Vaginal Tightening Surgery
When intimacy no longer feels the way it once did after childbirth, this procedure can help you find your way back to closeness and comfort with your partner.
Is this right for you?
After giving birth, many women notice that the vagina feels stretched and has lost some of its elasticity. The ring of muscle around the vaginal canal can tear during delivery, so it no longer tightens the way it used to, and sensation during intimacy fades. This is a change in your body, not a fault of yours. This procedure may suit some women, though it is not right for everyone.
This may be a good fit if
- You feel that the vagina has stretched after childbirth and that sensation during intimacy with your partner has clearly lessened.
- You have done pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels (exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles) but still have not regained the sensation you hoped for.
- You are at least 3 months past childbirth and your period has just finished.
- Your general health is stable, with no serious underlying medical conditions.
This may not be right if
- You currently have an acute infection of the vulva or vagina.
- You are experiencing prolonged or heavy bleeding, or you have a blood-clotting disorder.
- You have a serious medical condition, such as a body-wide infection.
- You are still within 3 months of giving birth, or you have not yet tried exercise-based approaches first.
How it works
Everything begins with an in-person examination and consultation with the specialist surgeon who will perform your procedure. The surgeon assesses your overall health, the condition of the vagina and vulva, and any other medical conditions, so the two of you can decide together whether this procedure is right for you.
Before surgery, you will have a few routine tests and a separate review with the anaesthetist. You will need to stop any medicines containing Aspirin for 10 days before surgery and fast for 6 hours beforehand. You are usually given local anaesthesia, with or without sedation (medicine to help you relax); in some cases spinal anaesthesia or general anaesthesia is used.
There are several different techniques, but the general principle is to remove some of the lining of the vaginal wall and tighten the underlying muscle, so the vaginal wall becomes narrower and firmer. The surgery usually takes about 1 hour.
If you have enlarged inner labia (inner lips that are larger than usual), the surgeon may reduce them during the same procedure. Your surgeon will discuss this clearly with you before going ahead.
Realistic expectations
This procedure aims to firm the vaginal walls and improve sensation during intimacy. Results vary from one woman to the next, and there are things this procedure will not do.
What this will not do
- It will not promise or commit to a specific level of sensation during intimacy.
- It will not replace treatment for gynaecological conditions if you have them.
- It will not solve difficulties in your relationship that do not stem from a physical change.
Recovery
Most women recover gently. You will not need stitches removed or dressings changed. The milestones below are the timeframes we see most often; every body heals at its own pace.
- The same day
- You are usually discharged on the day of surgery.
- The first few days
- You may feel some tightness and mild stinging in the vagina; this usually eases over a few days. You take pain relief and antibiotics for about 7 days.
- About 1 to 3 days
- You return to normal daily activities from the next day, and you can go back to work after 1 to 3 days, depending on the nature of your job.
- The first week
- You clean the vagina each day with an antiseptic solution; after that, you care for it as you did before surgery.
- Around 8 weeks
- You are advised to begin sexual activity again after about 8 weeks.
Risks & safety
Most procedures performed correctly go smoothly, with gentle recovery and satisfied patients. But like any surgery, this procedure still carries risks you should know about beforehand. The complications below are uncommon, though they are not impossible.
- Risks related to general or local anaesthesia.
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Injury to the rectum.
- Rectovaginal fistula (an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina).
- The vagina being narrowed too much.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, this procedure is performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery or in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, within a hospital that is licensed for surgery. The same doctor who examines and advises you is the one who performs your surgery, so the plan is built around your real condition.
Most risks are kept low through careful preparation. Before surgery, you have routine tests and a separate pre-anaesthetic review with an anaesthesia and critical care doctor, so your surgery takes place in a safe anaesthetic environment. We also speak plainly with you about the complications that can happen, because a sound decision needs full information.
Frequently asked questions
Will it hurt a lot?
In the first few days you may feel some tightness and mild stinging in the vagina, and this usually eases over a few days. You are given pain relief and antibiotics for about 7 days.
How long will I need to take off work?
You usually return to normal daily activities from the next day and can go back to work after 1 to 3 days, depending on the nature of your job.
Will I need to stay in hospital?
You are usually discharged on the same day as your surgery.
Will I need stitches removed or dressings changed afterwards?
No. You will not need stitches removed and you will not need dressings changed. You only need to clean the vagina each day with an antiseptic solution during the first week.
When can I have sex again?
You are advised to begin sexual activity again after about 8 weeks, to give the surgical area time to heal.
How long after childbirth can I have this done?
The right time is at least 3 months after childbirth and once your period has just finished. Your surgeon will assess your situation in detail during the examination.
Should I try other approaches first?
Yes. This procedure is usually considered when you have already done pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels but still have not regained the sensation you hoped for.
How long does the surgery take, and what kind of anaesthesia is used?
The surgery usually takes about 1 hour. You are usually given local anaesthesia, with or without sedation; in some cases spinal anaesthesia or general anaesthesia is used.
Does this procedure help reduce gynaecological problems?
A vagina that has stretched after childbirth can raise the risk of certain gynaecological conditions, and tightening it may help lower that risk. Even so, it does not replace treatment if you already have a gynaecological condition.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.