Labiaplasty

I have mixed feelings about my recent 6 week appointment. A nurse who advised she use to be a midwife chatted and examined me prior to my Mr Inglefield as I was quite tearful as I knew things hadn't quite gone to plan. She asked me how I'd been etc and I just started chatting away that it hadn't been the best and the worse part was having to wear these Spanx as personally I felt like they were detrimental to my recovery as restricted air from helping the area heal and would feel uncomfortable with the constant pressure- I so wanted to just walk around commando for the entire time I was off work (3 1/2 weeks) but explained when I called the on call nurse on day 4 and advised they were uncomfortable and did I need to wear them, I was told yes 24/7 for 6 weeks as it's imperative in reducing swelling and speeding up recovery so knowing I had to follow the advised aftercare I did. The nurse said she completely agreed with me and could I reiliterate what I had just said to Mr Inglefield when he comes back into the room. Long story short... I wasn't suppose to wear them for longer than a week! I couldn't believe it - now I know I have no doubt in my mind that's why I've had such a rough recovery. It makes me feel pretty sick to my stomach, I wish more than anything someone else picked up the phone that day when I called and had given me the correct aftercare advice. I can't believe that someone telling me one incorrect thing has had such a massively detrimental effect on my recovery.
The nurse was clearly there to reassure me- saying lots of positives and although I don't agree with everything she was saying, perhaps I needed it- I had been feeling pretty low.
When Mr Inglefield finally examined me I was actually relieved he was disappointed too. He said he only had a patient with recovery complications once a year.
He did say he was worried when I came in crying thinking that it was going to look really bad- which I completely get from his perspective as I know it doesn't look bad! However from my perspective - I've gone through surgery expecting everything would be perfect and it's not, but secondly and more importantly up until recently I had been feeling really rough and I'm talking really recent like 5 1/2 weeks post op. In fact when I went back to work at 3 1/2 weeks, people said I looked unwell, I had to cancel dinner plans with friends as well as visiting family as I didn't feel as though I could manage the hour drive as I was just in too much discomfort. So yes it will only need a minor revision to fix but it's been mentally and physically a tough recovery and that is why along with the disappointment, I was crying and upset. I'll never take my health for granted again.
And although I was told it was ok to have sex again- I don't personally quite feel I'm there yet so perhaps in a week or two.
I do still rate my surgeon - he was completely empathetic and reassuring- I'm sure everything will look perfect after my revision - it will be done via a local and this time only 2-3 days recovery.
I have thrown all those bloody Spanx in the bin!

I can't help comparing my progress with other people's and although I want to be optimistic that it will all look right in 3weeks time I'm not confident it will! I can't bring myself to post a pic again just yet! Don't get me wrong it's not all bad like the labia minora is perfect length now and from a standing position everything looks spot on! However it's the bottom half I'm concerned about- hopefully it will either heal rapidly over the next few weeks or need a minor revision! I'll let you know either way!

So after I had my children I felt really depressed about not only the appearance of my overstretched labia but also felt like sex didn't feel as tight as what it use to be either. I had to build up a lot of confidence to even have the conversation with my husband who as I thought he would, reacted mortified at the thought of me getting surgery in that region and said that it was completely unnecessary as sex was great from his point of view! Well whether it was or it wasn't for him - I know it definitely wasn't the same for me and quite frankly it was really getting me down! I had to shred a few tears before my husband could see this was something that was really important to me before he finally offered his support. I did feel guilty spending this kind of money as it meant I was going to put us in a fair amount of debt which we've never had before and also can't afford to go on a family holiday! I just keep telling myself that its just for one year and I'll work really hard to make it up to them next year- because I just really need this!
I booked an appointment with Mr Inglefield as I read he specialised in labiaplasty. I mentioned to him all of my concerns and after an examination he advised that the root of my issue was that the perineum scar I had from having an episiotomy during one of my labours was only repaired externally and he could feel there was a fair size gap in the muscle. So where I had originally thought I would have to consider something like vaginoplasty, it was a massive relief to know finally not only what the cause was but that he could fix it!
So it was agreed to carry out a wedge labiaplasty - he advised after that his patients had reported back that the results were so good and scars hidden so well that even their gynocologists didn't even know that they had the surgery! Sounds impressive!! Plus a revision to the perineum scar to bring back the muscles together so I could get my sex life back!! Could not wait!!
I am currently 16 days post op! I'm not going to lie I feel really anxious about the results of this surgery as it's something I'm not going to really know if successful until after 6weeks post op! I have to wear Spanx for 6weeks as well - which I do find quite hot and uncomfortable but apparently it is imperative for supporting the area in recovery, so wear them I shall!
At my 2 week post op appointment the nurse passed me a hand mirror so I could finally see results so far for myself and when I questioned her if she thought it all looked ok, she didn't really reassure me that the labiaplasty was looking good, she didn't say much at all about it to be fair other than to continue using the anti-bacterial ointment that they had prescribed as still looked a bit red on part of a section. I know that everything's probably fine but I get paranoid pretty easy! She also kept saying how amazing the perineum scar looked which don't get me wrong is great to know but it was the muscles beneath that were the concern, the scar never looked bad in the first place. But again I think it's just me- I'm stressed and anxious that everything's ok! You read so many stories of this kind of surgery gone wrong and I'm just getting paranoid that something may go wrong! I just need to trust and put my faith in my surgeon's skills and that by week 6 everything will look as it should and I'll get the results I was anticipating! All I can do is continue to take it easy and wait! Fingers crossed for me please!! I'll keep you all updated!!