Vaginoplasty or surgical vaginal rejuvenation is a highly specialized procedure designed to tighten the vagina for a better functional experience and enhance the appearance of the vaginal area.
During pregnancy pressure given by the baby’s head on pelvic muscles and tissues cause breakage of local collagen tissues and causes its weakness.
Childbirth adds to the injuries due to overstretching of the perineum. Women may complain of vaginal laxity, resulting from stretching of tissues and separating of muscles, sometimes to the point that a tampon falls and vaginal cups fall out, and this lack of tone can contribute to sexual dysfunction.
Vaginoplasty procedure brings the separated muscles together, and the extra mucosa skin from the back side of the vagina is removed.it also aims to strengthen the underlying fascial tissues.
For an aesthetic appearance, vaginoplasty can be merged with other surgical treatments like labiaplasties, perineoplasty, PRP treatments, etc.
What is the procedure?
Vaginoplasty usually entails a modification of a standard “posterior repair” along with the rebuilding the perineum (the space between the vagina and rectum). This procedure was traditionally performed for a fallen or prolapsed rectum or rectocele.
The amount of tightening to be done is determined and a pie-shape wedge is marked to delineate the extra skin to be removed from inside the vagina. Beneath the skin, the tissues are tightened with strong sutures. Once the vaginal canal has been tightened, the mucosal skin is sutured closed.
What you don’t see is the inside of the vagina. This is the canal where tampons are placed, where babies pass through, and where vibrators are placed internally. This is the inside of the vagina that is stretched over ten times its normal size when a child is born through the vagina. Even with a C-Section, this inside space of the vagina can be severely stretched. When this happens, the walls of the vagina become loose and saggy on the inside, the part you don’t see. This is the area where vaginoplasty surgery is done.
Specifically, vaginoplasty usually involves the surgical tightening of the unseen inside of the vagina to narrow its size by both suturing together inner deeper tissues and trimming more inner superficial vaginal skin.
If there is external skin that protrudes, this can be reduced as well for a more aesthetic result. When you have to do surgery on the space in between the vagina and the anus it is called a perineoplasty or perineorrhaphy. This is done if there is a bulging structure in this space or if a prior delivery messed up the appearance of this region.
Prior tears or episiotomies are the most common cause of looseness in this entry point into the vagina.
Anaesthesia for a vaginoplasty
While a vaginoplasty can be done under local anaesthesia, but for the patient’s comfort, many opt to have it done under general anaesthesia.
Preparing for a vaginoplasty
Clients are asked to do a bowel prep prior to surgery. The local area is to be washed clean with antiseptic wash and hair trimmed.
She needs to feel good about her decision and be herself.
What are the risks of a vaginoplasty?
Risks from vaginoplasty include infection, bleeding, and pain, along with rare complications.
Recovering from a vaginoplasty
Patients may have one to two weeks of downtime.
They may feel a deep ache for the first few days
Intercourse is to be avoided for eight weeks.
Use of tampons, vaginal cups and vibrators also to be avoided for eight weeks.
Depending on the amount of tightening performed, some patients may be instructed to use dilators if necessary.
