By Dr. Vitasna Ketglang
Cosmetic Laser Gynecologist from Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of America (LVRIA)
Surgeons do their best to eliminate complications. However, all surgeries are associated with complications and this occurs even with the most experienced physicians. Many still oppose Cosmetic Gynecological procedures due to lack of long-term research on efficacy and risks on the subject.
As a general rule, surgeons apply many precautions to avoid surgical complications. With this said, you must acknowledge that with any surgical procedure, there is always going to be a complication risk-factor. This factor is present even if your surgeon is among the most experienced and highly-trained physicians
Making sure patients understand potential risks and complications is one of the key factors in executing successful surgical procedures.
For any surgeon, being open and honest with patients about potential surgical complications is never easy. During consultations, I inform my patients of the potential risks involved with surgery. I then make it clear that, in some cases, more than one procedure may be required before a patient is satisfied and their full expectations are met.
Similarly, I explain that sometimes scarring can form which requires a re-visionary procedure. Although surgeons, including myself, take many precautions to eliminate the need of corrective surgery, it is still a possibility that patients need to be aware of.
Learning about possible complications and ensuring you understand entailed risks empowers you. Afterwards, you can weigh the risk-factor against your needs and desires, giving you the opportunity to choose which, if any, procedure is right for you.
As long as you are aware of potential risks and complications and then can balance whether you see more potential good than harm, you are given the autonomy to choose for yourself.
Before I perform surgery, my clients are assisted in completing a set of consent forms. Once again, included within the forms, there is a section regarding potential risks and complications.
Every day, I see more and more women coming to me for Labiaplasty. I educate them in regards to potential problems that may arise, for example asymmetry or excessive skin in the surgical area. Both of these problems can be corrected in due time. If these complications are to occur, I give the patient a clear and concrete explanation detailing how the correction should take place.
Labiaplasty requires meticulous attention, timing and patience. All of these components are essential to obtaining beautiful, symmetrical results. A patient must consider that no case I’ve ever seen or dealt with has been the same; everyone has an individual structural composition and unique needs.
In my 19 years of Cosmetic Gynecological experience, I’ve witnessed a low number of complication cases as well as corrective surgery cases. A prompt, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment is very important when a surgical complication presents itself.
My many years of experience, continuing education and specialized trainings have heavily influenced the low number of complications exhibited in the vulvovaginal surgeries I’ve performed.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. In case of unexpected surgical results or complications, corrective surgery is an option and will be discussed between you and me. I welcome you to send an inquiry with any questions you may have; after all, that is the first step.