Abdominoplasty or a ‘tummy tuck’ is cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. It is used to tighten muscles that have become loose or split following pregnancy, or to remove fat and extra loose skin from the abdomen after massive weight loss.
In most cases, abdominoplasty will:
  • restore weakened or separated muscles
  • help alleviate pain
  • improve bladder function
  • reduce itching and skin infections caused by excess skin
  • change the shape and tone of the abdomen to create a firmer and smoother profile.
Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss or exercise. It may be possible to achieve a flatter stomach without surgery, through healthy eating and exercise, but not always. Many medical practitioners recommend that abdominoplasty be considered only after dieting and exercise have achieved the right body shape underneath.

What happens during surgery

All surgery, including abdominoplasty, must be performed within licensed and accredited facilities. A registered anesthetic.  must be present to treat you for any adverse reaction you may have to the anesthetic.
There are two types of abdominoplasty:
  • full abdominoplasty – which removes excess skin and tightens underlying muscles across the whole abdominal area, including around the navel
  • partial abdominoplasty – which removes excess skin below the navel and tightens the lower abdominal muscles only.
The operation is usually performed under general anesthetic. The length of the operation will depend on the extent of the surgery, but it could take up to three hours.
Generally, a full abdominoplasty involves:
  • The medical practitioner makes a horizontal, curved incision (cut) near the pubic hairline, which runs from one hip to the other.
  • The skin and fatty tissue are lifted from the underlying tissue.
  • The medical practitioner stitches and tightens slack or separated abdominal muscles.
  • Excess fat is removed.
  • Excess skin is trimmed.
  • The navel is repositioned.
  • The wounds are closed with stitches, tape or clips

Immediately after abdominoplasty

After the operation, you can expect:
  • a drain in the wound to help prevent fluid build-up
  • bruising and swelling
  • probable numbness in the skin between the navel and the wound
  • pain and discomfort
  • inability to stand up straight, to begin with
  • a ‘tugging’ sensation at your abdomen
  • dressings or bandages on your abdomen
  • a compression garment to help keep the swelling down.

Self-care at home after abdominoplasty

Be guided by your medical practitioner, but general self-care suggestions include:
  • rest as much as possible
  • follow all instructions on looking after your wound
  • avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for at least one month
  • report any bleeding, severe pain or unusual symptoms to your medical practitioner.
Your medical practitioner may advise you to:
  • wear compressive stockings on your legs for seven to ten days after the operation to prevent deep vein thrombosis
  • wear a compression garment over the surgical site for several weeks.
Long-term outlook following abdominoplasty
  • Be aware that having an abdominoplasty will not stop you gaining weight in the future.
  • Scarring will be permanent but should fade in time. Be patient – it may take around a year or so. Some puckering on the outside edge of the scar might remain.

Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

Liposuction is a type of surgery. It uses suction to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms or neck. Liposuction also shapes these areas. That process is called contouring. Other names for liposuction include lipoplasty and body contouring.

Liposuction isn’t considered an overall weight-loss method or a weight-loss alternative. People who are overweight can lose more weight through diet and exercise or through other kinds of surgery than with liposuction.

Liposuction may work for you if you have a lot of body fat in specific places but otherwise have a stable body weight.

Why it’s done

Liposuction removes fat from areas of the body that don’t respond to diet and exercise. These include the:

  • Abdomen.
  • Upper arms.
  • Buttocks.
  • Calves and ankles.
  • Chest and back.
  • Hips and thighs.
  • Chin and neck.

After liposuction, the skin molds itself to the new shapes of the treated areas. If you have good skin tone and elasticity, the skin usually looks smooth. If your skin is thin and not elastic, the skin in the treated areas may look loose.

Liposuction doesn’t help with dimpled skin from cellulite or other differences in the surface of the skin. Liposuction also doesn’t remove stretch marks.

To have liposuction, you must be in good health without conditions that could make surgery more difficult. These can include blood flow problems, coronary artery disease, diabetes or a weak immune system.

Risks

As with any surgery, liposuction has risks. These risks include bleeding and a reaction to anesthesia. Other risks specific to liposuction include:

  • Contour irregularities. Your skin may appear bumpy, wavy or withered due to uneven fat removal, poor skin elasticity and scarring. These changes may be permanent.
  • Fluid buildup. Temporary pockets of fluid, called seromas, can form under the skin. They may need to be drained using a needle.
  • Numbness. You may feel temporary or permanent numbness in the treated areas. Nerves in the area also may feel irritated.
  • Infection. Skin infections are rare but possible. A severe skin infection may be life-threatening.
  • Internal puncture. Rarely, if the thin tube used during surgery penetrates too deeply, it may puncture an internal organ. This may require emergency surgery to repair the organ.
  • Fat embolism. Pieces of fat may break away and become trapped in a blood vessel. They then may gather in the lungs or travel to the brain. A fat embolism is a medical emergency.
  • Kidney and heart problems. When large volumes of liposuction are performed, fluid shifts. This can cause possibly life-threatening kidney, heart and lung problems.
  • Lidocaine toxicity. Lidocaine is a medicine that is used to help manage pain. It’s often given with fluids injected during liposuction. Although lidocaine usually is safe, lidocaine toxicity sometimes can occur, causing serious heart and central nervous system problems.

How you prepare

  • Before the procedure, discuss with your surgeon what to expect from the surgery. Your surgeon will review your medical history and ask about any medical conditions you may have. Tell the surgeon about any medicines, supplements or herbs you are taking.
  • Your surgeon will recommend that you stop taking certain medicines, such as blood thinners or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), at least a week before surgery. You also may need to get certain lab tests before your procedure.
  • If only a small amount of fat is to be removed, the surgery may be done in a clinic or medical office. If a large amount of fat will be removed or if you have other procedures done at the same time, the surgery may take place in a hospital. In either case, find someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night after the procedure.

What you can expect

After the procedure

Expect some pain, swelling and bruising after the procedure. Your surgeon may give you medicines to help control the pain and to lower the risk of infection.

After the procedure, the surgeon may leave your incisions open or put in temporary drains to help fluid drain out of your body. Most people need to wear tight garments after surgery to help reduce swelling. These garments are also called compression garments and are worn for a few weeks.

You may need to wait a few days before going back to work. It may take a few weeks before you can start your usual activities, including exercise.

During this time, expect some differences in shape as the remaining fat settles into position. It will take weeks to months for the swelling to go down and to see the final results.

Results

After liposuction, swelling typically goes away within a few weeks. By this time, the treated area should look less bulky. Within several months, expect the treated area to look slimmer.

Skin loses some firmness as people age, but liposuction results usually last a long time if you maintain your weight. If you gain weight after liposuction, your fat levels may change. For example, you may gain fat around your abdomen no matter what areas were originally treated.

Download patient guide for Nose plastic surgery

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, removes fat, breast tissue and skin from the breasts. For those with large breasts, breast reduction surgery can ease discomfort and improve appearance.

Breast reduction surgery might also help improve self-image and the ability to take part in physical activities.

Breast reduction surgery is meant for people who have large breasts that cause the following:

  • Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain
  • Shoulder grooves from bra straps
  • Chronic rash or skin irritation under the breasts
  • Nerve pain
  • Not being able to take part in some activities
  • Poor self-image due to large breasts
  • Trouble fitting into bras and clothing

Breast reduction surgery generally isn’t recommended for people who:

  • Smoke
  • Are very obese
  • Don’t want scars on the breasts

Post-Operative Instructions for Breast Reduction

  • Minimal activities for the first 4 days after surgery.
  • Sleep on back for first 2 weeks.
  • You may ice your chest for the first week to decrease swelling and pain. Avoid heat to prevent a burn to the skin.
  • You may change the gauze dressings as needed. You can use ABD pads, maxi pads, or nursing pads.
  • While drains are in you may sponge bath only. Do not get breast wet.
  • When drains are removed, you may shower. You will remove binder and dressings. Allow water to run down chest, no vigorous scrubbing. Avoid soap to breasts for 1 week. Leave incision tapes or glue in place, do not remove. Pat dry breast and place a gauze dressing over each nipple and put binder back on.
  • You should wear the binder or sports bra at all times for 1 month, then you can stop wearing a bra while sleeping. No underwire bras for minimum of 8 weeks and possibly longer if area under fold is tender.
  • Do not raise arms above shoulders for first 4 days after surgery. Then, gradually increase arm activity.
  • NO heavy lifting (greater than 15 pounds), pushing or pulling for 4 weeks after surgery.
  • NO driving or working while on pain medications.
  • You may take Tylenol for pain or Benadryl for itching if needed.
  • Avoid Advil, Motrin, or Ibuprofen for the first week after surgery but you may take them any time after the 1st week.

You can expect:

  • All sutures to be dissolvable, none need to be removed.
  • To return to non-strenuous work within 3-7 days.
  • Moderate discomfort which should be relieved with pain medications.
  • Moderate swelling of breasts.
  • Bruising around breast.
  • Some bloody or clear drainage on dressings for the first week after surgery. Wear pad to keep clothes clean.
  • Changes in nipple sensation. This should resolve.
  • Intermittent sharp stabbing pain to the breasts as the skin nerves are repairing. This is temporary but may last for 3-6 months.
  • Severe pain not relieved by pain medications.
  • Increased swelling or firmness greater on one side than the other.
  • Excessive drainage on dressings that is increasing.
  • Incisions that appear to be opening.
  • Any red, hot, or pus containing areas.
  • A fever greater than 101.5

As time goes by and you are healing, the following apply:

  • Most swelling, bruising and soreness resolves within 6-8 weeks.
  • Return to strenuous activities in 4-6 weeks.
  • Final bra size can be determined within 10-12 weeks.
  • The scar will continue to fade for up to 2 years.
Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that removes excess skin from the eyelids. With age, eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken. As a result, excess skin and fat can gather above and below your eyelids. This can cause sagging eyebrows, droopy upper lids and bags under the eyes.
Besides aging, severely sagging skin around the eyes can reduce side vision (peripheral vision), especially the upper and outer parts of the visual field. Blepharoplasty can reduce or get rid of these vision problems. The surgery can also make eyes look younger and more alert.
Learn how blepharoplasty is done and about the benefits and risk of the procedure.

Why it’s done

Blepharoplasty might be an option for:
  • Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
  • Excess skin of the upper eyelids that partially blocks peripheral vision
  • Excess skin on the lower eyelids
  • Bags under the eyes
Blepharoplasty can be done at the same time as another procedure, such as a brow lift, face-lift or skin resurfacing.

Risks

All surgery has risks, including reaction to anesthesia and blood clots. Besides those, rare risks of eyelid surgery include:
  • Infection and bleeding
  • Dry, irritated eyes
  • Difficulty closing the eyes or other eyelid problems
  • Noticeable scarring
  • Injury to eye muscles
  • Skin discoloration
  • Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight
  • The need for follow-up surgery

How to prepare

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you’ll meet with a health care provider. Providers you meet with may include a plastic surgeon, an eye specialist (ophthalmologist), or an ophthalmologist who specializes in plastic surgery around the eyes (oculoplastic surgeon). The discussion includes:
  • Your medical history. Your care provider will ask about previous surgeries. Your provider may also ask about past or current conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma, allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes. Your provider will also ask about your use of drugs, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.
  • Your goals. A discussion of what you want from the surgery will help set the stage for a good outcome. Your care provider will discuss with you whether the procedure is likely to work well for you.
Before your eyelid surgery, you’ll likely have a physical exam and the following:
  • Complete eye exam. This might include testing tear production and measuring parts of the eyelids.
  • Visual field testing. This is to see if there are blind spots in the corners of the eyes (peripheral vision). This is needed to support an insurance claim.
  • Eyelid photography. Photos from different angles help with planning the surgery, and documenting whether there’s a medical reason for it, which might support an insurance claim.
And your provider will likely ask you to do the following:
  • Stop taking warfarin (Jantoven), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and other drugs or herbal supplements that can increase bleeding. Ask your health care provider how long before surgery to stop taking these drugs. Take only drugs approved by your surgeon.
  • Quit smoking several weeks before surgery. Smoking can reduce the ability to heal after surgery.
  • Arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery if you are having outpatient surgery. Plan to have someone stay with you for the first night after returning home from surgery.

What you can expect

Before the procedure

Blepharoplasty is usually done in an outpatient setting. You might be given drugs such as injections into the eyelids to numb them and drugs through an IV to help you relax.
During the procedure
For upper eyelids, the surgeon cuts along the fold of the eyelid. The surgeon removes some excess skin, muscle and possibly fat. Then the surgeon closes the cut.
On the lower lid, the surgeon makes a cut just below the lashes in your eye’s natural crease or inside the lower lid. The surgeon removes or redistributes excess fat, muscle and sagging skin. Then the surgeon closes the cut.
If your upper eyelid droops close to your pupil, your surgeon may do blepharoplasty combined with a procedure called ptosis (TOE-sis). Ptosis is designed to lift the eyelid as well as remove excess eyelid skin.

After the procedure

After surgery you spend time in a recovery room where staff members monitor you for complications. You can leave later that day to heal at home.
After surgery you might temporarily have:
  • Blurred vision from the lubricating ointment applied to your eyes
  • Watering eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Double vision
  • Puffy, numb eyelids
  • Swelling and bruising similar to having black eyes
  • Pain or discomfort
Take the following steps to help you recover from surgery unless your surgeon gives you different instructions.

Do:

  • Use ice packs on your eyes for 10 minutes every hour the night after surgery. The following day, use ice packs on your eyes 4 to 5 times throughout the day.
  • Use prescribed eye drops or ointments.
  • Sleep with your head raised higher than your chest for a few days.
  • Apply cool compresses to reduce swelling.
  • Wear dark sunglasses to protect the skin of your eyelids from sun and wind.
  • If needed, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control pain.

Don’t:

  • Do anything strenuous for a week — no heavy lifting, swimming, jogging or aerobics.
  • Smoke.
  • Rub your eyes.
  • Wear contact lenses for about two weeks.
  • Take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and other drugs or herbal supplements that can increase bleeding.
During hip replacement, a surgeon removes the damaged sections of the hip joint and replaces them with parts usually constructed of metal, ceramic and very hard plastic. This artificial joint (prosthesis) helps reduce pain and improve function.
Also called total hip arthroplasty, hip replacement surgery might be an option if hip pain interferes with daily activities and nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped or are no longer effective. Arthritis damage is the most common reason to need hip replacement.

Why it’s done

Conditions that can damage the hip joint, sometimes making hip replacement surgery necessary, include:
  • Osteoarthritis. Commonly known as wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis damages the slick cartilage that covers the ends of bones and helps joints move smoothly.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. Caused by an overactive immune system, rheumatoid arthritis produces a type of inflammation that can erode cartilage and occasionally underlying bone, resulting in damaged and deformed joints.
  • Osteonecrosis. If there isn’t enough blood supplied to the ball portion of the hip joint, such as might result from a dislocation or fracture, the bone might collapse and deform.
Hip replacement may be an option if hip pain:
  • Persists, despite pain medication
  • Worsens with walking, even with a cane or walker
  • Interferes with sleep
  • Affects the ability to walk up or down stairs
  • Makes it difficult to rise from a seated position

Post-operative care

After your surgery, there are a variety of things you need to know for your safety, recovery and comfort. You will receive instructions on your nutrition, medicines, exercise program, activity level, discharge equipment, follow-up appointment, and signs and symptoms to watch for. Within this section is what to expect during your recovery, a list of commonly asked questions, a list of questions to ask at your follow-up appointment, and information about pain relief, pain medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines, constipation and nutrition.

What to expect during your recovery

  • Before you leave the hospital
 Talk with your surgeon about any precautions you may have after surgery.
  • Make sure you have a follow-up appointment scheduled with your surgeon 10 to 14 days after your surgery.
Important: It can take a while to heal after surgery. Recovery is different for each person.

Day you leave the hospital to 3 weeks after surgery

  • Your surgeon and physical therapist will talk with you about your home exercise program. Follow any instructions they give you. This will have a big impact on your recovery.
  • Swelling after surgery is common. You may experience the most swelling 7 to 10 days after surgery.
    • Raise (elevate) your leg above the level of your heart by placing a pillow under your calf or ankle, not your knee.
    • Apply an ice pack or frozen gel pack as directed to help reduce swelling.
    • Call your surgeon right away if you have an increase in calf pain.
  • You will likely have a decrease in energy after surgery. Make sure to balance your activity with rest and continue with your home exercise program.

Three to 6 weeks after surgery

  • Continue with your home exercise program. This will have a big impact on your recovery.
  • You may continue to have pain, discomfort, stiffness and swelling. This is common and should get better over time. Continue treating with elevation, ice pack or frozen gel pack, and other non-medicine ways to treat pain. (Most people are off pain medicine unless they were already taking pain medicine before surgery.) If you feel new pain or your pain gets worse, call your surgeon right away.
  • It is common to have trouble sleeping. It may be helpful to:
    • avoid sleeping or napping too much during the day
    • create a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
    • changing positions in bed
    • avoid drinking too many liquids right before going to bed
    • avoid stress before bed.
  • Call your surgeon if you continue to have problems sleeping.
  • You may start walking without an assistive walking device when your surgeon says it is OK.
  • You may be able to do most activities around the house if your surgeon says it is OK.
  • You may be able to drive if:
    • you are not taking pain medicine
    • your surgeon says it is OK.
  • You may resume sexual activity when you are ready.
    • A firm mattress is recommended.
    • Be the passive partner for the first 6 weeks after surgery
    • Follow your hip precautions if you have them.
  • You may be able to return to work 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, depending on your type of work. You may want to consider going back to work gradually and starting with half days. Remember to take rest breaks and find time to elevate your leg and use an ice pack or frozen gel pack as directed.
  • Your surgeon may want you to schedule an appointment 6 weeks after surgery to have your incision checked and talk about physical activity.

Ten to 12 weeks after surgery

  • You should be able to resume most of your regular activities if your surgeon says it is OK. Some activities such as jogging, jumping and aerobics put a lot of strain or pressure on your new joint and should be avoided. Check with your surgeon before starting any new activities.

Three to 6 months after surgery

  • Ask your surgeon when it is OK to resume having routine dental appointments or any dental work done.
  • Your surgeon may want you to schedule an appointment 6 months after surgery to talk about your recovery and do an X-ray if needed.

Six months to 1 year after surgery

  • Most of your pain should be gone 1 year after surgery. However, you may still have some swelling in your lower leg and foot, and discomfort going up and down stairs or sitting in one position for too long. It is important to be physically active and maintain a healthy weight for the best recovery.
  • You may resume playing low-intensity activities. Talk with your surgeon about which activities are right for you.
Knee replacement surgery replaces parts of injured or worn-out knee joints. The surgery can help ease pain and make the knee work better. During the surgery, damaged bone and cartilage are replaced with parts made of metal and plastic.
To decide whether a knee replacement is right for you, a surgeon checks your knee’s range of motion, stability, and strength. X-rays help show the extent of damage.
The right artificial joints and surgical techniques for you depend on your age, weight, activity level, knee size and shape, and overall health.

Why it’s done

The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is to ease pain caused by arthritis. People who need knee replacement surgery usually have problems walking, climbing stairs and getting up out of chairs.
If only one part of the knee is damaged, surgeons often can replace just that part. If the entire joint needs to be replaced, the ends of the thighbone and shinbone are reshaped and the entire joint resurfaced. These bones are hard tubes that contain a soft center. The ends of the artificial parts are inserted into the softer central part of the bones.
Ligaments are bands of tissue that help hold joints together. If the knee’s ligaments aren’t strong enough to hold the joint together by themselves, the surgeon may choose implants that can be connected so they can’t come apart.

How to prepare

Food and medications

Your health care team might advise you to stop taking certain medications and dietary supplements before your surgery. You’ll likely be instructed not to eat anything after midnight the day of your surgery.

Prepare for your recovery

For several weeks after the procedure, you might need to use crutches or a walker, so arrange for them before your surgery. Make sure you have a ride home from the hospital and help with everyday tasks, such as cooking, bathing and doing laundry.
To make your home safer and easier to navigate during recovery, consider doing the following:
  • Create a living space on one floor since climbing stairs can be difficult.
  • Install safety bars or a secure handrail in your shower or bath.
  • Secure stairway handrails.
  • Get a stable chair with a firm seat cushion and back, and a footstool to elevate your leg.
  • Arrange for a toilet seat riser with arms if you have a low toilet.
  • Get a stable bench or chair for your shower.
  • Remove loose rugs and cords.

What you can expect

When you check in for your surgery, you’ll be asked to remove your clothes and put on a hospital gown. You’ll be given either a spinal block, which numbs the lower half of your body, or a general anesthetic, which puts you into a sleep-like state.
Your surgeon might also inject a numbing medicine around nerves or in and around the joint to help block pain after your surgery.

During the procedure

Knee replacement surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours. To perform the procedure, the surgeon:
  • Makes an incision over the knee.
  • Removes diseased and damaged bone and cartilage, leaving healthy bone intact.
  • Implants the replacement parts into the thighbone, shinbone and kneecap.

After the procedure

After surgery, you’ll rest in a recovery area for a short time. How long you stay in the hospital after surgery depends on your individual needs. Many people can go home the same day.
The risk of blood clots increases after knee replacement surgery. To prevent this complication, you may need to:
  • Move early. You’ll be encouraged to sit up and walk with crutches or a walker soon after surgery.
  • Apply pressure. Both during and after surgery, you might wear elastic compression stockings or inflatable air sleeves on your lower legs. The air sleeves squeeze and release your legs. That helps keep blood from pooling in the leg veins, reducing the chance that clots will form.
  • Take blood thinners. Your surgeon might prescribe an injected or oral blood thinner after surgery. Depending on how soon you walk, how active you are and your overall risk of blood clots, you might need blood thinners for several weeks after surgery.
You’ll also likely be asked to do frequent breathing exercises and gradually increase your activity level. A physical therapist can show you how to exercise your new knee. After you leave the hospital, you’ll likely continue physical therapy at home or at a center.
 

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce or increase the size of your labia. People usually get this procedure to reduce physical discomfort or as part of gender-affirming surgery. Sometimes, you might want it for cosmetic reasons, but there’s a wide range of normal labia. Everyone’s labia are unique and there’s no ideal or “normal” way for them to look.

Your labia are the folds of skin around your vagina opening. You have two folds of skin there. The outer folds are called the labia majora, which means large lips. These are the larger fleshy folds that protect your external genital organs. They’re covered with pubic hair after puberty. The inner folds are called the labia minora, which means small lips. These skin folds protect the opening of your urethra (where your pee leaves your body) and vagina.

during a labiaplasty and depending on why you’re having it, your surgeon either:

  • Removes some tissue from your labia to reduce its size.
  • Injects a filler material or fat into your labia to enlarge it.
  • Reconstructs your labia from other tissue.

Why would someone get a labiaplasty?

There are medical reasons for labiaplasty. There are also physical, cosmetic and emotional reasons. Sometimes, labiaplasty is part of gender-affirming surgery.

Medical and physical reasons

  • To reduce the size of your labia minora so they don’t protrude beyond the edges of the labia majora. Excess labial tissue can twist, turn, get pinched or tugged, and cause physical discomfort and irritation during exercise, physical activities (like bike riding or jogging) and intercourse.
  • To improve hygiene and health since excess tissue can make cleansing more difficult and can harbor bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Cosmetic and emotional reasons

  • To reduce asymmetry (uneven shape) of the labia minora or labia majora when one side is longer or shaped differently.
  • To improve comfort, confidence and sexual well-being about the appearance of your genitalia during intimate contact. Keep in mind that people have a variety of lip sizes and shapes, and there’s no labial appearance that’s considered normal.

Gender-affirming surgery

If surgery is part of a gender-affirming process, your surgeon can create labia using existing genital tissue. You may also have labiaplasty before or after other reconstruction surgeries.

What causes a labium to become oversized?

  • Puberty can cause a growth spurt in your labia.
  • Menopause or other hormonal changes can thin the tissue of your labia majora.
  • Pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Changes in your weight.

What is the average age for labiaplasty?

Most people who have labiaplasty are between the ages of 18 and 50. But, since your labia may stretch during pregnancy and childbirth, you might want to wait until after you’re done adding to your family. A child may have labiaplasty, but only to correct problems related to daily function and activity.

What happens after labiaplasty?

After surgery, your provider removes your urinary catheter (if you have one) and you’ll become more alert as the anesthesia wears off. Your healthcare team will check to see if you’re bleeding more than expected. Before being discharged, your providers give you instructions about how to care for your wound while it heals. They’ll also discuss pain control, activity restrictions and follow-up appointments.

What are the risks and complications of labia surgery?

Complications are infrequent, but can include:

  • Removing too much tissue or not enough tissue.
  • Bruising (hematoma).
  • Wound breakdown.
  • Scarring.
  • Ongoing pain, pain with sex or loss of sensitivity.

Will there be much bleeding?

You may have some bleeding for up to a week or so. You can wear a pad to absorb this minor bleeding.

When will results be at their very best?

The initial swelling, soreness and temporary discoloration decrease over the first couple of weeks after surgery. Most swelling is gone after six weeks. But it may take up to four to six months of healing time for swelling to completely go away before seeing the final results of your labiaplasty. There’s usually little to no scarring.

How do I wash my labia area after surgery?

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.

Follow all your provider’s post-op instructions about:

  • Peeing and pooping.
  • Keeping your surgical area clean and free from bacteria.
  • Allowing the surgical area to heal.

When can I return to work, physical activity and sexual activity?

You should be able to return to work and other light activities after a few days. But if your job involves physical activity or lifting, you may need to stay home longer. You should avoid the following for four to six weeks or until cleared by your surgeon:

  • Strenuous exercise.
  • Physical activities like cycling, running and swimming.
  • Sexual intimacy.

Returning to these activities too soon can put pressure on the wound, tear stitches and delay healing.

Does labiaplasty increase pleasure?

Although some people think that labiaplasty might improve sexual satisfaction, there’s limited evidence to support this. Research suggests no significant change in sensation, lubrication or orgasm. But labiaplasty can decrease pain associated with sex for some people, which can increase your enjoyment of sex. Also, changes in self-esteem and satisfaction with the look of your genitals may positively impact your sexual experiences.

Colporrhaphy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that repairs and strengthens the vaginal wall after a pelvic organ prolapse (POP). A pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one of the organs in the pelvic floor region slips out of its normal location in the body

The operation

During the colporrhaphy operation, an incision is made near the entrance of the vagina, extending inward toward the top of the vaginal canal. This incision gives the surgeon access to repair and restructure the weakened underlying pelvic floor tissue that caused the prolapse. The incision is sutured with strong, absorbable stitches. General, regional or local anesthesia may be used depending on which option the physician believes is best for the patient.

What is the care after vaginal repair or colporrhaphy?

When you wake up after surgery, you may have a catheter (tube) that drains urine from your bladder into a bag, or a gauze pad placed in your vagina to prevent bleeding. Your doctor will determine how long they should be left in based on your individual situation (usually between 8 and 24 hours).

Actions to prevent blood clots

It is better, while you’re in bed, try doing simple exercises like quickly moving your ankles in a circular motion and bending and straightening your legs a few times an hour. Avoid crossing your legs. The best way to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs and lungs after surgery is to get up and out of bed as soon as possible after surgery. Try to take short walks 3-4 times a day.

Your doctor may recommend other preventive measures based on your individual risk for developing blood clots.

Bathing and showering after surgery

You can shower as soon as you feel like it. Many people shower the day after surgery. Avoid prolonged soaking of the surgical area. Ambulatory showering in the first 6 weeks after surgery, when vaginal sutures are still present, is preferable to bathing and soaking the area thoroughly.

Nutrition after surgery

As soon as the appetite returns after the operation, you can eat and drink as usual. You can eat whatever you want, however, aim for nutritious foods

A hysterectomy is a surgery or operation that removes a woman’s womb or uterus. A uterus is the part of a woman’s body where the fetus or baby would grow during pregnancy. Many times during what is called a radical hysterectomy, a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix is removed too. Usually this occurs when a woman has cancer to help prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.

The Operation

During the procedure, most doctors make an incision in the lower abdomen or vagina to remove the organs. Some doctors perform this surgery using a laparoscope, where they insert a tiny camera into the body during a vaginal hysterectomy. The type of hysterectomy performed will depend largely on the reason the doctor has to perform the surgery. Usually an abdominal hysterectomy takes the longest to recover from.

After the Operation- At Home

Women undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy will likely recover over a four to eight week time. During this time they can slowly start to engage in physical activity again. The vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy offer a much quicker response time. Most women are able to get back to work and start exercising lightly again within two weeks. Within six weeks women can start swimming again and enjoying physical or intimate activities in the bedroom.

Sexual activity after hysterectomy

Until internal healing occurs, penetrative sex (vaginal intercourse) is not recommended. (approximately six weeks)

Additionally, you may need to use a water-based lubricant when restarting.

If intercourse is painful after eight weeks, see a doctor.

Vaginal discharge after hysterectomy

In the next three weeks, you may have a brown or old look on your sanitary napkin.

Do not use tampons or douches as this may cause damage.

You may have vaginal spotting about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, which is thought to be due to re-stitching.

If your bleeding continues or changes in any way, you should consult your doctor.