What is Vaginal Tightening? As we know, in the process of normal labor, in order to deliver the fetus smoothly from the birth canal, the vagina must remain extremely dilated state, resulting in vaginal laxity. Since the vagina itself has a certain repair function, the vaginal elasticity can be gradually recovered through post-partum rest and recuperation. However, if there are birth injuries during delivery, such as vaginal tear or perineal body injury, it may cause permanent decrease in vaginal elasticity, which is manifested as vaginal laxity and decrease in sexual life satisfaction; some patients may also have urethral or bladder bulge, which may lead to stress urinary incontinence (leakage of urine occurs when the abdominal pressure is increased, which often occurs when sneezing, coughing, jumping, or fast walking), difficulty in urination, or recurrent urinary tract infections, or Habitual constipation due to rectal bulge. It can be seen that vaginal laxity not only affects the patient’s sexual function, but also has a serious impact on the patient’s quality of life. Vaginal tightening surgery is a surgical treatment to correct vaginal laxity after childbirth. Vaginal tightening surgery can help women repair the damage around the vagina, strengthen the loose muscles and fascia, enhance the vaginal elasticity, so that the vaginal tightness can be restored. Vaginal tightening surgery can also prevent and improve uterine prolapse, stress urinary incontinence and habitual constipation caused by lax pelvic floor tissues. Am I a candidate for vaginal tightening? Vaginal rejuvenation is suitable for the vast majority of women with vaginal laxity due to childbirth, but if you are currently suffering from gynecological conditions such as vaginitis or uterine erosion, we recommend that you wait until the condition is cured before having the surgery. Vaginal rejuvenation should be performed at least 3-5 months after delivery, when hormone levels have returned to their pre-pregnancy state. How does vaginal tightening work? Vaginal tightening is mainly done by strengthening the muscles and fascia around the vagina, as these tissues are irreversibly damaged during childbirth. Through the surgery, the tissues that have been injured by the extreme dilatation are stitched back together and reinforced, so that the tissues around the vagina are tightened up again, resulting in a tightening effect. What is the procedure for vaginal tightening surgery? How long does the surgery take? What are the risks? Before the surgery, we will assess your age, vaginal laxity and perineal body damage and rule out those conditions that make you unsuitable for surgery. The scope of the surgery and the procedure may vary depending on the age of the patient, the degree of vaginal laxity, the age and sexual function of the partner, and the vaginal tightness required by each woman undergoing the surgery. The procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia and usually takes 2 hours. Women who choose local anesthesia will be able to leave the hospital after the procedure, but will feel significant pain during the anesthesia portion of the procedure. The operation is usually performed through an incision at the edge of the vaginal hymen, which completely separates the back wall of the vagina to expose the musculature underneath. The muscles are reconstructed with tight sutures to reduce the circumference of the vagina, the perineum is reconstructed, and the vaginal mucosa is repositioned. The vaginal mucosa is usually not removed during the procedure, which not only increases the folds of the vaginal mucosa and improves the postoperative sexual experience, but also maintains the patient’s vaginal function for labor and delivery. Overall, the procedure is safe. Possible complications include bleeding in the surgical area, blood in the stool, localized edema, rectal injury, and infection, but the incidence is low. When they do occur, they are treated accordingly. A very small number of patients may experience numbness in the operated area, pain during sexual intercourse, and dullness of sensation after the operation. What are the post-operative precautions? As the surgery will cause local tissue edema, an indwelling urinary catheter will be required, which is usually removed 24 hours after the surgery, and the gauze strips that were placed in the vagina after the surgery will also be removed (for compression and to reduce postoperative bleeding). There will be a small amount of blood oozing from the wound and vaginal bleeding after the operation. If the amount of blood does not exceed the amount of menstrual blood, no special treatment is needed, and it is recommended to contact the surgeon in time if the amount of bleeding is excessive. Starting from the second day after the operation, you need to take wound sitz bath with diluted potassium permanganate solution twice in the morning and evening for 10 minutes each time for ten days, which can effectively prevent postoperative infection and promote wound recovery. Sexual intercourse is prohibited within 2 months after surgery, during which smoking, drinking alcohol, avoiding spicy and stimulating food, high fiber diet or vegetables and fruits are recommended, and medication is applied to prevent constipation if necessary. Since all sutures in the surgery are absorbable sutures, the sutures will fall off automatically after the surgery and do not need to be removed.