5 Most Common Postoperative Issues You Wish You Knew About Following Vaginoplasty!
Vaginoplasty surgery is often a big step in your physical transition process. And it could be the last surgical procedure you undergo as a part of your gender transition.
It can be incredibly exciting to have your surgical date scheduled finally. You may even have it pinned on your calendar as you eagerly anticipate the arrival of the set date.
It also can be very scary. Feelings of worry can creep up. Creating anxiety. Even fear.
This is partly because vaginoplasty is a big undertaking. It is, after all, the most complicated procedure out of all surgical procedures in the transition process.
And if you are planning or getting ready to undergo vaginoplasty, you must wonder what common postoperative issues can arise.
Yes! Postoperative issues do happen. It is a natural, often unavoidable part of the postoperative process.
The more familiar you are with common postoperative issues, the better equipped you’ll be to:
Handle the anxiety you feel after the surgery.
Feel more in control of any arising issues.
Be familiar with the most common issues and know you can handle them just fine.
Be able to anticipate potential issues and know you are ready to reach out to your doctor if they occur.
To find out some of the most common postoperative issues following the vaginoplasty procedure, I reached out to one of my top two gender-affirming surgeons in California.
Dr. Heidi Wittenberg, director of MoZaic Care in San Francisco, is a gender-affirming surgeon. Highly regarded in the transgender community, Dr. Wittenberg is incredibly skilled in vaginoplasty procedures.
Dr. Wittenberg is one of the few surgeons with a unique skillset in combined robotic, laparoscopic, and pelvic surgery, allowing her to offer peritoneal pull-through vaginoplasties and gender non-conforming surgeries.
If you are interested in learning more about peritoneal pull-through vaginoplasty, read the Risks and Benefits of Peritoneal Pull-Through Vaginoplasty.
Now let’s look at the most common postoperative issues that may arise following vaginoplasty.
#1 PAIN
As with having any surgeries, postoperative pain is normal and expected.
Some people get incredibly anxious in anticipation of extreme pain.
Keep in mind your doctor will provide you with the right pain management medication.
Besides medications that will be recommended for you, Dr. Wittenberg recommends adding Arnica tablets (not cream) and combinations of cbd/thc edibles and oils (smoking and vaping are not recommended due to compromise of lung function), can also help with post-op pain and anxiety. It is important to check with your surgeon on how and when to implement these adjunctive aids.
Additionally, everyone has a different pain tolerance.
To help lessen pain, Dr. Wittenberg advises applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the mons and perineum area.
#2 NAUSEA & CONSTIPATION
Nausea is a normal side effect of narcotic pain medication.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you manage post-op nausea.
Constipation is a normal side effect of narcotic pain medication and reduced physical activity.
Your doctor may recommend taking a stool softener.
Additionally, your doctor may suggest prune juice or Miralax to help reduce constipation.
#3 WOUND SEPARATION
Wound separation may occur up to 60% of the time starting two weeks after the surgery, says
This is a normal healing process due to motion, friction, and stress in this area.
Follow any guidelines offered by your doctor during this process, including being mindful of times when you do need to contact your doctor’s office.
And keep in mind it can take up to two months for complete healing.
#4 DISCHARGE
Vaginal discharge that is brown-yellow is normal and expected up to 6 weeks post-op.
To help rinse out discharge, adhere to douching suggested by your doctor.
Bleeding and spotting are also expected in the first eight weeks post-op.
Bloody discharge after dilation is also normal.
If you feel uncertain about discharge, coloration, or quantity, contact your doctor’s office.
#5 SWELLING
It is normal to have swelling of the labia following surgery.
As with any surgical swelling, it will naturally resolve with time.
If you spend long periods sitting or standing can make swelling worse.
To reduce swelling, Dr. Wittenberg suggests applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the mons and perineum.
Additionally, Dr. Wittenberg advises Arnica and Bromelain tablets over the counter can help with bruising and swelling.
Most importantly, be patient and give yourself time to heal.
Knowing these common postoperative issues will help you feel more psychologically prepared before surgery.
Most importantly, you won’t be blindly confronted with these issues as they arise.
It is important to remember that these are just some of the most common issues one can experience following vaginoplasty surgery. Your doctor should provide you with post-operative guidelines to follow, and you should be able to contact your doctor for any questions or concerns.
