First of all, having kids, and a well endowed partner was rough on my vagina. It was loose, ragged, and my birth episiotomy was crooked, making this extra tissue between my anus and my vaginal opening. I wasn't to excited about leaving the lights on for sex.
I'll get the before pics and add them later
Updated on 24 Oct 2015:
I'm sore and a little swollen. The sutures are all the absorbable kind, and I've followed the directions to use cool packs, arnica. I haven't needed pain medication but if I do later on, I'll take them. I slept well last night. Sorry I haven't put up more photos, I'll get to that later. One great thing about not having general anesthesia is that I feel great! I will be heading back to Dr. Lau in a week for follow-up.
Updated on 25 Oct 2015:
Today, I was more active and definitely feel a little more sore. Having had my surgery on Friday, I suggest at least three full days off- and that is just with tightening without labioplasty.
I got a little braver and checked out my surgery with a mirror. I'm swollen, and there is expected redness- but I'm pleased with how even things look. When I follow up next week, I'll ask for copies of my baseline pictures for comparison, and I'll post them here. As for tightness- I'm MUCH tighter- and I'm really pleased with the work between my anus and vagina.
Updated on 22 Feb 2016:
All is well! I waited a long time before taking things for a spin, and I am happy to report that after three concerted (and very slow) efforts, everything works just fine! It felt too tight at first (as in sex will be impossible) but with patience, everything feels and looks fine. Special thanks to Dr. Lau and his team- it's nice to not feel like I'm gaping anymore. Excellent work, and well worth it.
Updated on 24 Feb 2016:
Because I was embarrassed to involve anyone in my recovery time, I slept in a little hotel near the clinic. I was driven there, and because of a gentle sedative and a very light pain medication I was relaxed and relatively pain free. I woke up in the middle of the night and was a little sore, say 3 out of ten- so I applied a cool pack and took some advil. I never needed any prescription pain medication after that first dose. I drove an hour to get home, sitting on a cool pack and pretty much staying on Advil for two days. I reluctantly checked out the area when I showered and it was swollen, tender, and felt tight. I had taken a stool softener so having a BM wasn't scary, and I never felt like I was going to pop any sutures. After a week, my pain was gone, and my surgical area felt thick, like a lump- a little tender to touch and very very tight (extremely tight, as in pinkie finger tight). I could feel the sutures, like little bumps, and I knew from his warning that this was normal and that it would smooth out. Over a few weeks, it totally smoothed out and to be honest, I hardly ever touched or looked, but in the shower, noticed the thickness of the tissue was still there. The I have a really good friend, and I took a picture of it and sent it to her. She replied that it was "a perfect looking vagina." After a month, it was just tight, with a little less feeling in the skin that was sutured on the outside. Nothing that affected pleasure. I waited 4 months to have sex, and it was very tight, very uncomfortable, and felt kind of impossible. With effort and lube, everything now works just fine. Sex feels better, even though I'm still tight it isn't so tight that it hurts. Hope this answers your questions, and I'm happy to answer any more you might have.