Female intimate surgery is synonymous with vaginal labiaplasty, vaginal rejuvenation and nymphoplasty. It consists of surgical treatment of the labia minora, labia majora or both, for aesthetic and/or functional purposes.
What techniques or processes are included in female intimate surgery?
Within the female intimate surgery include:
- Resection of excess size/length of the labia minora.
- Resection of excess size/volume of the labia majora.
- Augmentation of the labia majora with fat (lipofilling).
- Resection of excess skin covering the clitoris (clitoral foreskin).
Is it a purely aesthetic surgery or does it also correct functional problems?
In addition to its aesthetic aspect, it can also treat the following functional problems:
- Pain when exercising, such as running or cycling.
- Pain with sexual intercourse.
- Difficulty in maintaining proper genital hygiene.
- Psychological complexes: the clearest examples are women who do not go to the pool/beach because they are worried about accidentally showing their vaginal lips outside the bikini, or worrying about showing their genitals during sexual intercourse.
How is female intimate surgery performed?
The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation, so it is an outpatient surgery without hospitalization. Depending on the areas to be treated and the complexity of the case, it usually lasts between an hour and a half or two hours.
What is the postoperative period like and when does the patient return to normal after intimate surgery?
The postoperative period is relatively simple and painless. Women who have undergone this procedure report feeling heaviness and discomfort similar to postpartum but of lesser intensity, rather than strictly pain. There may be blood spotting during the first week, but only a small amount. Normalcy returns after the first week – 10 days, having to wait 40 days to have sexual intercourse.
Can there be complications after intimate surgery?
It is a surgery with a relatively low rate of complications, and when they appear they are usually minor:
- Bleeding: rarely need new surgery to correct it.
- Infection: as any surgical wound can become infected. It is rare.
- Vaginal dryness: it is the most important complication but rare. It is produced by excessive tissue resection, the vaginal orifice is not covered by the labia minora and causes dryness. It has no solution, so it is essential to put yourself in the hands of a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon.
- Wound dehiscence: the stitches come out and the wound opens. It usually occurs when 40 days are not respected until sexual intercourse is resumed.
For more information, consult a specialist in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery.