Vaginal rejuvenation surgery is a procedure used to restore vaginal tone and appearance by removing excess tissue and tightening vaginal muscles.

Vaginal cosmetic surgery is becoming as fashionable as other cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) vaginal cosmetic surgery has increased almost by 30% in only one year and the term “designer vagina” has been coined to describe the desire to have a “perfect looking” vagina. However, vaginal rejuvenation is not always such a superfluous procedure as it might sound. For some patients, vaginal rejuvenation means the end of painful intercourse, the end of stress incontinence and a boost in self esteem for those who have been seriously traumatised around their vaginal area.

1) Labiaplasty which is labia reduction and beautification,

2) Vaginoplasty which involves tightening of the vaginal muscles, and

3) Clitoral Unhooding or hoodectomy which aims to increase sexual satisfaction by heightening sensations in the clitoris.

Anyone in average physical condition or good health can be a candidate for vaginoplasty surgery. Women who decide to have vaginal surgeries include:

• Those women whose vaginal areas have stretched due to pregnancy, vaginal delivery (the actual passage of the foetus) or to instrumentation during operative delivery.
• Those women whose vaginal areas have stretched due to aging.
• Women who suffer from stress incontinence.
• Women who want their labial lips reduced, enhanced or re-shaped.
• Women who have experienced vaginal trauma due to insertion injury (eg, from forceful coitus, insertion of foreign body during sexual assault, impaling injury secondary to a fall)
• Those who want to increase their sexual pleasure.
• Women who for religious, social or moral reasons want to reconstruct their hymen to its original form.

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that can reduce and reshape the skin that covers the female clitoris and vaginal opening.  Sometimes the procedure is done purely for cosmetic reasons or to increase sexual pleasure but most of the time the procedure is done to relieve pain in women who experience painful intercourse because of the size of their labia or who feel discomfort during everyday activities (exercise, long time sitting or walking) because their labia is too long and rubs painfully against their body.

During labiaplasty, the surgeon basically trims the involved labia minora or majora, carefully removing excess and unnecessary skin to reduce discomfort and to improve the appearance of the vagina.

Women who have experienced multiple natural childbirths know very well how much stress their vaginal muscles experience during the delivery. As a result of the stress, sometimes women can be left with loose and weak, vaginal muscles. For some women the problem is easily solved with exercise but for others the condition might carry on worsening with every pregnancy, childbirth and age.

Vaginoplasty, is a procedure that can correct the above problem correcting overstretched vaginal muscles. Basically, the surgeon removes a segment of the vaginal lining and repositions the underlying muscles, resulting in noticeably tight inner and outer vaginal walls which result in greater contraction strength and control of the vaginal muscles, thus enhancing one’s sexual life as a direct result.

All surgical procedures have some degree of risk.  Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.  Major complications are rare.

The AmericanCollege of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, warns that vaginal surgery procedures lack supporting data regarding safety and efficacy. In some cases it can worsen a problem by leading to decreased sensory perception of the clitoris and the rest of the genital area.

Other side effects might include infection and scarring.

Conclusion:

There is much controversy about the need for vaginal rejuvenation surgery and most people see the procedure as unnecessary.  However, vaginal rejuvenation can solve many physical problems such as stress incontinence, a small problem that can have a big impact in a woman’s life.   Each person has her own reasons behind their decision to undergo surgery, the important thing is to discuss your expectations with your surgeon so you are well informed about the benefits of the surgery for your particular case.