female cosmetic surgery, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, breast lift, implant, augmentation, face lift, vaginoplasty, cosmetic surgeries

Vagina reconstruction leads to redesigning of the prime female sexual organ — the vagina — one of the main female reproductive organs as well.

THE VARIOUS NOMENCLATURES

Vagina reconstruction is clinically termed as ‘labiaplasty’ and also as ‘vaginoplasty’. It is one of the popular forms of plastic surgeries.

VAGINOPLASTY & NEOVAGINOPLASTY

The clinical term ‘Vaginoplasty’ refers to any form of corrective or reconstructive surgery of the vagina. On the other hand, the other medical term ‘Neovaginoplasty’ specifically points to any or all of the following three surgical procedures viz., total or partial construction or reconstruction of the entire vulvo-vaginal region.

WHO CARRIES OUT THE VAGINA RECONSTRUCTION OPERATION?

This surgical process is generally carried out by an experienced plastic surgeon.

WHO NEEDS THE SURGERY?

Some women may need the operation if the vagina is abnormally tight naturally. In such cases, the surgeon has to carry out the vaginoplasty surgery to expand the vagina. In most of the cases though, women go for vagina reconstruction to reduce its size. Expansion of the vaginal muscles usually takes place after childbirth.

WHAT DOES THE OPERATION AIM AT?

Vagina reconstruction or Labiaplasty or vaginoplasty aims at providing the patient a vagina that gives her more friction (orgasm) during physical or sexual relationships. This reconstructive plastic surgery is recommended to rectify the deformities and defects of the vaginal canal including its mucous membrane.

Some portions of or the entire vulvo-vaginal structures may be damaged or may be absent due to many reasons. Two of the primary causes are (1) Acquired cause; and (2) Congenital disease. Examples of the acquired causes can be cancer and physical trauma among others. On the other hand, congenital disease can be vaginal atresia.

HOW DOES VAGINA RECONSTRUCTION WORK?

This gynecologic clinical process aims at reducing the size of the muscles of the vagina. Thus, the surgeon goes about his reconstruction activity of his/her patient’s vagina through a three-fold strategy.

The clinical method reconstructs the vagina by either tightening the vaginal muscles as well as the vaginal tissues or by slackening those soft tissues wherever required. The surgeon can achieve the results also by slicing down the superfluous vaginal lining that is clinically known as ‘vaginal mucosa’.

THE RECOVERY PERIOD

The maximum recovery phase for a patient who has undergone vagina reconstruction surgery is 10 weeks. However, medical studies have found that a patient is able to move around within a few weeks; and she can resume normal sexual activities within seven months.

THE RISKS INVOLVED

There are no major risks involved in this operation done to redesign the vagina. Some of the minor risks include scarring of the operated portion, bleeding or infection in the immediate post-operative stage.

HOW SURE ARE THE RESULTS?

The results of the post operative vagina reconstruction procedure can be rather variable. In the majority of the instances, it allows sexual intercourse (coitus). However, in a few cases the sensation may be absent.

If the ovaries and the uterus are within their normal functioning phases, fertilization and menstruation are assured. There may also be vaginal childbirth.

THE EXCEPTIONS

Medical researches have found that trans-women patients as part of their sex (physical) transition, also undergo the vagina reconstruction process. This is within the purview of the male-to-female reassignment surgical process. The narrowness of the male pelvis restricts the surgical area necessary to carry out vaginoplasty. The two physical aspects limiting the dimensions of the vagina are the Levatorani muscle with respect to the vaginal diameter and the rectoprostatic Denonvilliers’ Fascia with respect to the vaginal depth.

THE TISSUES & THE MUSLCES

The clinical process of vagina reconstruction makes use of the tissue derived from the patient to redesign the targeted areas of the vulvo-vaginal region. The medical term for the process of extracting any tissue from the patient to be grafted to another of her/his body is ‘autologous’.

The Oxford Dictionary defines tissue as “any of the coherent collections of specialized cells of which animals or plants are made”, for example the muscular tissue. It also refers to muscle as “fibrous tissue producing movement in or maintaining the position of an animal body”. The term ‘fiber’ is explained as thread or filament forming tissue or textile”.

The surgeon has a wide area to maneuver in this respect. S/he can collect tissues from various portions of the patient’s body like the intestinal mucosa, oral mucosa, scrotal skin, penile tissue, penile skin, skin grafts, and skin flaps among others.