Life has a way of changing you, both physically and mentally. As you get older, you are likely to notice changes all over your body, from the shape and size of your breasts to the condition of your skin. Some of those changes might not be visible, but you might be able to feel them or to see evidence of them in other ways.
For example, the vagina, the internal part of a woman’s genitalia, can be affected by many things in life, such s childbirth and aging. Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that tightens the muscles on the inside of the vagina. There are many reasons why you might choose to have vaginoplasty, such as wanting to improve your comfort.
If you’ve noticed changes “down there” in recent years, here are a few signs that you might benefit from vaginal rejuvenation surgery.
The Area Tore During Childbirth
During a vaginal delivery, an approximately 8-pound baby pushes their way out of a very narrow opening. The size of the baby, particularly the size of their head, puts a considerable amount of strain on the tissue of the vaginal canal. In many cases, the strain can lead to tears in the tissue. More than half of all women who give birth develop at least a small tear in the area.
Depending on the size, location, and a number of tears you develop as a result of childbirth, surgical correction at a later date might be beneficial. Your plastic surgeon can explain the benefits of vaginoplasty for perineal and vaginal tears and can help you decide if it’s right for you.
Sex Has Become Less Enjoyable
If the walls of the vaginal canal have become weaker or have “stretched out” as a result of aging or vaginal delivery, you might have noticed a decrease in your sexual enjoyment and satisfaction.
Vaginoplasty can help make sex more enjoyable for you (and your partners) in two ways. First, the surgery corrects any anatomical issues that are interfering with your sex life. Tightening the vaginal muscles can lead to an increase in friction, which can help both you and your partners enjoy intercourse more.
Second, you might get a boost of self-esteem after the surgery, which can help you feel more confident with your partners, making sex more enjoyable overall.
You Experience Incontinence
After giving birth, or just as a result of getting older, some women notice that a little bit of urine “leaks” out when they laugh loudly or sneeze. Some women have difficulty getting to the bathroom in time when they have to pee.
Incontinence can be embarrassing and inconvenient. There are a few ways you can cope with, from performing Kegel exercises to wearing a pantiliner or pad at all times. Vaginoplasty might also be able to help reduce incontinence, by tightening the muscles in the pelvic area.
Tampons or Menstrual Cups No Longer Fit
After childbirth, it’s usually recommended that women who use a menstrual cup switch to the larger size. Women who wear tampons might also find that they feel looser in the vaginal canal after childbirth.
It could be the case that you’re not putting the tampon or menstrual cup in far enough. Improving insertion can make a tampon feel loose or not quite right. Many women also end up with a heavier flow after childbirth, meaning they have to change their tampons more often. If a tampon is saturated, it will feel looser.
But it could also be the case that the vaginal walls are weaker or stretched out and that vaginoplasty would help you get a better fit around tampons or menstrual cups.
What to Expect From Vaginoplasty
If you believe that you would benefit from vaginoplasty, what can you expect from the surgery? The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes less than two hours. You might be given a local anesthetic and sedative or general anesthesia. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each option with you to help you make the most appropriate decision.
Recovery from vaginoplasty can take up to two weeks. You might want to take a full two weeks off from work, but you could feel ready to go back earlier. Several activities, notably sex and exercise, will be off-limits for up to six weeks after your vaginoplasty.
Vaginoplasty is just one of a suite of surgeries that can be performed to rejuvenate the vaginal area. If you are concerned about the appearance of your external genitals, you might combine vaginoplasty with labiaplasty, which removes excess skin from the area around the opening of the vagina.
Whatever your reason for wanting vaginal rejuvenation surgery, it’s essential to work with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. In Houston, Texas, Dr. Paul Vitenas has nearly 30 years of experience and has developed a reputation as one of the area’s best plastic surgeons. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Vitenas, call 281-484-0088, or book an online consultation today.