficient in any vitamins before your surgery. Along these same lines, eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits and drink lots of water.
Thus far, we’ve talked about protecting your skin in the pre-surgical weeks. But it’s even more important to protect it during the post-op days and weeks. This means not doing anything that threatens the area of the surgery.
Along those lines, plan to get a couple of days rest following the procedure (Unlike many surgical procedures, a vaginoplasty or labiaplasty won’t require weeks of recovery; if you get the procedure done on a Friday, you should be ready for work again by Monday, provided your job is not too physically strenuous).
For the next four to six weeks, you should refrain from sexual activity. Also, do only mild exercises for about three or four weeks, and then increase the intensity only gradually. And make sure you keep all post-operative appointments with your doctor so she can ensure the surgical site is healing well.
Within two months, you should, in most cases, be back to normal, with your skin well-healed at that point. That doesn’t mean, however, that at that point you can go back to your reckless lifestyle, with no regard for your skin or overall health. By all means, continue your new-found healthy eating and exercise habits. They’ll benefit you for life.
