The length of your hospital stay after the operation varies by healthcare facility, as well as the type of operation you have had. Different operations will require different lengths of time staying in hospital, recovery, and amounts of care. Below you will find general information on hospitalisation and aftercare for each type of operation.

You will usually be required to stay in bed for 2 days in hospital following a hysterectomy. The catheter is removed one day after the operation, after which you should be able to pass urine properly within a few hours. After passing urine, your bladder will be scanned to check that you are able to empty it properly. If you are unable to (sufficiently) pass urine, it might be necessary to temporarily reinsert the catheter. You will usually be allowed to go home after a two-day stay.

Following the colpectomy, you will remain in hospital for up to 2 days. It is advisable to stay in bed for a day, to allow the wounds to heal. The catheter will be removed, after which you must urinate fully within 6 hours. After urinating, the bladder will be scanned to check that it is completely empty. If the bladder is not empty, the catheter will be reinserted. The catheter will then be removed again after about a week.

It is recommended that you start moving around gently immediately after the operation. If you are sufficiently independent, can look after your wounds and are able to pass stool, you may, usually, go home. The doctor will let you know when you are able to leave, usually after 2–3 days. You will need to attend regular check-ups with the plastic surgeon and/or urologist after the operation. The plastic surgeon will check the appearance and healing of the penis. The urologist will continue to monitor the urethra and urinary function after the operation. If complications arise, you will need to attend the hospital more frequently. You should look after the catheter(s) and wounds as explained by the nurse at your healthcare facility.

It is recommended that you start moving around gently immediately after the operation. If you are sufficiently independent, can look after your wounds and are able to pass stools, you may, in principle, go home. The doctor will let you know when you are able to leave, usually after 2–3 days. If you have a wound on your forearm, the dressing will be removed after 5 days. A wound on the leg will remain dressed for as long as possible. In case it starts to leak, the wound will be undressed and re-dressed. You will have regular follow-up appointments with the plastic surgeon and the urologist after the operation, regardless of the technique used. The plastic surgeon will check the appearance and healing of the penis. The urologist will check the urethra and urinary function after the operation. If complications arise, you will need to visit the hospital more frequently. You should care for the catheter(s) and wounds as explained by the nurse at your care facility. It is essential to wear tight-fitting underpants or mesh briefs for the first six weeks, with the penis held in a straight, downward position.

The surgical stitches will dissolve naturally over time (weeks to months). The stitches may come loose, causing the edges of the wound to separate. We see this happen relatively often following metoidioplasty and phalloplasty, and it frequently occurs at the junction between the pubic area and the penis, the junction between the penis and the scrotum, and/or the scrotum itself. It is recommended that you shower daily and pat the surgical area dry with a towel afterwards.

As long as there are wounds, wound fluid will seep out, sometimes mixed with a little (old) blood. This will stop of its own accord once the wounds have healed. You can use an absorbent dressing to soak up the wound fluid. Change this regularly and rinse the wounds clean with tap water in the shower at least twice a day. Allow the wound to air-dry in between. If you see a yellow film on the wound, do not rinse it away! It is usually not pus, but proteins that promote wound healing.  Small patches of skin may die off following metoidioplasty and phalloplasty. If this happens, it is usually in the scrotum. This may cause an unpleasant odour. Keep the area clean carefully, as described above. Follow the instructions given by the healthcare professionals at your healthcare centre carefully. If you have serious concerns, you can contact your treating doctor.

Your healthcare provider will advise you on pain relief following the operation. You can usually manage the pain with over-the-counter medication (such as paracetamol). If you are in a lot of pain, ask your treating doctor for advice. Your hormone treatment will be managed by the endocrinologist following the operation.

After the catheter has been removed, passing urine may burn a little bit. At first, the urine stream may be spurting or directed in a different direction than before the operation. This will improve as the wounds heal, and the swelling subsides. Take your time to empty your bladder properly; don’t rush it. Try to avoid straining, as straining causes your muscles to squeeze the urethra shut. If passing urine is painful because the urine is running over the wounds, pour water over the wound area whilst urinating, or urinate in the shower. If passing urine continues to feel like a burning sensation or if you are unable to empty your bladder properly, please contact the healthcare centre where you are being treated.

It may take a few days for your bowel movements to return to normal. Prevent your stools from becoming hard by drinking plenty of fluids (at least 1.5 litres) a day and eating a high-fibre diet (such as fruit and vegetables). If this is not enough to keep your stools soft, you may be prescribed extra fibre. Always wipe from front to back, moving upwards from the anus towards the back.

It is best to discuss exactly when your genitals have fully healed and when you can be sexually active (again) with your plastic surgeon during your follow-up appointments. For more information on sexuality after genital surgery, please visit this page.