Aviva

The surgical procedure involves cutting the folds of skin surrounding a woman's vagina, the labia minora (inner labia), so that it doesn't extend beyond the outer skin folds (the labia majora).

Labia surgery can also include procedures like vaginoplasty to tighten the vagina, or vulval lipoplasty to remove fat around the vulva.

There can be various health reasons for reducing the size of elongated labia minora, particularly for patients who experience persistently distressing or functional symptoms on the genital area.

"These persistent symptoms include pain, irritation, chronic infection or the problem contributes to poor hygiene. Functional issues on the labia may also interfere with common activities such as walking, standing and sitting, playing sports (i.e. cycling, horseback riding, or wearing tight undergarments) and during sexual activities." - Dr Liz

• Ideally use pressure garments (tights, exercise compression garments, etc) on treatment areas the whole time for  24-48 hours. 
  Then, start wearing these pressure garments on evenings (12 hours a day) for the next two weeks or until swelling subsides. 
  
• Wound care: Let soapy water wash over the incision sites (do not scrub) then apply antibiotic ointment/Bepanthem on the incision points twice daily for one week while the skin is healing after initially removing the pressure garment. Tiny scabs may appear during the healing process. Please do not pick at the scabs.
  
• Cleanse the treated areas gently with mild soap such as Cetaphil or Cerave and water after 48 hours. Avoid drying or irritating products such as fragrant soap, etc for 3 weeks after the procedure. Do not rub or irritate the area.
  
• Although these effects are rare and temporary, redness and swelling may last up to 3 weeks and are a part of a normal reaction to the treatment. Bruises occur in some people and last 1 to 2 weeks and are a normal reaction to the treatment. Some patients report a burning sensation, tingling or a tightening sensation in the treatment area for up to 3 months.
  
• Abstain from sexual activity for one week or until any tenderness has fully subsided.
  Limit physical activity and exposure to excessive heat (including fires) and UV light for 2 weeks
  
• Avoid the incision points that may still be healing.
  
• Pubic area shaving should only be done with an electric razor for the first week.
  
• Burns and changes in pigmentation are rare although may occur. If you notice small white bumps, they may take a few weeks to resolve.

• Only take simple pain medication/Panadol for pain relief after your procedure, unless instructed otherwise. Other pain relievers such as Aspirin or NSAIDs (i.e. Nurofen) can thin the blood and cause bleeding or bruising. The only exception to this rule is if your primary care doctor has prescribed you to take a daily Aspirin, NSAID, or other blood thinner. Take all antibiotics unless instructed otherwise.
• Do NOT drink alcohol for several days as instructed by the doctor after this procedure. Drinking alcohol can negatively affect healing and can cause thinning of the blood, bleeding, crusting and/or bruising.
• Ideally use pressure garments (tights, exercise compression garments, etc) on treatment areas the whole time for  24-48 hours. 
  Then, start wearing these pressure garments on evenings (12 hours a day) for the next two weeks or until swelling subsides. 
  
• Cleanse the treated areas gently with mild soap such as Cetaphil or Cerave and water after 48 hours. Avoid drying or irritating products such as fragrant soap, etc for 3 weeks after the procedure. Do not rub or irritate the area. Then apply antibiotic ointment/Bepanthem on the incision points twice daily for one week while the skin is healing after initially removing the pressure garment. Tiny scabs may appear during the healing process. Please do not pick at the scabs.
  
• Although these effects are rare and temporary, redness and swelling may last up to 3 weeks and are a part of a normal reaction to the treatment. Bruises occur in some people and last 1 to 2 weeks and are a normal reaction to the treatment. Some patients report a burning sensation, tingling or a tightening sensation in the treatment area for up to 3 months.
  
• Abstain from sexual activity for one week or until any tenderness has fully subsided.
  Limit physical activity and exposure to excessive heat (including fires) and UV light for 2 weeks
  
• Avoid the incision points that may still be healing.
  
• Pubic area shaving should only be done with an electric razor for the first week.
  
• Burns and changes in pigmentation are rare although may occur. If you notice small white bumps, they may take a few weeks to resolve.
• Remember, although the skin has initially healed, it takes a minimum of SIX WEEKS before any changes in skin tightening can be perceived and twelve months before final results in skin tightening can be appreciated.