At some point in their life, nearly every woman wonders if what they have is considered normal.

But for nearly 40% of women in the United States, this self-awareness soon turns into self-consciousness and sometimes even physical discomfort.

Vaginal Rejuvenation — which covers an array of surgical and non-surgical procedures, may be a solution to both the physical and psychological effects that are produced by women’s perceptions of their vaginas.

In this blog, we’ll be talking about a specific kind of vaginal rejuvenation: a vaginoplasty.

A vaginoplasty is a procedure that aims to tighten the inner and outer muscles of the vagina to enhance muscle tone, strength, and control.

Although there are a number of causes for this condition, the two most common are childbirth and aging.

Vaginal childbirth puts incredible amounts of stress on the muscles, ligaments, and tissues within the birth canal and vagina, which oftentimes results in a wide range of unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms, including vaginal looseness, decreased sexual sensation and pleasure, vaginal flatulence, and what feels like a gaping vaginal entrance.

The aim of this procedure is to restore and reconstruct these muscles to their original state — whether the damage has occurred through pregnancy or aging.

The benefits of this procedure can range from improved sensitivity and lubrication to improved psychological and physical comfort.

In order to tighten the vagina, this procedure involves removing excess vaginal mucosa skin and bringing the muscles closer together — or quite literally, tightening the muscles themselves. In some cases, you might also be able to undergo procedures to amend the external look of your vagina at the same time.

For those who prefer a non-surgical option, our Mona Lisa Vaginal Laser Treatment might be ideal. When you meet with Dr. Lee for your first consultation, he will be able to assess your needs and determine the best solution for your situation.

The ideal candidate for Vaginoplasty:

  • suffers from lack of sensation during intimacy, inability or difficulty having an orgasm, feeling loose, and psychological discomfort related to the vagina
  • may experience soreness or pain with sexual activity, bicycle riding, or horseback riding
  • might also be wanting to improve the appearance of their vagina
  • is in general good health and does not smoke
  • has a positive mindset and realistic expectations regarding the results of the procedure

Vaginoplasty is a 1 to 2-hour procedure that aims to tighten the vagina, enhance friction and lubrication during intimacy, enhance vaginal muscle tone, decrease urinary incontinence and improve vaginal appearance.

We’ll start with a consultation to assess your needs and determine if a Vaginoplasty is an ideal procedure for you. This tends to be a very private and sensitive subject for many, but our patients love the privacy and professionalism involved in the consult. Dr. Lee will outline the procedure and answer any questions you may have, including the addition of other procedures.

You will arrive at the office in the morning and be home in the afternoon. The procedure will be conducted under IV conscious sedation and NOT general anesthesia. This means you will sleep through the entire procedure but be breathing on your own and you will not need to be intubated.

During surgery, the stretched muscles throughout the vagina are tightened by dissolvable sutures. Excess vaginal tissue is then removed, similar to skin being removed at the time of a tummy tuck. The opening of the vagina will also be tightened if it is needed.  It is also possible to have a Labiaplasty or other external cosmetic procedure at the same time.

You will notice a drastic result immediately after surgery.

These results will improve over time as swelling goes down.

You should not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least 2 weeks after surgery. You should walk around immediately after surgery and NOT stay in bed. You can anticipate some spotting, similar to a very light menstrual cycle for a few days. You should eat a healthy diet and as much protein as possible to promote good healing.

Dr. Lee sees all the patients the next day after surgery. You should not lift anything over 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks of recovery. However, most patients return to work within 1 week, especially if they have light duty at work. You may drive usually after a few days. 

Remember that everyone is different. Recovery times and progression is not the same for everyone. The times stated are typical for healthy individuals healing from this surgery. The normal progression of healing may be different for those with health problems, smokers, and those who have unforeseen complications after surgery.

Procedures like this one — while invisible to the outside world, can make a drastic difference in a woman’s life. These changes can lead to improved sexual and a drastic change in self-consciousness.If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here and would like to explore your options regarding vaginal rejuvenation, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee.