I’ve Been BOTCHED! Now What?

If you are anything like thousands of women a year, you’ve undergone a labiaplasty and the result is not exactly what you signed up for. Maybe you’re feeling like a bit more needs to be removed and you’re considering a labiaplasty revision to get you over the finish line, so to speak. Maybe it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as you’d like. Or, maybe you’re like many other women who had the misfortune of experiencing a totally botched labiaplasty and now you’re weighing your options.

Wherever you might lie in this spectrum, know that you are not alone, and you have many options available to you. A botched labiaplasty is not something you have to just get used to living with. A highly skilled plastic surgeon with expertise in female genital reconstruction, like the world renown Dr. Alter, have been successfully repairing botched labiaplasties for decades.

Take a long, deep breath…or ten.

If you’ve just had a labiaplasty and you fear it’s been botched, take a deep breath and try to relax! It can take some time for a recent labiaplasty to fully heal depending on your body’s natural healing process. Overtime your labiaplasty may start to look much better and you’ll find it wasn’t botched at all. However, if things don’t start to look better six weeks post-labiaplasty, you might want to notify your surgeon or seek a second opinion.

Don’t beat yourself up.

We get it. A botched labiaplasty sucks all around. Some cause pain that never goes away, while others leave women feeling downright mutilated and embarrassed to have anyone look at them down there. But beating yourself up over the less than ideal outcome of your labia minora reduction isn’t going to help you in the long run, in fact, the stress could hamper healing (especially if you are still healing from the initial surgery).

Also, we don’t make the best decisions while stressed out. If you are going to address your botched labiaplasty, you’re going to want to make clear-headed, well-thought out decisions about your next course of action. This includes, and we can’t emphasize this enough, doing extensive research on your next surgeon. Not all gynecologists or plastic surgeons have the experience required to fix a botched labia minora reduction. You want to make sure you pick someone that has an extensive background, like Dr. Alter, in botched labiaplasty reconstruction.

Get a second or third opinion

If you go back to the surgeon who originally performed your labiaplasty and are wondering if you should get a second opinion: Get a second opinion. Especially if you feel any uncertainty. Remember, this surgeon messed up your first labiaplasty. Listen to your gut on this one.

It’s also important to remember that you only get so many chances to correct this. The more surgeries you have the less likely you are to eventually get an outcome you are happy with, so it’s really important to take your time and get different opinions.

Lean on your family & friends

Going through the pain and emotional distress of a botch labiaplasty should not be endured alone. Lean on friends and family for support. For emotional distress you may also decide to consult with a therapist who can help you navigate your feelings—whether you feel mutilated, anxious, or if your self-esteem has taken a tremendous beating. A well-trained therapist can help you overcome these feelings.

Remember, you’re not alone

It’s estimated that roughly a thousand women a year experience a botched labiaplasty (labia minora reduction), and those numbers are only expected to climb as the rate of labiaplasties performed worldwide continue to rise. If you are one of the women unfortunate enough to have to endure one, rest assure you are not the only one.

Consult with Dr. Alter

Living with a botched labiaplasty? Don’t know what to do or where to turn? Overwhelmed? Dr. Alter has been transforming the lives of botched labiaplasty survivors for years. Schedule your consultation today and see how he may be able to help you get back to living your best life.