Preparation, anaesthesia and recovery for Liquenia® Treatment
Knowing what will happen before, during and after the procedure reduces uncertainty and helps ensure everything goes smoothly. On this page you will find answers to the most common practical questions.
How to prepare for Liquenia® Treatment
The days leading up to it
Preparing for Liquenia® Treatment is straightforward. It does not require complex preparation or drastic changes to your routine, but there are a few important points to keep in mind:
Medication to avoid in the week before
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin—and supplements with anticoagulant effects—high-dose omega-3, vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo biloba—can affect PRP quality and increase the risk of minor bleeding at the extraction site. We will ask you to avoid them for the 7 days prior to the procedure. If you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication prescribed by another specialist, you must let us know at the assessment consultation—we will manage the situation on an individual basis.
Preoperative blood tests
Before the procedure, we carry out basic blood tests including a full blood count and coagulation. If you have recent blood tests—from the last 3 months—they may be valid. We will tell you which parameters we need.
No fasting required
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, not general anaesthesia. You do not need to fast on the day of the procedure.
On the day of the procedure
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing—especially on the lower half, as the adipose tissue donor site is usually the thigh or abdomen. Avoid creams, oils or any topical products on the vulvar area and the donor area on the day of the procedure.
The procedure takes approximately 90 minutes. You may come accompanied if you prefer. When it is finished, you will be able to go home on your own—there is no sedation or general anaesthesia that would require a mandatory companion.
What type of anaesthesia is used
Liquenia® Treatment is always performed in an operating theatre, under general anaesthesia. This means you will remain asleep throughout the entire procedure and will not feel anything. This is not a minor detail: it is a deliberate clinical decision.
Does it hurt?
During the procedure, patients do not report pain. Afterwards, there may be a sensation of pressure or warmth, but not sharp pain. Some patients describe some discomfort over the following days, which resolves with mild analgesia.
Why general anesthesia and not local or sedation?
The vulvar area is extraordinarily sensitive. Working on it with the patient awake, even with local anaesthesia, would cause unnecessary discomfort and pain, and would compromise technical precision. You should not suffer, either physically or emotionally, during the treatment: that is not a luxury, it is part of the outcome.
What happens in the operating theatre
The procedure is performed in an authorised operating theatre, with the medical team from the Nixarian Institute. These are the stages you will go through:
Arrival and preparation (15–20 minutes)
You will get settled on the surgical table. The team will prepare the sterile field and apply local anaesthesia to the working areas. We will wait the necessary time for the anaesthetic to be fully effective.
Adipose tissue extraction (15–20 minutes)
We perform a small liposuction in the donor area. It is a minimal extraction that leaves no visible scars. The adipose tissue is processed directly in a closed, sterile system to obtain the nanofat and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF).
Processing (20–25 minutes)
The adipose tissue is processed in a closed system to obtain the nanofat and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), without the need for enzymes. Everything happens in the same surgical procedure, while you remain asleep.
Vulvar infiltration (20–25 minutes)
We infiltrate the SVF into the affected areas. The technique is standardised but adapted to the specific distribution of involvement in each patient.
At the end
You will wake up with us in the operating room. You will then be taken to your hospital room, where you will remain under observation for 2 to 3 hours until you have fully recovered. Before you leave, we will provide you with written post-operative instructions and answer any questions you may have. You will be discharged the same day. Remember that you must be accompanied and that you should not drive after surgery.
Recovery step by step
The first few days
Recovery after Liquenia® Treatment is fast compared with other surgical procedures. Discomfort is mild and manageable:
> Donor area (inner thighs or abdomen). There may be mild bruising, swelling, and tenderness during the first 3–5 days. This is completely normal and resolves on its own. Applying local cold with a compress—never direct ice—during the first 24 hours may help.
> Vulvar area. There may be mild swelling and tenderness in the treated area during the first few days. This is expected and does not indicate any problem.
> Analgesia. If there is discomfort, paracetamol is the analgesic of choice during the first few days—avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs in the immediate postoperative period for the same reasons as during preparation.
What to avoid during the first two weeks
- Sexual intercourse: avoid for 3 months following the procedure.
- Intense physical activity: avoid for the following 2 months. Moderate exercise, such as walking, is fine from the first few days.
- Return to daily activities: between one week and ten days.
- Swimming pools or the sea: avoid for 10–14 days.
- Non-prescribed topical products in the vulvar area: use only what is indicated by our team.
Returning to normal life
Most patients can return to work and daily activities between one week and ten days after the procedure.
Check-ups included in the protocol
Postoperative follow-up is an integral part of the Liquenia® protocol, not an optional extra. We perform four check-ups.
During all of them, we carry out protocolized monitoring to measure the progress and improvement of each patient.
The check-ups are:
At one month.
At 3 months.
At 6 months.
And at 12 months.
At that point, we perform a new biopsy so that an external laboratory can determine the improvement achieved at a cellular level under a microscope.
Frequently asked questions about preparation and recovery
Can I take my usual medications on the day of the procedure?
In general, yes, except for the NSAIDs and anticoagulants we have told you to stop. If you have questions about a specific medication, please ask us before the procedure.
Can I go to the procedure alone?
No. Liquenia® Treatment is performed under general anaesthesia, so you must be accompanied by an adult who can collect you after discharge. You will also be unable to drive after the procedure. After the intervention, you will remain in recovery for 2 to 3 hours until you have fully recovered, and you will be discharged on the same day.
When can I exercise?
Gentle exercise, such as walking, is compatible from the first few days. Intense exercise (running, cycling, swimming) should be avoided for 2 months following the procedure.
When can I have sexual intercourse?
From 3 months after the procedure, always following Dr. Gutiérrez’s instructions during your check-up.
When can I return to work?
In most cases, between a week and ten days after the procedure. If your job involves physical effort, please discuss it during your check-up: the guidelines may differ.
What should I do if I have any discomfort or questions after the procedure?
You have direct contact with our team for any postoperative questions. Do not hesitate to call us if something does not seem normal—we prefer to resolve an unnecessary concern before a real issue becomes more complicated.
Do you have more questions about the procedure?
At the assessment consultation, we answer all practical questions about the procedure—preparation, recovery, follow-up—tailored to your specific situation. No obligation.