Vaginal tightening surgery?

[WreckTangle95]

Hello everyone. Has anyone had vaginal tightening surgery done? Can you tell me what the recovery was like, and are you happy with the results? I've had four children and I'm seriously considering paying to get this done but can't really find out much about it. I've spoken to my GP who said it often causes more problems than not, and women can experience painful penetration for months or even years afterwards etc. She said she wouldn't recommend it, but the online reviews I've seen are all great. Obviously if I go ahead there's no turning back so I'm trying to get as much info as possible!

@Cinderella25

I know someone who had this done after two forceps births. She and her DH were absolutely delighted and it was a few years afterwards and didn't seem to have any issues. She said all sensation was completely gone prior. It was done by the health service but she is not in the UK
I do think it is a subject that is not discussed and often dismissed. The reality is if you have prolonged birth/pushing, large babies and assisted deliveries it will often feel a hell of a lot different post birth and no amount of kegels will make any difference.
Weirdly , maybe it was how I was stitched up but I felt much much better after my second birth than my first and pretty much back to normal
I would do a lot of research but can totally understand why you would feel self conscious. I do know men who have commented on "tightness" or lack of but interestingly they all said they liked it either way

Thanks for that @desperatesux. Did you need stitches both times if you don't mind me asking? How come you felt like things were better second time round?

I had a small baby and a quick labour, no forceps, no episiotomy. Every nurse and doctor I’ve met said nobody goes back.

I can't imagine how it could go back to normal really after having something that weighs roughly half a stone goes through it? But why would so many women lie and say theirs did if that was the case

What is making you think you need it? Has a man told you this?

I've name changed so I can be totally honest without outing myself. I had a traumatic birth (shoulder dystocia) followed by a csection. Both babies over 8lb.

I had posterior pelvic floor surgery and Perineum repair about 18 months ago as I had a bladder and bowel prolapse. I had the surgery done on the nhs as the only way I could open my bowels was to insert fingers into my vagina and push the prolapse back into place. For me it was the only answer to a huge problem and so definitely worth it but if there was any other way I would opt for that. It is by no means a quick and easy option.

My surgery involved cutting up the back wall of my vagina from the perineum to the top. Pulling the skin together tight and stitching it before cutting off the excess tissue. I had a catheter and surgical packing in my vagina for about 12 hours. Removing the packing required morphine it was so painful. I was off work about 8 weeks, on bed rest for two and limited activities for the following 4-6 weeks. I bled for most of that. It took around 8-10 weeks for all my stitches to dissolve.

Sex had an element of pain and discomfort for the best part of 12months along with anxiety around whether we might cause any damage if we were too rigorous. My Gynae recommended we had all our babies prior to surgery as she felt it would be more risky after.

It's not my intention to put anyone off the surgery who needs it. Like I say I needed the surgery and I would do it again in a heartbeat for the same reasons and as a previous poster says it's not something we talk about and it's hard to get information but I'm not sure I would enter into it lightly especially if there were other things to try. Physio? Pelvic floor tighteners?

Only you know what's right for you OP but make sure you know what you're getting into. I felt very fragile for a long time after and I don't think I would have been comfortable with a new partner for a long time. I was glad
To be with someone who didn't mind changing positions a hundred times because I was uncomfortable.

Incidentally my husband doesn't even notice the difference between now and before!

No, I haven't slept with anyone since before I had DC4 and it's much worse now than before that.

Thanks so much @gardenfurniture!! That's exactly what the gynecologist said they were going to do to me when I went and saw them after dc3. They said they would cut a portion of the lower vaginal tissue out and stitch it back up. I'm so gutted they have now said no. How is sex for you now if you don't mind me asking? I don't care how long the recovery is etc, I just want this problem to go away!

I didn't really think sex was bad before but I do think it's better now. I don't think they do the operation lightly as there are obviously risks involved. Before I had it done I would wet myself if I coughed sneezed, laughed or orgasmed too hard and I had terrible trouble with my bowels but that's all improved now.

It is huge surgery though like I say and the recovery time has been really tough.

Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate it

Hi OP sorry I didn't respond before.
By Pilates what I mean is- if you have an really good Pilates teacher then you will discover all the abdominal muscles you never knew you had. Your pelvic floor is a sling which can be strengthened. Plus your actual vagina can be tightened. I think in France it's normal for new mothers to get help to do these exercises.

I really think you need to go as far down the non surgical route as possible, as it's such major surgery.

I agree with everything xyp (sp?) has said. And I worry that a private doctor will do the operation just to make money, rather than it medically being in your best interests.

You could ask for a third medical opinion. If only we still had well woman clinics. Ask your GP for a referral

Thanks @Howzaboutye, I will definitely look into that. I am currently awaiting a third opinion, but obviously due to corona it's all been postponed until who knows when

The vaginal muscles are not a circle, so when you do your kegels your womb and perineum will lift up and not tighten inwards. Which mean if you have a wide vagina you always will.

When you cause trauma to your body it will not go back. If you cut yourself you would scar, if you brake a bone it will be weaker. Childbirth is the same.

With each childbirth you are causing more trauma to the body, therefore you will have weaker more stretched muscles resulting in prolapse, constipation, incontinence, pain etc.

Nice one Cinderella. That's a bit defeatist. My Pilates teacher would definitely disagree.

OP definitely check out all the physio options first X

Honestly OP, I'd be less inclined to have surgery if there was a possibility of just finding a very well endowed partner.
Larger vaginas call for larger penises.

Are you joking @hotsince82? What am I supposed to say on a first date? I hope your dick is big because my vagina rivals the grand canyon? I don't want a man with a huge penis, I just want a normal vagina!

No, I'm honestly not joking.
Its what I would honestly be looking for in your position. Think about it; you say your vagina is too big to accomodate an average sized penis. Well, there are other sizes available which would perhaps fit you better. Hopefully at least one of them is attached to a decent man that you could form a relationship with.
All I'm saying is that before fixing any aspect of yourself you could at least explore that option. What have you got to lose?

@Howzaboutye well that is what a doctor told me. One with 20 years experience, she said she sees hundreds of vaginas and no one goes back.

@HotSince82 seriously how many men would you have to go through to find one big enough?

@WreckTangle95 honestly there is no right or wrong answer, you’re an adult you will have to make up your own mind.

Even if my partner had a 10 inch penis I wouldn't feel any better about myself.

You're right @Cinderella25, and at the moment I'm really leaning towards just going for it.

@WreckTangle95 I had this done after having two huge babies with episiotomy.

www.octaviahealthcare.co.uk/services/treatments-and-screening/thermiva/

It was brilliant and I felt great afterwards. I’d love to have it done again! You need top ups, which I’ve not had.

I also had to have a tvt sling for pee’ing myself and a Halo op on my backside. But the Thermviva really helped issues with my actual vagina.

Thankyou @Buggedandconfused! Was it painful?

No not at all. It really helped how everything looked too!

I still don't understand what problem you are trying to fix. Sorry. You aren't in a relationship with someone who says your vagina is too big. When you do have sex with someone, you may be a perfect fit for each other. You're fixing a problem that currently doesn't exist I think. I may have misunderstood though.
I have been intimate with many older women and each one feels different. There is no normal.
My DP who has even more experience says fannys are completely individual, he has a theory that weightloss affects tightness massively though. No idea if true but he believes it. 😀
Any man who gets to be that intimate with you is most likely going to be happy to be there. If there is a mismatch in sizes, discuss then.

What is the weight loss theory @wantmorenow? I'm a size 10, never been overweight. The problem I have, is that my vaginal canal is very large. No other way to put it. Look at before and after pictures of perineoplasty and you will see what I am talking about. I don't want to give a man the opportunity to tell me it's too big, I would rather get it sorted before I start dating again