Vaginal Rejuvenation

What is vaginal rejuvenation surgery?

Vaginal rejuvenation surgery, also known as female genital plastic surgery, aesthetic vaginal surgery, or designer vagina plastic surgery, covers essentially anything that changes or alters the vaginal anatomy. Vaginal rejuvenation has become an increasingly popular option for many women. For individuals who desire to recontour after childbirth, significant weight loss, ageing, or injury to genital structures, vaginal rejuvenation offers increased self-confidence and comfort. Vaginal rejuvenation surgery is often part of a mommy makeover surgery.

“Vaginal rejuvenation surgery is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfil someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image, especially those coming from social media. Choosing a procedure based on “what’s new” is never a medically sound decision. Hearing about a procedure on television, through an advertisement or online does not necessarily mean it is the best procedure for you.”

Who is a good candidate vaginal rejuvenation surgery?

In general, you may be a good candidate for vaginal rejuvenation surgery If the contours of your vaginal structures have altered and stretched over time due to ageing, weight loss, or pregnancies, you experience soreness or pain with sexual activity, bicycle riding, or horseback riding, you have discomfort from scarring as a result of previous genital surgeries, the effects of multiple vaginal deliveries have led to reduced sensation during intercourse, you desire a sleeker, more refined contour to your labia and vulva, you are physically healthy and at a stable weight, nonsmoker or have stopped smoking recently, you have realistic expectations and your self-esteem would improve from a rejuvenation procedure.

What should I expect during a consultation for vaginal rejuvenation surgery?

During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your cosmetic goals. Dr Ricardo will evaluate you as a candidate for vaginal rejuvenation surgery and clarify what approach is best for you. Alternative and additional treatments may be considered, once he understands your goals and medical condition. It is important to be completely honest during the consultation and be prepared to discuss your surgical goals, medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments, current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and previous surgeries

Dr Ricardo will also evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors, take photographs, discuss the approach to your surgery, including the type of procedure or combination of procedures and tell you whether your expectations are in line with typical results, discuss any risks or potential complications and share before-and-after photos of cases similar to yours.

The success and safety of your vaginal rejuvenation surgery depend very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. It's very important to understand all aspects of your procedure. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether it's excitement about your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with Dr Ricardo.

How should I prepare for vaginal rejuvenation surgery?

In preparing for vaginal rejuvenation surgery, you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, take certain medications or adjust your current medications, stop smoking in advance of surgery and avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.

Your surgery will be performed in an accredited hospital and is usually performed on an outpatient basis unless you and Dr Ricardo have made other plans for your immediate postoperative recovery. You must arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you the first night following surgery.

Dr Ricardo and the entire staff will provide thorough preoperative instructions and answer any questions you may have. The goal is to help you achieve the most beautiful and natural-looking results, as well as to make your surgical experience as easy, comfortable, and safe as possible.

vaginal rejuvenation procedures

What is a labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty refers to a procedure that reduces the length of the labia minora. It is the most commonly performed female genital plastic surgery. The goal of the procedure is to reduce the labia minora so that they don't hang below the hair-bearing labia majora. A labiaplasty may be performed to reduce asymmetry when one is longer than the other, or, more commonly, to reduce the length of both labia so that the labia no longer twist, tug or fall out of a bathing suit.

Women opt for surgery for a variety of reasons, including pain from twisting and tugging of the labia when riding a bike or during intercourse, itching, irritation, and self-consciousness. Labiaplasty is a procedure that can be done under either local anaesthesia with oral sedation or under general anaesthesia.

The most common type of labiaplasty is the trim procedure, in which the extra tissue is removed and sewn up directly. Next in popularity is the wedge procedure, which maintains a natural border after a pie-shaped piece of tissue has been removed. Extra folds of the clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. The closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

Most patients take a week off from work, during which they can reduce swelling and pain by icing with a cold pack sandwiched between the patient's underpants and an elastic garment. This can be done "twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off." The patient can also lie with her bottom elevated to reduce swelling.

Patients can resume wearing tampons or having intercourse after four to six weeks. Trim labiaplasty generally allows for a quicker recovery. While the most distorting swelling is gone within 6 weeks, residual swelling may take six months to disappear.

Labiaplasty typically results in shorter labia that no longer hang down below the level of the hair-bearing labia majora. Most patients who experienced symptoms from twisting and tugging of their labia generally find relief after surgery. According to multiple studies, labiaplasty surgery is associated with a high satisfaction rate of over 90 percent.

What is a labia majoraplasty?

Labia majoraplasty is a procedure designed to surgically reduce the size of the outer, hair-bearing labia majora. Patients who feel their labia majora are too large or hang down may feel discomfort from such activities as cycling, or they may be embarrassed by the fullness. This procedure can be done under local anaesthesia with oral sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed.

Dr Ricardo removes two slight crescents of skin from the inner portion of each labium. The amount to be removed depends on the amount of excess tissue. In some cases, when there is atrophy of fatty tissue, a small amount of fat can be transferred from another area of the body after liposuction. The closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

Patients can resume wearing tampons or having intercourse after four to six weeks. Swelling after a labia majoraplasty can last 6 months or longer, depending on the thickness of the tissue, although much of the swelling is gone by 6 weeks.

This procedure typically results in smaller, tighter labia majora. In patients with excess skin, drooping of the labia majora when the patient is standing is usually improved. In patients with excess volume, this procedure can result in a lower profile.

What is a monsplasty?

Monsplasty is a procedure designed to reduce the bulging of the mons. The purpose of a monsplasty is to reduce the amount of fatty tissue and/or skin, depending on the cause of the bulge. Some women struggle with a bulge of excess skin and fat in the mons, the upper part of the hair-bearing part of their vulva. The bulge can result in women feeling too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit or tight pants.

Depending on the amount of tissue to be removed, local anaesthesia with oral sedation may be used for some procedures, but general anaesthesia may be preferable in others. This procedure is also known as a pubic lift, a surgical procedure used to reduce and lift the mons pubis (the fatty area above the genital area) by removing skin and fat. Sometimes liposuction only is sufficient.

Recovery takes about a week, with physical activity restrictions for two to six weeks, depending on the extensiveness of the procedure. If the skin is removed, a drain or two may be placed, with removal typically scheduled within the first few days.

This procedure results in a lower profile mons that typically projects less in clothing. In some patients with a mons that hangs, removal of excess skin can result in less hanging.

What is a clitoral hood reduction?

Excess folds of the clitoral hood, or prepuce, can be reduced with a clitoral hood reduction. The procedure is most commonly done along with a labiaplasty. The extra folds can create a bulge that is exaggerated when the labia minora are reduced, and a clitoral hood reduction can improve the balance in the appearance of the female genitalia.

Clitoral hood reduction is usually done at the time of a labiaplasty under either local anaesthesia with oral sedation or under general anaesthesia. The excess tissue is marked according to the individual's anatomy. There is a wide variation in the shape and extent of folds. In some patients, the excision is performed as a "Y" extension of the labiaplasty. The closure is usually done with absorbable sutures. The recovery is primarily determined by the accompanying labiaplasty.

In some patients with a heavy clitoral hood, a labiaplasty without a clitoral hood reduction can result in a top-heavy look. A clitoral hood reduction can lend balance to a labiaplasty in such patients. The clitoral hood reduction is generally performed with labiaplasty, which has a high satisfaction rate of over 90 percent.

What is vaginoplasty?

Vaginoplasty, also known as posterior colporrhaphy, is a procedure designed to tighten the vagina. An alternative is noninvasive vaginal tightening through heating tissues with radiofrequency waves or laser. Patients with significant laxity may not experience a benefit from these treatments and may be better candidates for surgical tightening with vaginoplasty.

A vaginoplasty brings the separated muscles together, and the extra mucosa skin from the backside of the vagina is removed. The external skin can also be removed for a more aesthetic appearance. After childbirth, women may complain of vaginal laxity, resulting from stretching of tissues and separating of muscles, sometimes to the point that a tampon falls out, and this lack of tone can contribute to sexual dysfunction.

While a vaginoplasty can be done under local anaesthesia, many opt to have it done under general anaesthesia. Once the amount of tightening to be done is determined, 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. If there is external skin that protrudes, this can be reduced as well for a more aesthetic result.

Patients may have one to two weeks of downtime. They may feel a deep ache for the first few days, and there is no tampon use or intercourse for eight weeks. Depending on the amount of tightening performed, some patients may be instructed to use dilators.

This procedure typically results in a tighter vaginal canal, which can help enhance sexual satisfaction.

VAGINAL REJUVENATION