Vaginoplasty - surgery, risks and post operative care

Vaginoplasty surgery is done to tighten a loosened vagina. When I say, ‘loose vagina’ or ‘loosened vagina’, many may say that vagina doesn’t become loose because of the elastic nature of the underlying muscles. That is not entirely true. With age and multiple vaginal child births, the firmness and the elasticity of the vaginal muscles will be lost partially leaving the vaginal opening loose. This ‘may’ reduce the sensitivity while having sex. Again, this statement too is argued. Some say that the vagina doesn’t lose its sensitivity. While that is true, what I mean to say is, the ‘sensual pleasure’ while having sex when you are young will be different from that after you have aged a bit and delivered a couple of babies through your vagina. 

Vaginoplasty surgery addresses the issue by surgically tightening the muscles in the beginning of the vagina. This also helps a woman overcome the symptoms of urinary incontinence.

Who is a good candidate for vaginoplasty?

If you are happy with your sex life even after giving birth to your children vaginally, you don’t need to go for vaginoplasty or any type of surgery. If you are suffering from incontinence issues, there are different treatment options for you. But, if you are one among the following, you can think of going for vaginoplasty surgery:

1. Aged and your vagina is not tight enough and are not able to enjoy sex with your partner.
2. Given vaginal child birth to multiple babies (not necessarily at the same time) and are not able to enjoy physical intimacy with your partner.

What is done during vaginoplasty surgery?

Let’s put this down in simple words step by step.

1. Local anaesthesia is administered inside the walls of the vagina so that the area is numb and also there is less blood loss during the surgery.
2. An incision is made on the lower side of the vaginal opening and the muscles inside it are brought together and stitched up.
3. Once the muscles inside the vagina are sutured, the incision near the vaginal opening is also stitched up.
4. This firms up the muscles in the lower pelvis region and also tightens the vaginal canal. 
5. The vaginal opening is also narrowed down a little to tighten the vagina for better sexual pleasure.

The surgery may or may not be combined with labiaplasty. Labiaplasty surgery involves removing the extra skin around the vagina. Labia majora refers to the outer “lips” of the vagina and labia minora refers to the inner “lips” of the vagina. Labia majora skin may be cut out (using a laser or a normal scalpel or scissors) followed by removing the extra skin on labia minora, giving the vagina a younger non-sagging look.

Risks of vaginoplasty surgery

Every surgery, small or big, involves risk. If you are letting your body be cut, you are willing to take risks. Following are the risks of vaginoplasty surgery:

1. Infection – the most common problem unless your doctor takes extreme care of the tools used to perform the procedure, place where the surgery is done.
2. Losing sensation – Though extremely rare, there is a possibility that you may not regain your sensation back near the vagina.
3. Scarring of the tissues.

If you are not willing to undergo vaginoplasty surgery, you can check for non surgical vaginal tightening procedures.

Post operative care to be taken after vaginoplasty surgery

1. The surgical site should not come in contact with water. That means, no shower or bath for at least a week.
2. No sex, no workouts of any kind for at least 6 weeks after the surgery.
3. If you are given prescription medicines, you must follow it without fail.
4. You need to see your doctor after a week to get the area inspected for possible infections and to know how it is healing.
5. Once your doctor gives you a green signal, you can start having sex and go back to your every day routine.