Cosmetic Vaginal Surgery Risks
As with any surgery that is performed under anesthesia there are risks. Cosmetic vaginal surgery risks are small by nevertheless should be considered and explained. When undergoing any vaginal surgery one should discuss the risks with the doctor as they differ as to what type of vaginal surgery is required. These types of procedures are less commonly performed as the more familiar cosmetic procedures and therefore, there is less information about them. Some of these surgeries are cosmetic and so are not covered under insurance plans. Some procedures are deemed medically necessary, and they could be paid for by insurance and one must take all this under consideration and be informed.
Cosmetic vaginal surgery is less risky than some of the vaginal procedures associated with complicated childbirth or reconstruction after cancer resection, but any time one has surgery under general anesthesia there are risks. The surgery only takes one to two hours which is short in terms of some other procedures but the patient should always be concerned enough to be well informed about the risks. Cosmetic vagina surgery is considered less burdensome on the body though and the recuperation period is relatively short.
If not done safely by experts the risks of cosmetic vaginal surgery include scarring, infection or excessive bleeding. However, if done safely by an experienced physician cosmetic vaginal surgery procedures are done in high numbers daily without incident.
- Scarring – If vaginal surgery is poorly done with incisions placed in wrong places or in wrong angles or with lasers handled by inexperienced doctors, scarring of the mucosa can lead to pain or loss of sensation. Scarring can also result in painful sex (dysperunia) meaning that the surgery was unsuccessful for the patient.
- Infection – Even though the incidence of infection is low, antibiotics are recommended postoperatively and prophylactically to prevent any infection from occurring. If infection does occur another surgery might be required.
- Excessive Bleeding –during surgery any bleeding is controlled however, postoperative excessive bleeding must be reported to the physician so it can be evaluated and taken care of appropriately.
- Injury to surrounding structures-these do not occur during vaginoplasty. These may occur during complicated surgery of the vagina area during hysterectomy, or cancer surgery.
- Adverse Reaction to Anesthesia –allergic or adverse reaction to anesthesia during vaginal procedures or any surgery used to be more common in the past. However, with modern monitoring equipment these are very rare and are immediately detected and treated. Anesthesia should be administered by a board certified anesthesiologist, in a certified facility so that all the equipment is present and up to date. This will allow good monitoring of the patient at all times during any surgery and steps are immediately taken to reverse any bad reaction so that rarely are there serious complications.
As with any procedure, after cosmetic vaginal surgery, there can be some post-operative pain or discomfort especially in the vargina area. Your physician will prescribe pain medication for you that can be taken for a few days following your procedure. Normal coughing or laughing can cause the vaginal muscles to contract thus causing you some discomfort. This should subside after a few days. If pain continues for longer than one week, then you must notify your physician.
