Sex after Surgery: Labiaplasty

When considering moving forward with labiaplasty surgery, patients often have a common question: "how long after labiaplasty surgery can I have sex?". Here are important things to consider when deciding on having the procedure.

Following labiaplasty, patients need to wait until they’re around four to eight weeks post-op and feel up to engaging in physical activity such as sex. Overexertion in the initial stages of recovery could be detrimental to the surgical results. The area will be tender, swollen and potentially painful, so it’s important to avoid all sexual activities until these sensations have passed and the area has recovered. If patients do attempt to have sex or masturbate and find it uncomfortable, they should stop and wait for more recovery time to pass.

It’s important to wait until the labia have healed enough before engaging in intimate activities. The biggest concern with labiaplasty surgery and sexual activity is damaging the healing wound. In addition, physical engagement such as sex, places pressure on the healing skin and could lead to a complication with the healing of the wounds. Agitation to the area could lead to infection if the wounds have not yet closed.

Patients are able to talk to their surgeon in consultation about any concerns they may have, and they will be able to give you a more insightful and personalised recovery plan so patients will know what they can and can't do. If at any point patients are unsure, the Patient Care Advisers are always on hand to help answer any further questions