It is a well-documented phenomenon that stress adversely affects healing. While it is impossible to stop the inevitable stress of living, such as stress that teenage children, deadlines at work, or unexpected instances of illness or death of loved ones brings, it is important to be aware of stressors you can control, should you choose to undergo elective cosmetic surgery (e.g., labiaplasty).

In preparation for your procedure, consider these three important steps:

  1. Make a promise to yourself to commit whole-heartedly to getting better. That is, take care of your body, follow your post-op instructions, eat well, and get enough sleep.
  2. Make a plan to manage stressors. Don’t schedule any stressful events during your recovery time, prioritize, and figure out if you’ll need outside help from a friend or professional for any non-optional stressors in advance. If things come up during recovery that you feel you need to take care of, schedule them in your calendar to decrease your stress in the present moment.
  3. Connect with your support system so they can give you the tender loving care and support you’ll need during your healing.