Swelling and Numbness After Labiaplasty

Common post op questions regarding labiaplasty procedure include how much swelling can one expect and how much swelling is normal? Swelling after labiaplasty procedure is common, and is expected to some degree. Every patient is different, and as such, will experience different degrees of swelling. Normal post-operative labial swelling is a result of the dissection of the tissues, as well as an expected inflammatory response during the healing phase. Swelling can last for a few days and up to a few weeks, but in general should not be disruptive to daily activities. Any swelling that causes significant discomfort or distorts the overall look of the labia post procedure is considered abnormal and should be immediately evaluated. Swelling to this degree is rare, but can be a sign of an underlying problem. If significant swelling is present, it is important to continue close follow up with your physician to monitor for any possible signs or symptoms of infection. If infection is suspected, a 5-7 day course of oral antibiotics is typically prescribed. In rare occasions, significant swelling can prolong the healing process and can cause stretching of the tissue post operatively. This may lead to a need for revision once the labia have completely healed. In these situations, patients will be reevaluated a few months after the initial surgery to determine any revision needs.

Numbness after labiaplasty can occasionally occur and is a result of the dissection of tissues. The numbness should only be present along the incision lines themselves and should resolve within 1 month. Numbness that persists after 3 months or is not associated with the incision line is abnormal and should be evaluated. It is important to note, that during the labiaplasty procedure, the tissue around the clitoris (clitoral hood) is excised with no involvement of the erectile tissue of the clitoris itself. Therefore, any numbness present in the clitoral region is related to the skin and fatty tissue and should resolve with time.