Intimate surgery for women - what is vaginoplasty?
Vaginoplasty is a procedure to restore your vagina due to damage from medical conditions, injury, or other factors.
What does vaginoplasty cure?
You can do vaginoplasty for both functional and cosmetic reasons. Functional reasons are things like intercourse or urinary incontinence.
There are many reasons why a person may decide to have the surgery, some of them are:
- Vaginal birth: vaginal birth stretches and loosens your vaginal muscles. Aging can also cause your vagina to lose tightness. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms and affect sexual function.
- Medical conditions: after undergoing radiation to treat cancer.
- Congenital conditions: underdeveloped/completely missing vagina
Intimate surgery for women - inIs aginoplasty the same as vaginal rejuvenation?
No, vaginoplasty is a type of vaginal rejuvenation. Vaginal rejuvenation is any procedure to improve the appearance or function of your vagina. There are several different types of vaginal rejuvenation. Other common procedures are:
- Labiaplasty, which flattens or reduces the size of your labia
- A vulvoplasty that changes the visible (or outer) part of the vagina.
- Clitoral reduction, which removes the extra tissue covering the clitoris.
- Perineoplasty, which strengthens the perineum (the space between the vagina and anus).
Preparation for the operation
- A physical examination to assess whether you are suitable for surgery and to learn more about your medical history.
- Understanding the risks, benefits and requirements for post-operative care.
- Recommendations that reduce the risk of complications, including smoking cessation.
What happens during vaginoplasty?
The procedure varies depending on the reason for undergoing vaginoplasty.
- To improve laxity or to repair an injury: removing extra/bulging skin, using stitches to secure loose tissue in the vaginal canal, making the opening of your vagina smaller by pulling back or removing excess tissue.
To restore congenital abnormalities may include: creating a functional vagina, removing excess tissue or abnormal structures that you were born with, preventing the accumulation of blood during menstruation.
The duration of the operation also depends on the reason for which you are undergoing it. Some vaginoplasties can take up to 10 hours, while others last only a few hours.
What happens after surgery?
Some people recover in hospital within five days, while others go home earlier. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection and painkillers to reduce discomfort after surgery.
Some of the things you can expect are:
- Light bleeding up to 48 hours after surgery.
- Swelling or bruising in the genital area. The swelling may last for several weeks.
- Itching or tingling as nerve endings heal.
- Scars (which lighten or change color over time).
- Use of the catheter may last up to a week or until your urethra heals.
Possible side effects of andintimate surgery for women
The risks vary slightly depending on the extent of the surgery and why you have it. Some of the risks after vaginoplasty to treat injuries or congenital conditions may include:
- Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
- Tingling
- Infection
- Bleeding
The benefits after surgery are improved sexual satisfaction and self-esteem. People who have surgery often report a better quality of life after recovery.
