"Vaginal rejuvenation" refers to several different corrective and/or cosmetic procedures for female genitalia. Most commonly, it refers to the following types of surgeries:

• Labiaplasty - a plastic surgery procedure that reduces the length of the labia minora, i.e. the folds of skin surrounding the vulva.
• Clitoral Hood Reduction - A procedure often performed alongside a labiaplasty, used to reduce the presence of excess tissue surrounding the clitoral hood.
• Labia majoraplasty - a procedure designed to surgically reduce the size of the outer, hair-bearing labia majora, i.e. part of the folds of skin surrounding the human vulva.
• Monsplasty - a procedure designed to reduce bulging of the mons, i.e. the upper part of the hair-bearing part of the vulva.

Most women look into this procedure for cosmetic reasons, wanting to restore their body to a more youthful appearance. That’s because, over time, the outer appearance of their reproductive system will experience age-related changes, just like other parts of their body. Additionally, the extra strain of childbirth can cause stretching of tissues and separation of muscles in the vaginal area. These changes can also affect a woman’s body in major ways, making a woman feel insecure about her new appearance.

Even if a woman is not interested in adjusting her physical appearance, however, these procedures can also be carried out to correct age-related health problems. These include the painful side effects sometimes experienced when a post-birth labia minora twists or tugs when a woman goes about her daily routine.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the ideal candidate for vaginal rejuvenation is a woman in good health who has one or more of the following concerns:

• The contours of her genital structures have become stretched out.
• She experiences soreness or pain with sexual activity or exercise.
• Her sensation during intercourse has been significantly reduced after having children.
• She wishes to improve the contour or appearance of her genitals.

As with any plastic surgery procedure, the first step is to seek a consultation for your needs. Because “vaginal rejuvenation” covers and includes a very wide range of procedures, which can be performed in various combinations, patients will need to discuss expectations and preparation for their specific surgery with their doctor.

As part of your preparation, you should ask about the following:

• what you can do to maximize your results
• details of the procedures and recommendations for the best ones to help you reach your goals
• what the risks of a procedure are
• how complications are handled
• how the procedure will affect your sex life
• how childbirth may affect your results post-op
• and any other questions that come to mind during your consultations

Recovery time will ultimately depend on the type of surgery a patient undergoes. The following are some general guidelines on the most common procedures and their recovery times:

• After undergoing labiaplasty or labia majoraplasty (perhaps with a simultaneous clitorial good reduction), many patients take a few days off of work. During their recovery, they also use icing techniques to reduce swelling and pain of the surgical site. Women should also avoid wearing tampons or having intercourse for four to six weeks after their procedure.
• After undergoing monsplasty, patients should expect about a week of recovery time. Their physical activity will be restricted for two weeks, depending on the extensiveness of their procedure.