How Long After Labiaplasty Do You Have To Wait Before Having Sex?

There is no set guideline when it comes to how long you should wait to have sex after the procedure, but doctors generally use two thresholds to help patients figure that out.

One threshold is how long your body needs, while the other is meant to give you enough time psychologically to prepare for sex.

What is labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty reduces the size and appearance of the labia minora, which is achieved through a variety of methods. Sometimes, the clitoral hood is shaped in addition to the removal of excess labial tissue. Some surgeons might opt for the use of laser resection in lieu of the standard scalpel.

Because of the variation in procedures, it’s hard to say exactly how long you need to wait before having sex after the operation, but a safe estimate should be 6 weeks. Some doctors suggest that 4 weeks is a long enough wait; however, you may see minor tearing where the incision has healed, which for some women is an unwelcome outcome.

Knowing when you feel ready

If you are confident in the procedure and feel like your body is ready, then 6 weeks is a long enough time period, but if you’re even slightly hesitant about your state of readiness, then you should put it off for a few days. It’s better to be sure that you’ll feel happy during and after the next time you have sex than to live with the doubt that you haven’t waited long enough for your body to be 100%.

Choosing to use lubrication

After the 6 week healing period, it should be safe to use vaginal lubricant to help with intimacy and reduce chafing on the genitals. Lubricants should be hypoallergenic, but some companies may add ingredients in order to enhance taste, smell, or appearance, which could end up irritating those with allergies. As always, be sure to ask your surgeon or doctor for their recommendations, as they will know more about your personal health.

If you experience pain during sex, stop the activity immediately. Schedule an appointment with your surgeon to figure out what’s going on.

In addition, during the first 3 to 4 weeks, you should avoid strenuous activity altogether. Luckily, complications with labiaplasties are uncommon, especially since surgery methods are improving all the time, and doctors care about the welfare of their patients.