Vaginal Tightening Surgery

Vaginal tightening surgery is a surgical procedure performed to restore and narrow a vagina that has become lax. Another term used for this operation is vaginoplasty.

There are two main surgical methods for narrowing the vagina: posterior colporrhaphy and anterior colporrhaphy. When posterior colporrhaphy alone is not sufficient, anterior colporrhaphy is added to the procedure.

What Are Posterior and Anterior Colporrhaphy?

"Colpos" means vagina in Latin, while "rrhaphy" means joining two tissues together. "Posterior" means back and "anterior" means front. So posterior colporrhaphy is the procedure of bringing together the tissues of the back wall of the vagina, while anterior colporrhaphy brings together the tissues of the front wall.

When a patient lies on her back during a gynecological examination or operation, the front wall of the vagina faces the abdomen and the back wall faces the anus.

Preparing for Surgery and the Day of the Operation

The preparations before vaginal tightening surgery are carried out just as they are for labiaplasty.

On the day of surgery you must arrive at the hospital with an empty stomach, having had nothing to eat or drink. Our assistant Ms. Şimal will help you with hospital admission, and you will settle into your room. Operations are usually performed early in the morning. When the time comes, anesthesia is administered, preferably spinal anesthesia, and the operation begins. There is no possibility of feeling pain during the surgery. The operation takes about 30-40 minutes.

How Is Vaginal Tightening Surgery Performed?

Vaginal tightening surgery usually focuses on the back of the vagina, where the section between the 8 and 4 o'clock positions is removed along its full length. The remaining tissue is sutured from the 8 o'clock to the 4 o'clock position, narrowing the diameter.

If the vagina is excessively lax and there is also bladder prolapse, tissue may need to be removed from the section between the 10 and 2 o'clock positions as well; in other words, an anterior colporrhaphy is performed.

During vaginal tightening surgery, it is important that the entire length of the vagina is narrowed. If only the outer portion is tightened and the inner portion is not narrowed sufficiently, excessive sounds may occur during intercourse.

Patients arrive at the hospital at the scheduled time, complete their admission and are settled into their rooms. Preoperative tests are performed, and they are then taken to the operating room at the planned time. The type of anesthesia, spinal or sedation, is chosen according to the patient's preference. The patient is placed on the table in the gynecological position and prepared for vaginal tightening surgery. During the operation, a section of tissue is removed from the back wall of the vagina, the remaining tissues are sutured, and the diameter of the vagina is narrowed. Other issues such as birth tears and episiotomy scars can also be corrected during the operation.

After the Operation

After the operation, a tampon is placed inside the vagina to prevent bleeding or hematoma. The effect of the spinal anesthesia wears off after 2-3 hours, after which you can stand up and eat and drink as you wish. After vaginal tightening surgery you may see 3-4 stitches on the outside, but the other stitches are inside the vagina. All stitches are self-dissolving, and no stitch removal is needed.

On the evening of the operation, the doctor visits you and removes the tampon. Removing the tampon is not painful, unlike after rhinoplasty. You may spend the night at the hospital if you wish, or go home the same evening. When you leave, you will be given an antibiotic, a painkiller and povidone-iodine antiseptic. The antibiotics are to prevent infection, and the painkiller is for any possible pain. The antiseptic is for dressing the 3-4 external stitches after using the toilet.

A follow-up visit is required 1 week after vaginal tightening surgery. If you are coming from abroad, we may ask you to see a doctor in your home country after you return.

When Can Intercourse Be Resumed?

Intercourse can be resumed 6 weeks after vaginal tightening surgery, following a check-up with your doctor.

The first attempts at intercourse after vaginal tightening surgery may be painful and difficult; over time, however, the vagina adapts and this difficulty disappears.

A few drops of bleeding during the first intercourse after vaginal tightening surgery are normal, and there is no need to panic.

Surgery or Laser Vaginal Tightening?

Laser vaginal tightening has the advantage of carrying less risk than surgical methods. It also produces successful results in women with urinary incontinence. However, for patients with advanced vaginal laxity, bladder or bowel prolapse, or episiotomy scars that need correction, surgical methods may be more appropriate.