Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Gender Correction Surgery => Topic started by: mistyjensen on January 30, 2017, 12:29:26 PM

Title: Sore and tight perineum after vaginoplasty
Post by: mistyjensen on January 30, 2017, 12:29:26 PM
Hi,

For those of you who had suture/skin separation following your vaginoplasty, did you experience several months later occasional soreness and tension in the area where the separation occurred? After my surgery, a large area of skin separated below my labia at the perineum. I'm now 3 months and 5 days post op. When I spread my legs to dilate, I feel soreness and tension at the perineum. Also, the skin feels a tad rough there. Applying Neosporin, vitamin e oil, or coconut oil temporarily stops the soreness. I've been alternating between using these products on a daily basis to reduce the appearance of the scarring and to smooth the skin. I wonder if I have a large buildup of scarring at the perineum that is causing the tightness and soreness when I move my legs.
Title: Re: Sore and tight perineum after vaginoplasty
Post by: Jenna Marie on January 30, 2017, 01:03:24 PM
I did have a minor separation at the base of the labia majora/start of the perineum, but it healed cleanly, and I didn't have that sort of tension or soreness afterward. That sort of tightness in healing scar tissue isn't uncommon, though.
Title: Re: Sore and tight perineum after vaginoplasty
Post by: Barb99 on January 30, 2017, 01:17:28 PM
I'm only 9 weeks post op but I had the same separation (tearing) at about 6 weeks. I treated it with Neosporin and it healed up in about a week but the skin is still a bit hard in that area. If it weren't for that I could be "donut" free by now. It's getting better, I can go a couple of hours without the donut now.

I think everything is stretched out now as the largest dilator goes in easily.
Title: Re: Sore and tight perineum after vaginoplasty
Post by: mistyjensen on February 01, 2017, 11:07:57 AM
I wonder if my surgeon can perform a procedure, as a revision, to stop or reduce the tension and soreness in the perineum when I spread my legs.
Title: Re: Sore and tight perineum after vaginoplasty
Post by: Jenna Marie on February 01, 2017, 11:36:10 AM
Anything is possible, but I'd wait a bit longer to see how the healing goes first. Operations to fix scars *can* work, but it can also get into a cycle of just creating more scar tissue.

My GP actually said that around three months is when scar tissue starts to tighten up (referring to internal stitches in my case, but he was clear that this was his advice to every patient of his who had any kind of surgery), so it's also likely that gentle stretching and massage to break up the scar would be helpful. If you do it VERY gently (pressing only enough to feel it on the skin), it shouldn't do any harm, at any rate.