Jess’ diary

My Consultation and the beginning of my labiaplasty experience
When I first walked into Aesthetica I immediately felt comfortable.
My consultation began by just speaking about general things and getting to know each other and what the procedure entails.
I was so nervous, but Dr Dash had lots of patience and answered all my questions. I then had the pleasure of meeting Julie. Julie also answered questions and explained she would be my go-to lady post-procedure.
I was able to call her any time of the day to ask questions or just to tell her how I was feeling. After this consultation, I knew I wanted to go through with my procedure at Aesthetica.

Procedure day

The big day, I’m super excited a little nervous but very ready. As I enter the clinic greeted by smiling faces and Julie takes me and prepares me for my procedure.
Let me tell you, I didn’t feel a thing throughout the procedure.
While Dr Dash administered the anaesthetic injection the nurse held my hand, I did feel a tiny pinch but it was definitely bearable, then Dr Dash proceeded to work his magic.
I was able to be on my phone but the nurse had great music playing so I just listened to that with her as she told me about what should happen post-procedure.
In no time, I knew it, my labiaplasty was done,
wooohooo!!
Leaving the clinic, I was able to walk out as everything down there was still numb, I was able to sit comfortably in the car without any discomfort.

Day 1

My procedure was 7pm so I went straight home, took my medication, and slept.
I set an alarm for during the night to take more medication and made sure that my medication, drink, and food were ready. I made the mistake of standing up and taking my medication whereas I should have sat up in bed to take it.
When I stood up I just felt a little pain and a lot of pressure down there. I was advised to sleep on my side with a pillow in-between my legs, this is a lifesaver!!
Once the medication kicked in again I was able to sleep the rest of the night

I have gotten through the first night. I just stayed in bed the next day with my mum and my partner getting me my medication and ice packs so I didn’t have to move much.
I only got up to go to the toilet.
Going to the toilet is funky, as there is a bit of swelling you never know what way the flow is going to go. At the toilet, I just patted softly and reapplied cream and was good to go (back to bed). I found putting the icepack in an ankle sock worked well instead of wrapped in a face washer but that’s a personal choice.

Day 2

Once I had gotten through the first day, I knew that the worse of it was over, I was able to adapt to make myself and start feeling a lot more comfortable.
I got gloves from the chemist and applied the cream every time I went to the toilet. Having an ice pack applied to the area made me feel secure.
When I walked, I waddled with my legs a bit wider, I think that’s because of the icepack between my legs.
Today I feel better than I did yesterday, I am still keeping up regular medication. Each time I went to the toilet I ensured I had little packs of gloves, cream, new gauze, and a fresh icepack ready. This worked really well.
I am feeling a ‘heavy’ feeling and somewhat pressure, I am sure this is due to the swelling, once I take my pain medication I feel great.

Each time I stand up there is a little bit of blood but each time I stand up as I begin to heal the blood slowly decreases.
I spent all day relaxing in bed and catching up on Netflix series which is not a bad way at all to spend a couple of days. The weeks before my labiaplasty I made sure not to watch anything as I knew I would have plenty of time on my hands.

Day 3

Today I can have a salt bath woohoooo! This was so relaxing and was nice doing a somewhat normal activity.
So far Julie has checked up on me every day just to see how I have been going so it was nice to talk to someone in heavy detail about what is going on down there and how it is looking.

Today I am walking a bit more to get my own meds, and ice, and moving around the house to sit/lay in other places.
Sitting down on chairs is still not comfortable so the couch and bed are my best friend. Moving around is a bit difficult but I am feeling such an improvement each day.

Day 5

I feel great today I am sleeping very well and am having regular salt baths. I have now moved on to using Bepanthen and I slather it on and it feels great.
The reason I put a fair amount of cream on is to have cream between my skin and my dressing which I discovered feels more comfortable for me.
Today is my first light therapy. I was quite comfortable sitting in the car as I drove myself there, the last couple of days I have been laying down or sitting with a pillow under my bottom. In the car, I didn’t need a pillow for support. Julie explained the light therapy and got me set up, has a look at my stitches and how I was going, I am still a bit swollen but other than that everything is going well.

Day 6

Sometimes I have had family friends enter my home and question why I am walking funny and as this is quite a personal procedure and I am happy telling my partner and mum I didn’t really want others to know. So I just said I have a sore back as a result of my period and that seemed to work. I did find wearing shoes and focusing on my walking and breathing made me walk normally. I wish I used commonsense and worn shoes earlier and I am sure ambulating would have been easier.
Today a bit of itchiness begins, it’s not too bad but it’s definitely there, I just preserver and try my best not to itch.

Day 7

One week since my procedure and I can’t believe how good I am moving and feeling. I enter the clinic for my light therapy and Dr Dash has a look to see how I am going.
It appears I have pulled out one of my stitches and I honestly can’t remember feeling when I did this, he said I was healing well and didn’t require anything further.
I felt the light therapy really helped with the healing process.
In all my 22 years I have never looked at my vagina as much as I have in this past week, I would check after my baths, after urinating, and when getting changed how everything is going and I just couldn’t believe how amazing the human body is in the way in how we heal.

Day 10

I am starting to go for walks around my neighborhood and life feels really normal. The little towel gives me security as I still have a bit of swelling.
I still feel itchy but not as frequently. It is so good being able to bend down and grab things slowly which I haven’t been able to do in a while, I’m starting to really feel confident and empowered within myself.
I am so proud of myself for going through and feel the light at the end of the tunnel is near still in shock that this has all happened and why I didn’t know about this or do this earlier.

Day 14

I have met with Dr Dash and everything is looking great, the stitches are dissolving and he is really happy with the healing process and so am I.
I am wearing tights and boots with a little heel today as well which was such a great feeling.

Day 18

I feel as though I have gone back to normal daily life and sometimes even forget what I have just done I still have some swelling, I am assuming this is just my body and my healing process as each individual is different.
When I go to the toilet it’s still a guessing game about what way the urine is going to flow.

Day 21

I went back into the clinic as I thought I still had stitches that hadn’t dissolved.
I had a shower before I went in and the final stitch came out as I was cleaning the area because when I entered the clinic and Julie checked there were no stitches in.
Hahah silly me I should have double-checked but that’s okay because it was still great to go in and get Julie to check how I am going.

6-week mark

I am at the end of my labiaplasty experience and I couldn’t be happier, I have the tiniest bit of swelling on my right labia but I can honestly say I LOVE MY VAGINA!
It is so comfortable in undies and pants, previously didn’t as my labia would always rub depending on what I was wearing, and also when exercising.
I feel like a whole new woman who can achieve anything, it’s crazy to say after a simple procedure but this was truly life-changing.

I had my final check-up with Dr Dash and I got the all-clear to have sex again, I was super excited but also extremely nervous.

My first sexual experience post labiaplasty
Like I said previously I was nervous but also super excited, as my vagina had been through so much over the past 6 weeks my body felt like it couldn’t have sex, so it was a bit of a fail.
I just had to reassure myself that this isn’t going to inflict the pain that a labiaplasty does.
When trying to have sex the first time I felt broken, like my body wasn’t ready to do what it is supposed to do, my internal muscles down there just didn’t want to relax.
I knew I wasn’t ready to have sex just yet so waited another week. it was initially painful each time did get better.

I personally am on the contraceptive pill and skipped my period while I was healing, but could have used pads if I didn’t want to skip it.

Tips
– First night have everything ready and don’t stand up to take medication, only stand up if absolutely required
– Rest, rest, rest as much as you can
– If you can have someone to be ‘your runner’ and get you icepacks and medication for the first couple of days, that really helps
– If you are not sure about anything, or just want to talk about how you are feeling contact Julie, she was an absolute lifesaver for me and reassured me.
– Ice pack in an ankle sock works well
– Wearing ‘full brief’ underwear as it just makes everything feel more secure
– Lather cream so healing skin doesn’t stick to gauze

I just want to say a massive thank you to Dr Dash, Julie, and the Aesthetica team for making my labiaplasty experience extremely personal, and for being so supportive.

xx