Cosmetic Gynecology

Vaginal muscles, due to stressful expansion during the childbirth process, experience enlargement. This can often result to loose and weak vaginal muscles. Kegel exercises alone can’t improve the condition of the vaginal muscles. Because of this, many women resort to surgical procedures to remedy their problems.

Vaginoplasty, also known as v-tuck, is a standard gynecologic surgical operation. The procedure tightens vaginal muscles and surrounding soft tissues by reducing excess vaginal mucosa or vaginal lining. This results in an immediate decrease in the size of the vaginal muscles.

If there are women who wish to decrease the size of their vaginal muscles, there are also women who want to decrease the size of their labia, or the lips of their vagina. Labiaplasty is for women who have a problem with large labia, asymmetric labia, or related female genital issues. The said procedure permits the reduction of large labia to decrease the outward appearance and correct irregularities.

The aforementioned surgical procedures are part of a field that has become called cosmetic gynecology. This broad study is now emerging as a demanding field with only a few professionals skilled enough to perform the procedures with good results. A number of surgeons are formally trained in female medicine as OB-GYNs. Other equally capable specialists in the field include plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, and urologists.

Vaginoplasty

Vaginoplasty aims to improve the tone of the vagina by tightening the vaginal muscles and its supporting tissues. The stretched muscle at the back of the vagina is joined together and shortened with using dissolvable stitches. The unwanted skin is then removed after that. Due to the reduced excess vaginal lining, the vaginal muscles and it surrounding soft tissues are tightened. The scarring occurs inside the vagina.

V tuck is performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The patient may be required to stay overnight. The operation in itself takes an hour to perform. Results are immediate, the diameter of the vagina is decreased and the tightness of the vaginal muscles are increased. Vaginoplasty is expected to also restore the vagina and supporting structures to a pre-pregnancy state.

A little soreness and swelling may be experience by a woman who had undergone a v tuck. The patient is usually able to walk comfortably within a few days after surgery,  and may return to usual sexual activities within four to six weeks. Follow-up checks are needed to ensure that everything is healing properly. Recovery can take a week. The patient can return to work during the said period. The final result of the vaginoplasty procedures will be seen in around two to three weeks after surgery.

Just like any other surgical procedures, vaginoplasty also involves some risks. Possible complications may include infection, a reaction to the anesthesia, and bleeding and hematoma. Risks more often occur among women who smoke, are overweight, are diabetic or other health problems.

Due to the incisions involved in the v tuck operation, a little scarring may happen. The surgeon, however, usually place the incisions in a discreet area, primarily inside the vagina or in a natural fold in the area. The scars will eventually heal and fade into a barely noticeable with proper care. If any permanent damage occurs, further surgery is needed to correct the issue.

Considering a V Tuck

Aside from women who want to tighten their vaginal muscles and it supporting tissues, other suitable candidates for vaginoplasty are women suffering from stress incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine with coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or sex, women wanting to improve the appearance of their external genitalia, restore their self-esteem and revive their love lives are also good candidates for the operation. A V Tuck can also offer relief to a woman with a prolapsed pelvis. A prolapsed pelvis results from a weakening of the muscles at the base of the pelvis. The weakening causes the pelvis to press on the woman’s vagina and trigger discomfort in the vaginal region.

Vaginoplasty is not, however, recommended for women who had just given birth. Doctors usually advised women who are interested to have V Tuck performed on them to wait for about a year after childbirth.

A V Tuck can be done alone or in combination with other cosmetic gynecologic procedures likelabiaplasty. A consultation with a surgeon experienced with vaginoplasty should be able to get you on a right start. Your surgeon will be able to set your expectations correctly.

Eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding vitamins, iron tablets and certain medications should be avoided prior to vaginoplasty surgery. One should inform her surgeon immediately if she experiences shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, notices any signs of infection, experiences bleeding, and experiences a sudden increase a sudden increase in pain.

Labiaplasty

Every woman is different. The lips of the vagina are not always equal. It is not uncommon for one to feel dissatisfaction from this, especially if the disproportion is particularly noticeable. This can be uncomfortable, embarrassing even, for a woman. It may lead to sexual dissatisfaction or difficulty. Labiaplasty is the answer for this dilemma.

Labisplasty, sometimes referred to as labila reduction or labia minor reduction, is a plastic surgery procedure of the external folds of skin surrounding the structures of the vulva, the labia majora and/or labia minora. The gynecologist, or surgeon, will trim the inner folds so that they no longer protrude. This is step is done either by reducing the edges of the labia or snipping out a ‘V’ shape wedge of tissue. The remaining edges are then sewn carefully back together.

The said cosmetic gynecology procedure is performed under general anesthesia, or local anesthesia with sedation. The whole surgery may take about an hour or two to finish. The patient may opt to stay overnight but most can go home the same say as the operation.

Labiaplasty is expected to restore the appearance of a woman’s genitalia to normal. The procedure is almost undetectable after complete healing. Some mild discomfort and swelling may be experienced after surgery. This usually disappears completely after a week or two. Labial incisions heal quickly and are rarely noticeable. A woman who had undergone labiaplasty will need to wear a panty liner after the procedure. There is no need to physically remove the sutures because they dissolve within a few days.

Patients are advised against vigorous exercise for two weeks. Vaginal intercourse is also discouraged for four weeks. Daily baths or gentle showers will ensure quick healing, which is completed usually within two weeks. Follow-up visits must be schedules to check on the patient’s progress.

Infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, delayed wound healing, scarring, unsatisfactory results and the need for a second (sometimes third) procedure are the possible complications after labiaplasty. These complications are extremely rare, though. Problems with healing, like incision separation, under or over correction, scarring and/or pain following the surgery, is also another associated risk. They can, however, occurs as with any vaginal surgery. This problem may require further surgery or revision.

Labiaplsty considerations

Women who have enlarged or irregular labia are advised to undergo labiaplasty since the procedure is expected to reduce the size of the labia, or the genital lips. If you are considering labiaplasty make sure that you are in good physical health and psychologically stable. Obtaining information about the said procedure will help you prepare yourself for the operation.

Surgeons will usually give you specific instructions for you to be able to prepare for labiaplasty. In general, eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding vitamins, iron tablets, and certain medications should be avoided before the operation. Make sure that you ask all the questions you have about labiaplasty prior to the surgery. Make sure to inform your doctor about any allergies you have. It may be beneficial for you to try to find a schedule for the operation around your menstrual period. Arrange for someone to drive you home after the operation, as well.

After labiaplasty, a patient may experience pain or general discomfort. This discomfort can be controlled by taking prescription medication. The area of surgery is also likely to be swollen and bruised in the first week following the procedure. An iced pack can be used to relieve the discomfort and reduce the swelling. Urinating can be uncomfortable for the first week. Pouring lukewarm water over the area while taking a leak will ease the burning and stinging sensation. Wearing loose underwear should be continued until the end of the second week. Tampons should not be used during the first six weeks after operation.

After six weeks, the site should no longer be sore. A woman may return to work a week after the surgery. She may be able to resume normal activity after two to three weeks. If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heart beats, notice any signs of infection, experience bleeding, or experience a sudden increase in pain, immediately get in touch with your OBGYN.