Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Wound healing in the groin and perineum after vulval surgery | CION Cancer Clinics
Wound healing after a vulvectomy is slower than after most operations. A small wound usually closes within a few weeks, while larger vulval and groin wounds often open partly and then heal from the bottom up. That is common and usually settles with dressings. This page explains why the area heals slowly, how to care for it at home, what each stage looks like, and which signs need same-day care. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- How long does the wound take to heal after a vulvectomy?
- How do you look after the wound day to day?
- What healing usually looks like, stage by stage
- What happens if the wound opens?
- Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
- What the person helping at home should have ready
- Common questions about wound healing after vulvectomy
The short answer
How long does the wound take to heal after a vulvectomy?
A small vulval wound usually closes within a few weeks. A larger wound, or one in the groin, often takes longer, and it is common for part of it to open and then heal slowly from the bottom up. Slow healing in this area is expected, and it does not usually mean the operation has gone wrong.
Why this area heals slowly
The vulva and groin are warm and moist, close to urine and stool, and stretched every time you sit, walk or pass urine. Stitches here are under more strain than almost anywhere else on the body. Groin wounds also sit over the space where lymph nodes were removed, where fluid collects and can push the edges apart.
Who tends to heal more slowly
Healing is usually slower in women with diabetes, who smoke, who are carrying extra weight, or who have had radiotherapy to the area before. Older age on its own matters less than these. None of them stops the operation going ahead, but they are reasons to plan more help at home and more nurse visits.
At home
How do you look after the wound day to day?
The ward will show you and whoever helps you. Follow their instructions first; these are the usual principles.
Keep it clean
Rinse the area with plain warm water after passing urine or opening your bowels, using a jug, a shower head or a hand shower. Wash from front to back. Avoid soap, perfumed wipes, antiseptic liquids and talcum powder on the wound unless the team has given you something specific.
Keep it dry
Pat dry gently with a clean soft towel kept only for this. Some teams suggest a hairdryer on a cool setting held well away. Moisture trapped against the wound is one of the main causes of breakdown.
Let air reach it
Wear loose cotton underwear, or none at home, and a loose nightie or long kurta rather than tight trousers or leggings. Change pads often. Lying down with the legs slightly apart for part of the day helps.
Sit carefully
Sit in short spells, on a firm chair rather than a soft sofa. A pillow under each thigh can take pressure off the wound. Avoid sitting cross-legged on the floor until the team says the wound is strong.
Constipation strains the wound. Ask the team about a stool softener before you go home.Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistOver time
What healing usually looks like, stage by stage
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In hospital
The wound is swollen and bruised. A catheter keeps urine off it, and groin drains take away fluid. Nurses check the wound and show your family how to clean the area.
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The first week or two at home
Swelling goes down and the stitches start to dissolve. It is common for a small gap to open, most often near the back passage or in a groin crease. A district or clinic nurse may visit to dress it.
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The following weeks
Any open area fills in from below with healthy red tissue. This looks raw but is a good sign. Dressings are changed regularly. A soft swelling of fluid in the groin may need draining in clinic.
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When the wound has closed
The skin is pink, firm and tender, and sitting for long is still uncomfortable. Numbness around the scar is normal. You can usually return to gentle daily activity, but check with the team before heavy lifting or sex.
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The months afterwards
The scar softens and pales, and tightness eases. Some women find the vaginal opening feels tighter as the scar matures, and gentle stretching can be advised.
!
Signs that need same-day care
Call the helpline or go to the nearest emergency department the same day if the wound becomes hot, red and increasingly painful, if there is pus or a bad smell, if you have a fever or shivering, if bleeding soaks through a pad, or if one leg becomes suddenly swollen and painful. Say you have had vulval surgery. Do not wait for the next clinic visit, and do not start leftover antibiotics at home.
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Wound breakdown
What happens if the wound opens?
Partial opening of a vulval or groin wound is one of the most common problems after this surgery, especially after a larger operation. It is usually treated with regular cleaning and dressings rather than more stitches, because a wound here that is re-stitched too early tends to open again.
How it is treated
A nurse cleans the open area and packs or covers it with a dressing that keeps it moist but not wet. If there is infection, antibiotics are prescribed by the team. For a larger groin wound, some centres use a vacuum dressing, which is a sealed foam pad attached to a small pump that draws fluid away. Ask your centre whether they use one and who changes it at home.
What it means for the rest of treatment
A slow-healing wound can delay radiotherapy, if radiotherapy has been planned, because the skin needs to be healed first. Your team will weigh that. An open wound does not mean the cancer has come back, and it usually closes in time.
Commonly believed
Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
"Turmeric or coconut oil on the wound will heal it faster."
Home pastes and oils trap moisture and bacteria against an open wound, and they make it harder for the nurse to see what is happening. Use only what the team has given you, and ask before putting anything else on it.
"She should not bathe until the wound is healed."
Keeping the area clean is the most important part of care. Rinsing with plain water after every visit to the toilet, and a daily shower, lowers the chance of infection. What to avoid is a long soak in a tub until the team says it is fine.
"If the wound opens, the surgery has failed."
Opening is common after vulval and groin surgery and usually heals with dressings. It has nothing to do with whether the cancer was removed. It does need a nurse to see it, so tell the team rather than hiding it.
"Resting in bed all day protects the wound."
Lying still for long raises the risk of clots in the legs and of chest infection. Short, gentle walks around the house several times a day help healing. What the wound does not like is long spells of sitting.
For the family
What the person helping at home should have ready
- A jug or hand shower in the toilet for rinsing
- Soft towels kept only for drying the wound
- Plenty of pads and loose cotton underwear
- A firm chair and two pillows for sitting
- The dressings and any creams the ward sent home
- The helpline number and the ward number written down
Questions we are asked
Common questions about wound healing after vulvectomy
Is it normal for the wound to smell?
A mild smell from discharge and old blood can be normal in the first days, and rinsing usually clears it. A strong or bad smell, especially with pus, more pain or fever, can mean infection and needs the team to see it the same day.
When can I sit normally?
Short spells from early on, building up as the wound closes. Long sitting, and sitting on the floor, stretch the perineum and are the last things to become comfortable. Your team will tell you when the wound is strong enough, based on how it looks rather than a fixed date.
Can I use a sitz bath or salt water?
Some teams suggest a shallow bath of plain warm water once or twice a day, and some do not. Salt, antiseptic and herbal additions are usually not needed. Ask the ward what they recommend for your wound before you go home.
What pain relief can I take for the wound?
The team will send you home with pain relief, such as paracetamol, and tell you how to take it. Do not add other painkillers without asking, especially if you take blood thinners or have kidney problems. If the pain gets worse rather than better, call the team.
Who will change my dressings at home?
It depends on the wound. A small closed wound may need no dressing at all. An open wound usually needs a nurse, either at home or at a nearby clinic. Before you leave the ward, ask who will do it, how often, and who to call if a dressing comes off.
I am diabetic. What should I watch for?
Keep your sugar under good control, because high sugar slows healing and invites infection. Check the wound daily, or ask a family member to. Tell the team early about redness, discharge or a gap opening, rather than waiting to see whether it settles.
Why is the groin wound leaking clear fluid?
This is usually lymph fluid from where the nodes were removed. It is common and often settles on its own. Keep a clean pad over it and tell the team, especially if it soaks through dressings, turns cloudy, or a tight swelling builds up under the skin.
Will the wound affect when I can go back to work?
Yes, particularly for work with long sitting, standing, lifting or travel. A small wound may allow a return within weeks; a larger or open wound takes longer. Ask your team for a letter for your employer once they can see how the wound is healing.
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Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for vulval cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Vulval cancer
- American Cancer Society — Surgery for vulvar cancer
- NHS — Vulval cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Hygiene and Washing After Vulvar SurgeryStep-by-step washing once you are homeSitting and Comfort After Vulvar SurgeryTaking pressure off the woundPassing Urine After VulvectomyKeeping urine off a healing woundWound, Stitches and ScarsGeneral wound care after cancer surgeryComplications and Red FlagsWhen a problem needs a doctor the same day
Talk to us
Worried about how the wound looks?
Call the helpline and tell us when the operation was and what you are seeing. A nurse will talk it through and tell you whether it needs to be seen today. One helpline serves every CION centre.