Hymenoplasty
Day 9 after hymenoplasty: the urge to look in the mirror
Day 9 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
By the ninth day, the rush of the first days may have eased and a question may have taken its place: what does it look like down there now? Asking this is completely natural; a procedure was done on your body and you want to see the result.
Even so, the doctor has a clear warning on this: do not stretch the area in front of a mirror. Below we explain the reason for this warning and other ways you can satisfy your curiosity.
Being curious is normal
Wanting to know how the healing is going is something anyone who cares for their body may feel. The issue here is not the wish to look but the movement made in order to look.
To be able to see the area, you have to spread, pull or stretch the tissue with your fingers. It is exactly this stretching movement that the doctor does not want.
So the warning is aimed at the movement, not at you; there is no need to feel bad for being curious.
Why is stretching not recommended?
The stitched tissue is in the process of healing and the stitches are still in place. Stretching the tissue creates the risk of a person unintentionally harming themselves.
Also, you are not expected to interpret what you see in the mirror on your own. A feeling of tightness in the area is considered normal; this sensation on its own is not a sign that you need to look.
The same warning applies without a mirror: feeling or parting the tissue by hand also counts as stretching.
Whose job is the check-up?
Assessing the healing is the doctor's job, and the place for it is the follow-up examination. Your doctor will tell you on which day the check-up takes place. Until that day, what is expected of you is not to look but to leave the area alone.
At the check-up you can ask your doctor how the area looks, the state of the stitches and anything else on your mind; none of these questions is out of place.
How can you satisfy your curiosity?
- Write down the questions that come to mind and ask your doctor at the check-up.
- If waiting feels hard, call the clinic and ask your question over the phone.
- The spotting or discharge on your pad gives you information without touching the area; keep an eye on it.
Do today
- Note down your questions for the follow-up examination.
- Leave the area alone.
- If something worries you, turn to the clinic, not the mirror.
Avoid today
- Do not open and stretch the tissue in front of a mirror.
- Do not touch or pull the stitches.
- Do not part the area to take a photo.
Call us if
- If you see a discharge on your pad that smells different, is yellow or that you cannot identify, and it does not stop, ask for a check-up.
- If you accidentally stretched the area and it stays on your mind afterwards, consult your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Is looking with a mirror harmful after hymenoplasty?
The risk comes not from looking but from stretching the area in order to look. The doctor asks the patient not to stretch the area in front of a mirror out of curiosity, because this movement can lead to a person harming themselves. Your doctor assesses how the healing is going at the follow-up examination.
How can I tell whether the stitches are in place?
You are not expected to check this yourself at home. The stitches stay on the tissue for 25–35 days on average, and opening the area to see them is not recommended. Your doctor checks the stitches at the follow-up examination. If something is bothering you, you can call the clinic without waiting for the examination day.
I looked out of curiosity and stretched the area; what should I do?
There is no need to blame yourself for a movement made out of curiosity. From now on, do not stretch the area again. If over the following days you see a persistent discharge that smells different, is yellow or that you cannot identify, or if there is something you are unsure about, call the clinic; your doctor will make the assessment.
This page is for general information only; it does not replace an examination or your doctor's advice. Some patients may need additional restrictions. The durations and rules your doctor gives you always take priority over those on this page.
References
- A new surgical technique of hymenoplasty. Wei SY, et al. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2015.
- Hymenoplasty and Muslim Patients: Islamic Ethico-Legal Perspectives. Bawany MH, et al. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2017.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus, Obstetrician & Gynecologist · Last medical review: