NHS Labiaplasty, advice from UK members please?

hi razzle - the way it works at my surgery is we book the appointment for the patient and they collect the appointment information, the other way some surgerys work is they send you a list of choices and u then book yourself, suggest u ring your docs ask for secretary and ask how it works - ie have thye just written directly to a hospital - if so, u will get an appointment direct from the hospital at some point. x

Hello! Doctor rang me today and I have a Gynae appt. On 14th December, I'm feeling confident but don't want to get ny hours up in case the surgery doesn't happen, fingers crossed!!x

great news razzle -only reason they wont agree to surgery if u are only going for cosmetic reasons - so no matter what do not mention how u feel with the way it looks (as they dont care!), but u must stress how it is affecting you physically on a daily basis etc. best of luck x

Hi razzle92! Good luck for your gynae appointment. To increase your chances of getting the surgery, I advise not walking in and saying "I want a labiaplasty", instead talk about the problems you are having with your labia, like discomfort, and let the gynaecologist be the one to bring up labiaplasty. This is what I did.

I re-read my letter my letter and noticed that it said "reduction of labial minus". I panicked because that meant they were only going to reduce one of my labia! I rang up and was put through to this person and that person, but nobody knew what was happening. I have been persistant - perhaps to the point of being annoying, but at least I now know it was a mistake and I am having both my labia trimmed! :) I'm so relieved.

Hey! I just had my labiaplasty yesterday. My mum came with me and I had to be at the hospital for 9:30 in the morning. There was a cancellation so my op was brought forward. There was barely any time to get my head around what was happening. I was only in the waiting area for a few minutes before a lovely nurse called me through to take my weight, blood pressure and ask me about allergies, dental work and periods. She put a name tag and an allergy tag on my wrist. (By the way, I got my period early. I wasn't expecting it until after the op but it came on Saturday. I told the nurse and it wasn't a problem, especially since it was very light and almost over by Tuesday (day of op)).She then took me to a cubicle to change into a hospital gown, my dressing gown and slippers and then lead me back to my mum. The gynaecologist popped in to see me and flicked through my papers. Then another nurse came in and went through my paper and asked my a few extra questions. She read aloud what my op was which I was hoping wouldn't happen since my mum didn't know exactly what I was having done down there, but ah well. She also talked about a suppository (up your bum) for pain which I didn't mind because I would be unconscious when I got it. I was then walked to theatre by the first nurse. It was very scary. I said to the nurse that there were a lot of peple there and she told everyone who wasn't needed to leave. She was so nice. Then I was introduced to the anethetist who was a man but he was nice to. I laid down on the operating table and chatted to the anethetist and nurse. I barely felt the cannula go in. The anethetist said he was giving me some stuff to make be woozy and I told him to tell before I went to sleep. The nurse put an oxygen mask on me and soon after, I started to fell very calm and I closed my eyes. I don't remember falling asleep. I woke up after the op in the recovery room and felt so well rested. I was still half asleep as I chatted to the nurse and I'm not really sure what I was saying to her (I'm like this after normal sleep too). I remember complaining that I wanted the oxygen mask off. After a while, they took it off and I was wheeled to the secong stage of the recovery area. By this stage I was fully awake and it was only 11:00! I little while later, I was given water and then some tea and toast. I ate and drank it all up. I was in no pain when I woke up but it gradually got worse as time went on (only about a 2 on a scale of 0 to 10). My blood pressure was taken every 15 minutes and the gynae came to see me briefly and told me I was swollen a bit. A nurse brought me my clothes and I dressed myself. I was taken to the toilet to give an urine sample (in privacy). I patted myself dry and there was no stinging. Then a nurse brought me my medication and post op advice sheet. After that, I was discharged (shortly after 12) and driven home. Once home, I got my bag of frozen vegetables out of the fridge, and used it as an icepack. At 1pm the pain became a 3 so I took 2 tablets. When I went to the toilet, I poured water over it and it did not sting. I thought to myself "is that really my vulva?". I got the hand mirror and had a better look. It was a bit swollen but not bruised and I'm sure I'd be happy with it even if it doesn't get any smaller! I was able to walk about and cook my own dinner. I took 2 more tablets before bed and slept well. Today I woke up feeling fine. I had breakfast and took 2 tablets. Peeing did sting a little bit. The pain hasn't been bad today either so I haven't taken the tablets as often as I can. I peed again and it stung quite badly for a few minutes afterwards (I hadn't had any tablets for ages) but it was only about a 4 on the scale. I've just taken 2 more tablets and the pain has eased. Actually it's more discomfort than pain. Anyway thanks for reading. I hope it helps other people in this position and I'll keep you posted.

well done princess, so happy for u, tip always pour warm salty water wen u wee and if u can take arnica tablets - help reduce swelling, rest as much as u possibly can. x

Thanks emzone! I'll try the warm salty water. I was in a bit of pain when I woke up this morning (Thursday/day 2 post op) but that's to be expected. I went to sleep without painkillers last night because I didn't want to stay up an extra hour until I could take them. I panicked a bit when I went to the loo because I noticed I was bleeding more. I don'tink there's any need to worry yet because there's only a little blood on my pad. I only encountered the extra blood when patting myself dry. It's not that much and some of it may still be from my period. Any thoughts/advice? Could I have popped some stitches during the night? I've been trying really hard to sleep still on my back but I naturally sleep on my side, curled up in a ball, and I also change sides during the night too. I don't think I moved much last night but there's no way to be sure.

THATS Completley norma, so stop worrying - bare in mind period loss as well, so a bit xtra is to be expected, highly unlikely u have popped stitches as u are being so careful, everyone moves about in the night it would take hell of a lot more than that to pop them. by about day 5 u should defo not need any painkillers, so not long to go now, just keep resting, ice if necessary and warm salty water, no bath for a week! keep us updatex x

The bleeding stopped a few hours after my last post. I was so glad. I've also finally had a good look at down there. My labia are definitely smaller than they were before. They do not protrude past my labia majora but they are visible since they are thicker (from the swelling) which is making the majora sit apart, if that makes sense. There are some places where my labia are sort of "pinched in". I heard someone describe it as being like rubber bands wrapped around a sausage. HA HA! I guess that's what I've got too! I think that's just where the stitches are and they'll even out as the stitches dissolve and the swelling goes down. I haven't taken any painkillers since this morning as there has been so little pain. I've also been enjoying the full effects of the ice pack now that I'm no longer wearing a pad.

So anyway I'm doing well so far, despite a little incident where I slipped coming down the stairs (which didn't cause any problems) and my life is mostly back to normal. I haven't left the house yet but I have no need to, for a while anyway. The hardest thing for me at the moment is this surreal feeling. I can't believe I've had the surgery. I keep thinking it's still to come and then I realise... I already did it... those labia are gone... forever....

I'm glad they're gone and I feel like I'm on my way to a speedy recovery (at least I hope so). Thank you to everyone who has posted here and helped me make my decision to have a labiaplasty and good luck to anyone reading this who is about to have or has just had labiaplasty!

its just the best feeling in the world to finally feel and look 'normal', so pleased with how well u are doing x

Just another update: Yesterday, I noticed that I have some bruising at the bottom of my left labia (near the pernieum, or however you spell it). I'm still icing the area because I'm still swollen. I think yesterday was the worst of the pain so far, but it was more of an annoying sort of discomfort than anything else. I had a  shower yesterday (I know I should have had one before yesterday but I was scared). It wasn't difficult and there was no stinging. I slept on my side last night, just to see if I could. I slept really well and had no back pains in the morning! However, when I went to the bathroom, I noticed that I was bleeding again and it's definitely not from my period. Still, it's only a tiny bit of bleeding - possibly from the stitches digging into me. I don't think any have popped. As long as I haven't set back my recovery, then I think it was worth the bleeding for that wonderful nights sleep.

u r doing really well, i lost hell of a lot of blood after mine and ended up back at a&e! my bleeding lasted a week ( and just like u i came on on the day of the op!)

Another update: I went back to sleeping on my back but last night I tried sleeping on my side again. This time there was no bleeding. I've been taking photos every few days which has been helpful. There have been times when I've got depressed or frustrated, thinking that the swelling hasn't gone done any since last time, but then I look at the photos and realise it has. I guess I'm just impatient.

This morning i noticed that a part of my right labia (a part that is pinched in) was sore. I think it's just a tight stitch. I took some paracetamol (I'm off the meds the doctor gave me). My walking is getting better every day but still not great. On day 6, I still haven't left the house. If you're planning on having this procedure, take as long off work as possible.

I had my first bowel movement since the surgery, today. The medication I was taking made me constipated but I was glad I didn't have to deal with a bowel movement too soon after surgery. It really didn't cause any strain on my stitches.

I'm thinking of taking a sitz bath tomorrow - should I? I've heard some people started these the day after surgery and others were told not to for 1, 2 and even 4 weeks! Is one week long enough? or should I wait longer?

i was just looking at my emails and u popped up lol. my goodness you arent very patient - honestly it will take about 6-7 weeks until you feel completely back to normal, some people earlier, but if u look at waiting 7 weeks it will sail by.bloody el 6 days and your first poo!! yes a week is fine to have a proper bath, just no bubble bath at mo. if u have a sit bath just put salty water in it, heaven x

It's great to hear people having such success. I'm really hoping to have this done on the NHS, mine are 4-5cm un-stretched eurgh and very uncomfortable too :-S. Currently I am being referred to a gynaecologist. Anyone have more experience of this and how long the waiting times are? Also i was wondering if you get to choose your surgeon?