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By Abdulaziz Ali - Medically reviewed by Prof. Zeynep Sevim, on Aug 23, 2023

Vaginoplasty surgery is not recommended for women suffering from active gynecological diseases such as malignancies or infections. Patients should not have this procedure done while menstruating. Women who are planning to have children soon should also wait before undergoing vaginoplasty surgery. Vaginoplasty surgeon guides the patients about the things that should be awaited or avoided before the surgery.

Patients need to stop smoking at least a month before and after the procedure. Taking any blood thinners such as aspirin at least 2 weeks before the vaginoplasty procedure is not allowed as well. Anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal teas, herbal supplements, green teas, and Omega 3 capsules are also forbidden. Women should have a complete gynecological examination to check for any signs of infection or disease. The planning step of the procedure is as important as the procedure itself. The patient’s menstrual cycle needs to take place at least a week before vaginoplasty surgery. The menstrual cycle can increase the chance of developing complications following the vaginoplasty procedure

The vaginoplasty procedure is done under local anesthesia. Once the anesthesia kicks in, the surgeon will begin effectively tightening the vaginal walls by removing excess external tissue. The supportive muscle and tissue of the vulvovaginal structure are also tightened at this point. Then the tissues are tightened with strong sutures beneath the skin. Once the vaginal canal has been tightened, the skin over it is also sutured closed. If there is external skin that needs to be shaped, this can be reduced as well for a more aesthetic result.

The procedure lasts around an hour – the patient will enjoy a much narrower vaginal canal and tighter vaginal muscles. The vaginoplasty recovery period can begin.

The vaginoplasty recovery period usually lasts six weeks. During post-op vaginoplasty, patients may experience temporary soreness, swelling, bruising, sickness upon waking from anesthesia, and changes in sensation. They will have a temporary urinary catheter for five days along with vaginal packing.

Patients can usually return to work after one or two weeks. Sexual intercourse is forbidden during the vaginoplasty recovery period.

Vaginoplasty surgery complications can include: 

● Infection – patients can watch out for signs of infection such as swelling, redness or excessive tenderness 

● Scarring in the area 

● Excessive bleeding – a small amount of bleeding is normal during the first few days of the vaginoplasty recovery period but it should not continue for more than 3 days 

● Ongoing pain – pain is a sign of complications from vaginoplasty surgery 

● Developing an abscess at the suture site

● Dyspareunia (difficult or painful sexual intercourse)

● Vaginal dryness

● Vaginal and perineal restriction

● Rectovaginal or urethrovaginal fistulas

Vaginoplasty surgery side effects can include one or more of the following: 

● Pain from muscle spasms following the vaginoplasty surgery 

● Small amounts of discharge from the vagina 

● In some cases swelling, redness and bruising may occur – this is a sign of infection 

● Excessive tenderness or temporary loss of sensitivity in the area

● Rupture of the sutures 

● Urinary retention

The average vaginoplasty surgery success rate, based on vaginoplasty research and reviews is around 98%.

As can be seen from the high success rates, vaginoplasty results are very satisfactory. Women enjoy increased libido, improved sex life and an increase in self-confidence after vaginoplasty surgery.

Are There Any Alternatives to Vaginoplasty Surgery?

Patients can follow regular pelvic floor exercises to improve muscle tone and strengthen the pelvic floor, but the benefits of these exercises are limited and should be started in early age in order to increase their effectiveness. 

Can Vaginoplasty Surgery Be Combined with Other Procedures? 

Yes, vaginoplasty can be combined with perineoplasty, labiaplasty or hymenoplasty. 

Is Vaginoplasty Surgery A Viable Treatment for Urinary Incontinence?

For most cases, yes.

How many days should I travel/stay abroad to do the treatment?

You can expect to get back to work within 1 week after the surgery. 

How many trips do I need to take abroad to complete the procedure? 

You will need 1 trip abroad to complete the whole procedure and follow up with your local doctor. 

How long should you stay in the hospital after the surgery? 

You may spend one night in the hospital after the procedure to monitor your status. 

How long is the surgery? 

The surgery will take 1 to 2 hours.