Vaginoplasty
Vaginoplasty
What is Vaginoplasty?
Vaginoplasty is a type of surgery done to fix, rebuild, or reshape the vagina. It can be done if the vagina has been damaged — from injury, childbirth, cancer treatments, or if someone was born with a condition that affects the vagina’s shape or function.
A lot of people use “vagina” when they actually mean the entire genital area, but technically, the vagina is the inner muscular canal — the part you can’t see — while the outside area is called the vulva.
Why Do People Get Vaginoplasty?
People choose this surgery for different reasons, including:
Childbirth: Giving birth through the vagina can stretch and loosen the vaginal muscles, which can cause discomfort or affect sexual enjoyment. Aging can have a similar effect.
Medical Treatments: Cancer treatments like radiation, or surgeries that remove part of the vagina, may require reconstructive surgery.
Congenital Conditions: Some people are born with an underdeveloped or missing vagina, or other conditions that affect menstrual flow or sexual function.
How the Procedure Works
Before surgery, your doctor will do a health check and talk through risks, benefits, and recovery. You may need to stop certain medications or smoking to reduce risks.
During surgery, what happens depends on your reason for getting the procedure:
If the goal is to tighten a stretched or loose vagina (from childbirth or injury), the surgeon will remove extra tissue, use stitches to tighten the muscles, and may reduce the size of the vaginal opening.
If the surgery is to correct a condition you were born with, the surgeon might create a new vaginal canal or remove abnormal tissue.
The length of the surgery depends on how complex it is — some take only a few hours, others can take much longer.
Recovery
After surgery, your doctor will explain what to expect as you heal. Some people stay in the hospital for a few days, while others go home sooner. You’ll usually be given painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection.
During recovery, it’s normal to have:
Light bleeding for about two days.
Swelling, bruising, and itchiness as you heal.
Numbness in the area (which usually fades over time).
A catheter (a tube to help you pee) for a few days or up to a week.
Your doctor might also give you a vaginal dilator to help gently stretch and maintain the shape of your vaginal canal, especially if the surgery involved creating or repairing the inner vaginal space.
Risks and Benefits
Like all surgeries, vaginoplasty has risks. These can include:
Infection.
Bleeding.
Painful sex (dyspareunia).
Numbness or loss of feeling in the area.
But the benefits can be both physical and emotional:
Many people report better sexual satisfaction, more comfort, and higher self-confidence after healing. It can also improve problems like discomfort during sex or difficulty with hygiene.
When Should You Call Your Doctor?
After the surgery, you should contact your doctor if you notice:
Heavy bleeding (soaking through dressings).
Fever or unusual discharge (signs of infection).
Severe pain that doesn’t get better with medication.
Swelling in your legs or groin (possible blood clots).
Vomiting or trouble keeping fluids down.