Electrolysis, Laser, or Follicle Scrape and surgery recovery time

[LexiDreamer]

I'd like to hear from all the post op Trans women that have had vaginoplasty.
What hair removal method did you use for surgery preparation an how long was your recovery time?

I am beginning my genital electrolysis for surgery preparation so I specifically don't have to have the follicle scrape and cauterization.

My theory is that that by scraping the fat cells along with follicles and then burning them will make recovery and repair longer and more difficult for my body, as well as adding unnecessary scar tissue, and thus decreasing sensation as well.

Please let me know what your age was at the time, the surgeon,  method you used for hair removal, how long it was until you felt you were fully recovered including sexual function. Also, feel free to let us know how you feel about the results.

Thank you so much in advance!

-Lexi

[jill610]

I had 6 rounds of laser and then about 20 hours of electrolysis. Most surgeons do scraping of anything residual that they see.

At 3 months post op I'm pretty much healed and just have a perineal dehiscence that is being stubborn and healing slowly. This is a common complication. Everything else is fine, and I was back at work on normal hours 30 days after the surgery.

Age 40.

[LexiDreamer]

I had 6 rounds of laser and then about 20 hours of electrolysis. Most surgeons do scraping of anything residual that they see.

At 3 months post op I'm pretty much healed and just have a perineal dehiscence that is being stubborn and healing slowly. This is a common complication. Everything else is fine, and I was back at work on normal hours 30 days after the surgery.

Age 40.

Thank you Jill! So glad to hear your recovery is going well!
Can you elaborate on the "perineal dehiscence" if you don't mind? I tried googling it but the results weren't obvious with connection to GRS.
Also, who was your surgeon, please.
Thanks!

[jill610]

There is a stitch line in a large U shape that meets the perineum at the lower edge of the vagina. Tearing the stitches at that intersection is apparently common and takes a while to heal. The overall dehiscence is about an inch long and 1/4" deep.

[Dani]

I am post op for 3 years now. I had a few laser sessions, then I had over 20 hours of electrolysis.

It was very painful, but worth it. I have no hairs in the vaginal area.

[LizK]

I am about 4 months post op and I had may 8 sessions of Laser and about 3 of Electrolysis, I had a follicle scrape of tissue used. I have had to do some fairly close inspections due to a few minor complications and I cannot see any sign of internal hair. One of the complications was separation along one of the suture lines which has slowly healed leaving a visible purple scar which is steadily fading.

My recovery was fairly straight forward apart from this separation issue which caused a raw area to develop just at the vaginal entrance. It can be a little uncomfortable for a brief second but is slowly getting easier. I am using the largest dilator twice a day so it has not slowed up my progress.

Not sure what else I can tell you but feel free to ask anything more specific.

Liz

[CynthiaAnn]

I was 57 when I had the procedure. I went to Dr Bowers, I plucked the surgical areas for 18 months ahead of my procedure, she took care of what I may have missed, almost 3 years post op now, no issues. I would consider my full recovery at 1 year, but was riding my bicycling and hiking by 4 months post op. I realized a great outcome, no issues with granulation tissue, great sensitivity. It all works very well thanks !

C -