Everything You Want to Know About Vaginoplasty But Didn't Know Who to Ask

Time takes a toll on many parts of your body, and your genitals are no exception. When it comes to the vagina and labia, it’s not just the loss of tissue tone that typically accompanies getting older. Vaginal childbirth can also cause stretching and elongation, resulting in feelings of looseness in later years for some women.

There’s no need for you to simply accept these common effects of aging. Consulting with Gul A. Zikria, MD, FACOG provides you with the information you need to make an informed decision about choosing a surgical solution for your concerns. Dr. Zikria can answer your questions and help you form your expectations, ensuring your continued satisfaction with your choice.

Vaginoplasty

Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure affecting the vagina. Rather than a standard process with a single purpose, vaginoplasty may be reconstructive or cosmetic. Along with other procedures, including labiaplasty, vaginoplasty is part of an approach called vaginal rejuvenation.

Originally, though, vaginoplasty treated birth defects affecting the vagina and its normal functions. Such defects could interfere with urination, menstruation, and sexual functions.

Choosing vaginoplasty when you’re older often addresses changes that follow childbirth, such as urinary incontinence or changes to sexual performance. Some women find that sexual satisfaction improves after vaginoplasty, since the procedure often tightens the vaginal opening. This is not a guaranteed outcome of the procedure, however, since sexual response depends on many other factors beyond simply the physical condition of the vagina.

Labiaplasty

Frequently combined with vaginoplasty, labiaplasty is also a surgical technique with both functional and cosmetic aspects. There’s a wide range of variance in the shapes, sizes, and appearance of “normal” female genital anatomy. Sometimes, long, or asymmetrical labia create physical problems, such as pinching or chafing if you live an active lifestyle. Labiaplasty reduces the excess tissue and removes these issues.

Other times, the labiaplasty decision could be strictly cosmetic, restoring the appearance of your external genitalia to a more youthful condition. Again, since women’s bodies have such a wide range of variance, every labiaplasty or vaginoplasty/labiaplasty combination is essentially a custom procedure designed around your body and desired outcomes.

What to expect from surgery

Despite the high sensitivity associated with the female genital region, surgery and recovery aren’t usually associated with high levels of pain. Contemporary anesthesia keeps you comfortable through the procedure itself, and post-surgical pain relief is easily managed with over-the-counter or mild prescription pain relievers. Any significant discomfort rarely lasts longer than a few days.

You may have mild aches and swelling for as much as two weeks, but most people feel well enough to work within a week. You meet with Dr. Zikria within this time, so he can help you decide if you require further recovery time. 

Vaginal rejuvenation surgeries typically use dissolving sutures, so follow-up care is usually observational only. Intercourse, exercise, and strenuous work require full recovery, which takes about six weeks.

With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Zikria offers his extensive experience augmented with the latest advances for your benefit. He can answer all your questions about vaginoplasty and related procedures as well as how these affect you directly. Contact Dr. Zikria’s Milpitas, California, office by phone at 408-290-8289. Your informed decision starts here.