Tips and Recommendations for SRS Aftercare
Dilatation Tips
- Position – The nurse team together with you will find the most comfortable position for dilation. The most common posture will be semi sitting with one or two pillows to support your head and shoulders and having your legs comfortably apart and your knees bent.
- Lubrication – Always use the same type of provided lubrication during your recovery in Thailand (Sterile KY jelly from Johnston & Johnston). After returning to your country any commercial water soluble type of lubrication may be used. Lubricate the dilator and your vaginal opening quite liberally – make sure everything is very slippery.
- How to maintain your original vaginal depth – Doctor Chettawut prefers patients to hold the dilator by hand with a constant light pressure at the deepest point. Doctor Chettawut does not recommend using an object like a towel or cloth to hold the dilator in. Dilating by hand allows a constant correct pressure to be applied and the actual depth to be determined throughout each dilation period.
- When to change sizes of dilators – Maintaining your original depth is most important. Moving to the wider diameter dilators can be done when you are comfortable and it is very east to accommodate the current size dilator.When you first change to the larger size dilator you may not be able to insert it to the same depth of the previous one. Do not over-force the new dilator, as with time you will be able to accommodate the larger size.
Douche Tips
- Timing – Whenever you plan “Douching”, plan to do it right after you have finished dilatation because this will assist and make it easy to clean in the deep part of your vagina.
- Type of Douche Solution – Mix 5 drops of the provided Betadine solution in approximately 50cc of plain water (around one third a glass of water). After 3 months you may use plain water or any mild female vaginal antiseptic solution.
- Frequency – Douching is recommended 1-2 times a week, but there is no harm in increasing this number if you wish.
Wound Care
Washing while in the shower using normal body soap and is gently done by hand. You can start this approximately at the 6th or 7th day after surgery.
You must not stretch the labia for any reason until 3 month has passed form your surgery. This area is very delicate and any stretching could make the wound tear or cause improper healing.
The provided soft hygiene wipes can be gently used for external cleaning.
While lying on the bed at the hotel, Disposable Blue absorbent Underpads with waterproof backing (underbody bed sheet size 450x700mm) are provided and are recommended during your recovery.
Activities after you return to your country
You can resume nearly all your normal activities after 2 months.For example: Taking a bath, swimming, sexual intercourse, walking normally, driving and lifting heavy items.
However strenuous activities that may put pressure on your new genital area, should not be attempted before 3 months after your surgery. For example, pedal bike, motor bike or horseback ridding, rock climbing or other activities where you may wear a harness should not be attempted until after 3months after your surgery.
Please note that all sutures that Doctor Chettawut uses for your SRS are absorbable which and will disappear after 2 months. So there is no need to remove any of your stitches.
