Amanda

Why do you feel it’s important for people to talk openly about their cosmetic surgery procedure?

A patients story and journey can be so powerful and helpful to others considering the same procedure. When I was initially researching and thinking about proceeding with a Labiaplasty, I gained some much reassurance from patients who were happy with their results. This made me think, just go for it!

Why did you want your procedure? What was the trigger/life event for you to decide now is the time?

I always knew that mine was a little different to others and during my twenties it is something that did really bother me. The smallest of things would trigger me like going for a bikini wax I'd often think ‘does she think mine looks abnormal to others’. At the time I don’t re-call having as much information or people openly talking about choosing to have a Labiaplasty procedure. I had kind of put up to the back of my mind and thought ‘ oh well I will just live with it’. After having my son 8 years ago, I do feel as though my Labia had increased following a fairly traumatic birth. Either that or I just became more aware and conscious of it. At that point I knew I wanted to do something about it so I went online and booked a call in with MYA.

Why did you choose MYA?

When I made the decision to proceed I wanted to make sure that I was choosing the right provider for me. I came across so many options online of companies both in the UK and abroad. For me, as a mother, aftercare & safety was my number 1 priority no matter how much it was going to cost. You know the saying ‘buy cheap, buy twice’. When I found out that MYA has a CQC rating as outstanding with a fully comprehensive aftercare package of 2 years, this gave me great reassurance that I would be looked after.

Why is being body honest important to you?

I hope that by sharing my experience & results that will encourage those who are unsure or apprehensive about going under the knife that it will be ok. You will be In safe hands with the fantastic team at MYA and the results are so worth it.

What are your top 3 tips you would give to someone looking into having cosmetic surgery?

1. Research & make sure that you have a full comprehensive aftercare package. MYA has a 24 hour nursing line and although thankfully I didn’t need to use it, it was very comforting knowing that help was on hand should anything go wrong. They also cover you for 2 years on your result & have an open door policy when it comes to seeing your nurse or surgeon. I couldn’t put a price on this knowing that I was always a nurse or surgeon appointment away if needed.

2. Plan your recovery. Although I know this was a very minor & minimally invasive procedure you are still going under GA. Making sure that you have supportive family & friends around you and available if you need them.

3. Be patient with your results. I was prepared by both my nurse & surgeon that my final results can take up to 3 months for everything to settle. I was prepared for plenty of swelling & bruising whilst things were healing down there. I can absolutely confirm that week 1 vs week 6, your results will look very different. I am now 6 months post-surgery and couldn’t be happier with the final result.

How was your consultation with your surgeon?

So this is the part of my journey that I was worried about the most, even more so than the surgery itself. The thought of someone taking a look at an intimate area that I already felt conscious about, made me feel sick with worry. MYA were amazing and made me feel so comfortable throughout as they actually have a nurse who chaperones your consultation. Nicola was just wonderful. She talked me through the whole process and what to expect before undressing. She then offered me a screen for privacy and bed roll. It was over and done so quickly & I remember saying afterwards to my surgeon that wasn’t as bad as I thought at all.

How was your recovery?

My recovery was so much easier than I had mentally pre-pared myself for. The first couple of days following my surgery I just felt really tired & sleepy which I was told is normal following a general anaesthetic. I only had a small amount of bleeding with hardly any pain at all. I had been given post operative instructions by my nurse Tiny which meant avoiding soaps & creams & showing with luke warm water only. I was given some pain relief and antibiotics by the staff at the hospital & I was told to take these during my first 7 days before my first check up at the Birmingham Clinic.

What do you feel is different now following your procedure?  Feelings, things you are able to do now or feel more comfortable doing?

The biggest change for me following surgery is just the freedom to wear the clothes that I’ve always wanted to wear and to not feel uncomfortable or sore. Just putting on a pair of tight fitted jeans now or a swimsuit in the gym without having to worry. Or wearing those leggings in the gym and wondering if someone is starring at me. Lacey underwear was always an absolute no go because after an hour or so I would feel like they were digging in, or making things sore & uncomfortable. Not only has it helped me with choice of clothing but sports too. I can actually sit on a cycling bike in the gym without feeling uncomfortable, I literally have my life back and it feels amazing.

How would you describe your MYA journey in 3 words?

Exciting, seamless & life changing!

What advice would you give someone looking into having the same procedure as you?

Don’t let others put you off or talk you out of your decision. If something really bothers you & you can do something to change that, take the plunge & go for it.

What would you say to someone that is worried about the scar?  (what is your scarring like?)

I can’t see any visible scarring at all now that everything has healed. I did wonder if people would be able to notice the scar but I genuinely cant see a thing!

Would you recommend MYA? 

That’s an easy YES. Everyone at MYA has been so supportive and helpful throughout my journey especially the aftercare from their amazing nursing team.

Do you feel the procedure has affected your mental health/wellbeing? If yes in what way?

Prior to having this surgery done I would consciously think about this on a daily basis so I guess in a way it has improved my well-being because now I don’t think about it at all. It has certainly given me more body confidence & this has resulted in me feeling happier in myself. Thankyou to MYA & my incredible surgeon Dr Mileto.

How did you prepare for surgery?

When I met with my surgeon & discussed my treatment plan we talked about the recovery process and the recommended time frame which was confirmed as 1 week initially. My Patient Co-ordinator provided me with some available surgery dates & from here, I planned my time off work & support network at home. Once I had this in place & my surgery date confirmed, I then started to prepare for the surgery itself. MYA do require you to have a chaperone to collect you from the hospital following a general anaesthetic for safety reasons. My friend had kindly offered to collect me from the hospital as I also wouldn’t be able to drive following my operation. Before the surgery day itself I packed an overnight bag which included some light loose fitting pjs, hair tie, toiletries, loose clothing to travel home. I had also packed some bridget jones pants & sanitary pads as recommended by a few patients that I had spoken to via the MYA online Forum.

How did you fund your procedure?

I had thought about this procedure for a long time so I had already been saving up for this surgery in advance. I had reached about 50% of the overall cost and my Patient Co-ordinator had said that I could use this as a down payment to secure my surgery date. From here, I had arranged to make small payments every month leading up to my surgery date which was so helpful for me and meant that I didn’t need to take out a personal loan. My Patient Co-ordinator did talk me through the external high street lending options so you do have the option of obtaining a loan elsewhere and paying upfront.