Is Vaginal Rejuvenation For Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Women often come to us for vaginal rejuvenation because they have noticed changes in sensation with intercourse, typically after vaginal deliveries. It’s not uncommon for the vagina and perineum – the area between the vagina and the anus – to stretch and relax over time due to age, genetics and childbirth. All of these factors can change the look and feel of the vagina, leading to disruptive symptoms like decreased sensation during sex.  

Austin Labiaplasty and Vaginal Rejuvenation offers surgical and laser treatment that can help restore the elasticity of your vagina and/or repair your anatomy. While vaginal laser therapy can improve the elasticity of vaginal tissues or even treat vaginal dryness, vaginal rejuvenation or vaginoplasty is a surgical option for more severe cases that offers permanent, lasting results. 

Vaginoplasty typically takes place in a hospital setting, under anesthesia. It usually takes about two hours to perform. In short, the vaginal opening is narrowed using what we called the “wedge” technique. Dr. Shashoua then makes an incision within the vaginal wall and perineum and then brings the tissue back together. The area is then secured with dissolvable sutures. Patients typically take 6 weeks on average to recover. 

In some cases when a patient comes to us for a consultation, we find out that the vaginal looseness they’re experiencing is actually pelvic organ prolapse. This is when surrounding organs drop into the vagina, like the bladder, uterus, small intestine or rectum. Some might experience the prolapse of all these organs, resulting in significant vaginal bulge. It can also create the sensation of pelvic pressure, often described like “something falling out of the vagina.” 

Prolapse is “graded” on a scale from 1-4, depending on how much descent is present. Patients with Stage 1 prolapse have minimal dropping, whereas patients with Stage 4 prolapse have significant dropping – the prolapsed organ has dropped as far as possible outside the vagina. If the bladder, uterus and rectrum are all protruding beyond the opening of the vagina then this is referred to as a total prolapse. A formal prolapse repair is conducted, and for some cases, a hysterectomy might also be performed. Patients needing prolapse repair often have vaginal rejuvenation performed at the same time. You can learn more about vaginal prolapse repair over at our sister site, Austin Urogynecology. 

With over 25 years of experience performing thousands of vaginal and pelvic floor procedures, Dr. George Shashoua, a board-certified urogynecologist, is an expert at performing both vaginal rejuvenation and prolapse repairs. In fact, patients travel to Austin from other parts of Texas like Dallas or Houston to have their vaginoplasty at ALVR. It’s worth noting that while pricing for vaginoplasty varies based on your insurance plan, a formal prolapse repair is typically covered by insurance.  

We understand that you might have more questions than we can’t answer here, so feel free to contact us at any point: (512) 973-8276. No question is off limits and we’re here to help!