Recovery and aftercare vaginal tightening

Read all aftercare information and our advice on how to recover optimally from a vaginal tightening procedure here. Please read this carefully, as proper aftercare can make a significant difference in the final result.

Availability after the procedure:

During office hours (09:00 – 17:00), you can reach us at: 088 – 0042 702. Outside office hours, for emergencies, call the emergency number we provided after your procedure. The on-call doctor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you reach our voicemail, please leave your name and phone number, and we will call you back as soon as possible.

The following symptoms are NORMAL after surgery:

• The wound on the outside (from the vaginal entrance toward the anus) will be painful and swollen at first. You should especially expect this in the first few days after the procedure. You may also experience slight numbness in the treated area.
• As with any surgical procedure, the body needs time to heal. The area around the vagina will initially appear bruised, swollen, and discolored. You may also feel firm lumps — these are the knots of the internal muscle stitches. These lumps can be noticeable for several months after the surgery but will eventually disappear on their own.
• After about a week, you may notice an increase in bleeding. This comes from the vaginal wound. It’s best to take things easier at that point and lie down more frequently. The bleeding should return to normal after a few days.
• Additionally, vaginal discharge may be heavier and have a stronger odor in the first few weeks. This is part of the healing process and is caused by the dissolving of internal stitches.

The following symptoms are NOT NORMAL after surgery:

If any of the following symptoms occur in the days after the procedure, you must contact us immediately:

• Excessive swelling with dark purple discoloration
• Heavy bleeding (flowing)
• Pain that does not subside after taking painkillers, or pain that increases in the days following the procedure
• Pus formation and fever

Advice after the procedure:

It is important to get as much bed rest as possible during the first few days. At night, you can apply pressure to the wound by wearing tight-fitting underwear over your sanitary pad, with a tea towel, washcloth, or small towel placed inside. You can continue using this method for up to 3 days after the procedure.

It is important not to sit on a ring cushion or inflatable swim ring, as this can increase swelling and make the wound more painful.

Bowel movements

It is important to keep your stool soft during the initial recovery period to reduce pressure on the surgical area. You can purchase Metamucil for this (available at drugstores). Additionally, you may experience some bleeding during the first few weeks. You can use sanitary pads for this.

Pain relief / medication

We recommend taking two Paracetamol (500 mg) tablets every 4–6 hours for the first few days after the procedure. Any additional medication or pain relief should be taken only as prescribed by your doctor.

Cooling

For the first few days, it is advisable to cool the area for 10–15 minutes every hour using an ice pack (provided by us) or a bag of frozen peas. Always place a piece of gauze or a clean cloth between the ice pack and your skin.

Risks and complications

As with any surgery, complications can occur after vaginal tightening. A wound may start bleeding again, or an infection may develop. Fortunately, this rarely happens. If you are in doubt, always contact the clinic.

Resting

It is important to rest during the first few days. Make sure someone is nearby to assist you if needed. We recommend lying down as much as possible during the first 3 days.

Hygiene (shower and toilet use)

After urinating, rinse briefly with water. You can shower with the stitches. It’s best to gently rinse the wound twice a day using the showerhead. Make sure the water is not too warm to avoid bleeding. Taking a hot bath is strongly discouraged during the first 6 weeks.

Exercise / physical activity

We advise against exercising or performing any heavy physical activity during the first 4–6 weeks after the procedure.

Working

Heavy physical work should be avoided for at least the first four weeks.

Menstruation

We advise against using tampons during the first 8 weeks after the procedure. We recommend using sanitary pads and rinsing gently with the showerhead twice a day. Once the wound is healed, you can also use menstrual underwear — these are special panties that absorb menstrual blood and light urine leakage, so you no longer need tampons or pads. Moodies Undies offers a wide selection of menstrual underwear.

Sex

We advise avoiding sexual intercourse for the first 8 weeks after the procedure. It causes too much friction and increases the risk of infection. The first few times you have sex after the treatment, it may feel sensitive and cause some light bleeding – we advise to use plenty of lubricant. To reduce the risk of small tears, you can soften the skin by massaging it with vaseline.

Do you have questions or doubts? Please contact us at:

P: +31 (0)88 – 0042702
E: info@v-klinieken.nl

Follow-up

Two weeks after the procedure, you will return to the clinic for your first follow-up appointment, during which the stitches will be removed. After 5–6 months, you will come back for a final check-up with your treating doctor. During this appointment, it will be assessed whether the vaginal tightening has been successful or if an additional correction may be needed.

Result vaginal tightening

After the procedure, your vagina will be tighter, but that does not necessarily mean that sensation during intercourse will completely change. Many other factors play a role.

For example, sensitivity during intercourse often decreases after menopause. It may also be that your partner does not have an optimal erection, or that you become extremely lubricated during sex. Additionally, the nerve endings around the vagina may have been damaged during childbirth. Unfortunately, none of these factors can be addressed with a vaginal tightening procedure.

The ability to have an orgasm is not affected by vaginal tightening. Any existing complaints of urinary incontinence will also not change. If you would like to know more about this, we will be happy to explain it further during your consultation.