Painful Scars After Labiaplasty—What Should I Do?
Some women who I’ve seen in referral after having labiaplasty by another physician using an edge-trim technique have complained of painful scars which have deterred them from resuming comfortable relations.
The edge-trim technique places a scar along the entire leading edge of the labia minora which can be tender as nerves regenerate. That is why I most commonly recommend a wedge type labia minora reduction which only rarely causes long-term pain. Painful scars after labiaplasty are most commonly managed with time, and it is likely that the pain will resolve over 3-6 months. I recommend that my patients avoid stressing the repair by waiting 8-10 weeks after surgery for sex and use of tampons or anything else that might be inserted into the vagina. With that said, if a painful scar remains after 5-6 months, touch-up surgery may be needed to improve the result of an edge-trim type of labiaplasty. This may include converting an edge-trim to a wedge type labiaplasty or creating skin flaps from the skin of the lateral clitoral hood to recreate a more natural appearing border of the labia minora. Scar revision or corrective surgery is rarely needed after a wedge type labiaplasty, however. It is best to allow scars to mature for at least 6 months after the wound completely closes before rushing into more surgery. Sometimes gentle massage or “desensitization exercises” can eliminate scar-related pain. Since it is not “normal” to have pain 6-8 weeks after a labiaplasty (and most patients state that pain or discomfort resolves within a few weeks of surgery), be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon if pain persists.