Vaginoplasty is a procedure to construct or repair a vagina. It treats various medical issues, including vaginal injury due to childbirth and pelvic floor disease complications. It’s also for creating a transgender vagina, which can help affirm your gender.
Vaginoplasty can mean a lot of different things, but in general, it's a procedure to construct or repair the vagina.
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The details of the procedure depend on your goals or medical needs and include reconstruction or recreation of the vagina using various surgical techniques.
Vaginoplasty is one type of procedure to improve the vagina’s appearance or function.
Other vaginal rejuvenation procedures include:
You undergo assessments and testing to prepare for surgery. These tests may include:
When vaginoplasty is done to repair injuries after childbirth, the procedure involves:
Vaginoplasty to repair congenital defects (an issue you’re born with) may include:
During a vaginoplasty as part of gender affirmation surgery, the male external genitalia are partially removed and reconfigured. The skin of the penis and scrotum are used to create a vaginal canal and labia.
Risks after vaginoplasty for childbirth injuries can include:
Benefits after surgery can include:
One of the main benefits is relief from gender dysphoria. After surgery, individuals achieve better consistency with the gender they identify with. This has enormous benefits on people’s mental health and improves their quality of life.
Risks of vaginoplasty for gender affirmation can include:
Recovery may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the extent of surgery. Postsurgical care after vaginoplasty depends on the type of vaginoplasty performed.
Your healthcare provider may recommend the use of a dilator. This device gently stretches the inside of your vagina in order to maintain the depth and caliber of your vagina. You may or may not need to use a dilator following vaginoplasty.
Your care should include follow-up appointments to track your recovery. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience complications.
These may include:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Vaginoplasty is done for many reasons, and the technique varies depending on why you’re having the procedure. It’s performed for people who've had a childbirth injury, undergone treatments for cancer or have congenital anomalies, and for gender affirmation. Risks associated with the surgery and the recovery process depend on the type of vaginoplasty performed.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/28/2021.
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