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Vaginoplasty surgery is most commonly carried out under a general anaesthetic at our Baker Street clinic. Having vaginal tightening under a general anaesthetic means you will not experience any pain or discomfort during the procedure, and any symptoms you experience in the post-operative period should be very mild. Your surgeon will prescribe a course of prescription painkillers for you to take regularly for the first few days to remain as comfortable as possible during your vaginoplasty recovery.
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Any discomfort and swelling at the procedure site will settle down fully after approximately two weeks. Your surgeon only uses absorbable sutures during the procedure, so there is no need to have them removed at your post-operative one-week appointment with one of our wound care nurses. The vast majority of patients can resume work after 7 to 10 days, but in pelvic floor repair cases, you may require a full two weeks off work. For the first six weeks after vaginoplasty, you should avoid any strenuous exercise and sexual activity until you have been reviewed by your surgeon at your six-week review appointment.
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Centre for Surgery is home specialist cosmetic gynaecologists and they regularly perform vaginoplasty surgery with excellent outcomes and have never used vaginal mesh during vaginal tightening surgery as the post-operative outcomes with vaginal mesh have a greater risk of complications occurring.
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Is vaginoplasty recovery painful?
Vaginal tightening surgery, also known as vaginoplasty, is a well-tolerated procedure and is most commonly carried out under general anaesthetic or IV sedation. Our anaesthetists are experts in total intravenous anaesthesia, which is considered safer and more effective than traditional general anaesthetic techniques used in hospitals. The recovery following total intravenous anaesthesia is much quicker, which allows people to recover in the comfort of their own homes on the same day after vaginoplasty surgery.
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It is not uncommon to experience mild discomfort during the early vaginoplasty recovery period. The area operated on may be tender to the touch and may appear bruised and swollen for the first two weeks after the procedure. Full recovery after vaginoplasty surgery typically occurs in six weeks. It is essential to comply with the surgeon’s post-operative instructions to minimise the risk of complications arising.
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Our dedicated post-operative nursing team are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have any questions or concerns about your vaginoplasty recovery, you can access them on the dedicated telephone number provided on your discharge summary.
What is the average vaginoplasty healing time?
After vaginoplasty surgery, it is normal to experience bruising and swelling at the operated site, and a mild degree of soreness may be experienced during the first few days. These symptoms can be easily controlled with the prescription painkillers provided to you by your surgeon. We would encourage you to mobilise after the first 48 hours to minimise the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Vaginoplasty surgery requires time off work to facilitate proper healing, and we would recommend a minimum of one week off work. Most patients should be able to drive a car after one week. It is essential to avoid strenuous exercise, including gym exercise, for the first four weeks after surgery. You should avoid any sexual activity which involves vaginal intercourse for a minimum of six weeks after vaginoplasty Surgery. You will be reviewed by your surgeon at six weeks, and most of the patients who have had vaginoplasty will be fully healed by the six-week mark. After having vaginoplasty surgery, the best sleeping position is to lie on your back for a minimum of four weeks to avoid any rubbing on the operated area.
Vaginal rejuvenation is used to describe several treatments that can enhance both the appearance and function of the female genitalia. Vaginal tightening surgery is one component of vaginal rejuvenation and can be used to reduce the size of a big vagina. Vaginoplasty is commonly combined with surgery on the perineum, especially in women who have had a traumatic childbirth. Vaginoplasty can also be combined with a labiaplasty which is a procedure that involves reducing the size of the labia minora. Pelvic floor repair can also be combined with a vaginoplasty for women who suffer from urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Vaginal rejuvenation recovery takes approximately the same amount of time as a vaginal tightening procedure. However, this will depend on the treatments which comprise the vaginal rejuvenation treatment. In most cases, full recovery after vaginal rejuvenation takes approximately six weeks.
For patients who are considering having vaginoplasty at Centre for Surgery in London, there are several important preoperative instructions to comply with to make sure the risk of complications is minimal. You must stop smoking for a minimum of four weeks before the procedure, and you should avoid drinking alcohol for at least two weeks prior. Your surgeon will also recommend you stop any aspirin-containing medicines to reduce the risks of bleeding during or after the procedure. Vaginoplasty healing can also be affected by women who actively smoke, and the risk of wound breakdown and infection is much higher in smokers.
Patients having vaginoplasty at our Baker Street clinic in London will need to ensure they have a responsible adult escort to drop them off and pick them up after the procedure is complete and they are medically fit for discharge. Your caregiver should look after you for a minimum of 24 hours after your procedure and ideally for the first 2 to 3 days. Having good social support after the procedure will help to optimise your vaginoplasty recovery.
Patients can also speed the recovery time by the application of ice packs to the operating area as this will help to significantly reduce the vaginoplasty swelling you should avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing to avoid irritating the area which may increase the risk of wound complications and significant pain and discomfort. All patients who have had vaginoplasty surgery should refrain from applying vaginal tampons until full healing has taken place, which takes approximately six weeks in most cases. As an alternative measure, patients should apply external sanitary towels to the area as the optimum hygiene measure. As with all types of cosmetic surgery, you should be sure to follow the surgeon’s preoperative and post-operative instructions in full to minimise the risk of complications occurring.
Does vaginoplasty affect sensation?
Vaginoplasty surgery aims to restore the female vagina to the pre-pregnancy condition. The newly tightened vagina has enhanced tone, control and muscle strength as well as being smaller in diameter. These benefits help to increase feeling after vaginoplasty surgery which has a direct impact on sexual intercourse, with many women reporting increased satisfaction after having had a vaginoplasty. It is important to bear in mind that a vaginoplasty does not affect sexual desire or the ability to have an orgasm, as there are a number of interconnected factors which contribute to these phenomena. Having vaginoplasty surgery does not automatically increase sexual desire. Vaginoplasty surgery can improve symptoms caused by stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse when combined with pelvic floor repair. Vaginal looseness can also be caused by the ageing process, where lowered oestrogen levels contribute to an increase in vaginal laxity.
During the vaginoplasty recovery period, many women report sensation to be either increased or decreased during the first six weeks and these changes are normal as the body is healing. These temporary changes in sensation should normalise after six weeks. In cases where patients have abnormally increased levels of sensitivity or even discomfort, we recommend being seen by your surgeon for further assessment. These symptoms are common after vaginoplasty surgery and are only permanent in an extremely small number of cases. Your surgeon will outline the risks and complications of vaginoplasty surgery at your face-to-face vaginal tightening consultation in London.
When can I start walking after vaginoplasty?
We would recommend that patients begin to mobilise after the first 24 hours after vaginoplasty surgery. It is uncommon to experience pain or discomfort with gentle walking around the house. To minimise the risk of complications, it’s important not to do too much too soon and if you experience increased pain or discomfort, it is important to slow down and always to listen to your body.
What does a vaginoplasty scar look like?
Vaginoplasty surgery involves all incisions being made within the vagina which means there are no visible scars after the surgery. The purpose of vaginoplasty is to reduce the size of the vagina which helps to tighten the vagina. Surgical techniques used in vaginoplasty involve removing ligaments and muscles which have been loosened as a result of childbirth. The vaginal is then reconstructed using absorbable sutures. The newly tightened vagina is returned to its pre-pregnancy state. All the incisions used for vaginoplasty surgery are within the vagina and are therefore not visible on the outside.
Centre for Surgery is home to some of the most experienced vaginoplasty surgeons in London and treats over 100 patients each year with a loose vagina as a result of childbirth and the ageing process. If you are keen to book a vaginoplasty consultation, please get in touch and speak to one of our friendly and experienced patient coordinators to book a face-to-face consultation at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in London.
