Vaginoplasty is a cosmetic procedure designed to correct a congenital deformity or an acquired condition or deformity of the vagina in the female patient.

Vaginoplasty for congenital or inborn anomalies are aimed to produce a functional vaginal canal when it was partly or completely absent.

Acquired conditions or deformity of the vagina can occur after trauma of childbirth, non-childbirth trauma or simply as result of aging process. Pregnancy and childbirth produce changes in the vagina that may lead to enlargement, weakening of the vaginal muscles and lining or mucus membrane. Vaginoplasty to improve these conditions will involve tightening the loose entrance and tightening the muscles involved with the vaginal canal.

Surgery for cosmetic vaginal improvement is aimed at correcting the opening if it was unduly stretched or enlarged following childbirth trauma, and rendering it tighter as well for better sexual stimulation and friction during intercourse. Vaginoplasty is not designed for more sexual arousal or desire as these are multifactorial in origin and treatment may not be surgically successful.

Vaginoplasty may be carried out with other procedures such as labiaplasty or perineoplasty, and may be carried out as a single stand-alone procedure.

Anesthesia may be local, regional or general depending on the particular situation.

Who would be a good candidate?
Women presenting for vaginoplasty are often mothers who had some trauma during parturition or delivery. They may notice the opening of the vagina to have enlarged or they may feel the vagina to have become looser and less friction and sensitivity thereafter. Their sexual experience and vaginal sensation may have altered after the trauma of childbirth or aging tissues. The vagina had become looser, larger and less sensitive to friction and sensation during intercourse.

Cosmetic surgeons trained in vaginal surgery carry out Vaginoplasty, as well as highly trained Gynecologist.

Recovery
Surgery is usually carried out with dissolvable sutures and recovery is related to the complexity of the repair and varies from 2 weeks to 6 weeks.

Patients are advised to maintain low-key activities in the recovery time to allow for healing without complications. Pelvic rest is advised till healing is complete.

Patients may complaint of pain and swelling that ultimately responds to rest and feet elevation. The use of vaginal tampon is discouraged during the immediate postoperative period.

Possible complications
Surgery on the vagina and the vaginal muscles and surrounding tissues should only be performed by an expert in the field of Gynecology and cosmetic surgery to minimize possible complications. Complications may result secondary to excessive tightening of the area and its muscular layers, the result would lead to pain and painful sexual penetration or pain during intercourse. On the other hand insufficient repair may lead to insufficient correction of the relaxed tissues. Bleeding, infection, difficult scarring, and chronic pain may result as complications.