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POSTED UNDER Vaginoplasty REVIEWS

25 Yr, 2 Vaginal Births - Houston, TX

ORIGINAL POST

My husband first mentioned to me I had become...

alm89
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My husband first mentioned to me I had become loose about a year after my second child was born. I was devastated because I had been doing kegels since before my son was born to help with delivery and return things to normal afterwards. After some research I realized kegels do not always work especially if the muscles have been damaged. I later realized I couldn't feel him anymore after penetration and struggled to squeeze as tight as I could but he would still lose his erection. I love sex way more than masterbating so it was depressing to see him slowly lose interest in sex with me. I did more research and learned about this surgery. I was so happy that there was still hope and my sex life wouldn't have to basically end. I told my husband about it and he was very excited as well. We scheduled the surgery soon after that and let me tell you the pain is much worse than the doctors describe. I had a diamond shaped incision with one triangle on the posterior wall of the vagina all the way to the back and the connecting triangle continuing from the opening down to the anus. I had local anesthesia and the surgery was tolerable but you will feel pain. I was also given an injection for pain that should last 72 hours but may vary from patient to patient. I had no pain for about an hour during the three hour drive home, after that I was in excruciating pain. As advised by the nurse I went ahead and took the percocet when we got home but the pain got worse and worse. At 2 a.m. my husband called 911 and I was rushed to the ER. I was diagnosed with acute urinairy retention ( I couldn't pee due to swelling) This is no fault of the doctor but I want to let people know that this can happen though rare with this procedure. After they finally got the catheter in ( I am sutured a little past the urethra so it was hard to find) I found relief as I filled 3 bags full of urine. My percocet started to actually work but I was bed ridden mostly for two weeks and the pain at times was unbearable. My pain tolerance is high so that's saying a lot. Four days later I went to a urologist to see if I could take out the catheter but I still couldn't pee so I had to get another one inserted. They are painful as well because the tubing lays right on your sutures unless you pull it up towards your belly. Even with stool softeners and drinking lots of water I became impacted and had to use milk of magnesia to bring a gigantic rock of stool down to the opening. Then it was either go to the hospital so they could use forceps to break it up or break it up and pull it out with my finger. I decided on the latter since I was in so much pain and I couldn't wait. I recommend if you get into this predicament to have an enema at home just in case so hopefully, you won't have to do what I did. I wasn't expecting anything that bad so, I didn't have one. Granny panties and thick wide pads work great for holding your dressing together. I used an estrogen vaginal cream to minimize and soften the scaring, antibiotic cream, and tucks for a large hemorrhoid I got from the surgery, ( It was not from constipation it was there right after surgery) maybe because of the sutures tugging it outward? I had the catheter removed the day before yesterday. Yay! And also had a bowel movement without any help except from milk of magnesia :) I am also able to walk much better for short periods of time and don't have to lean over like an old women. I have an area that looks like the sutures split open but the doctor saw the pictures and said everything looks great and is healing well. A nurse said my hemorrhoid should go away when the swelling goes down. I now have a yest infection due to the antibiotic ointment ridding me of my good bacteria but that is easily taken care of with over the counter medications. I am so excited to have sex and satisfy myself and my husband again. Also, I wish this surgery wasn't called cosmetic. It is not for looks. It is beneficial and improves the function of the vagina, and it can help prevent future prolapse which could of happened to me down the road. But now, I can actually do effective kegels! :D
PS. Sorry for any misspelled words, it's late, and for the graphic parts and the length of my review but, I want you all to be as informed as possible. Sometimes the doctor won't tell you everything or you might not go through with it, lol ( VERY PAINFUL!). But I hope it is all worth it. The bruising in the picture is from the local anesthesia, you can also see the catheter tubing and a little bit of separation of the insicion between the vaginal opening and the anus. You can also see a bit of the hemorrhoid. I pushed as much of it back in as I could so it wouldn't look too bad ( my husband was taking the picture so I was embarrassed). I will post again once things are healed to give my final review and tell you about the sex afterwords and weather or not it fixed a minor stress incontinence problem ;)

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Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.6 | 196 Reviews
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Replies (60)

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January 22, 2015
I am sending you a great big hug...oh my gosh have you been through alot! I am relieved to hear that you are feeling better now, you are in the final stretch of recovery. Please don't apologize for the long review, we welcome them. Thank YOU for taking the time to write it and to ensure you included the full details, as this really highlights the reality of the surgery. Your review will be so helpful for others researching this procedure. I would never have even thought of acute urinary retention being a side effect, I have heard of it happening after a tummy tuck. I will watch for your updates, please continue to rest and take very good care. 
January 26, 2015
Awe. You are so sweet. I was so worried I may have went overboard and just embarrassed myself and grossed everyone out. But then you responded and made me feel so much better. Thank you!
May 17, 2018
Just saw you had this done in 2015. I should check dates. If I had saw yours, I probably wouldn’t have had it done. Mine was painless in all aspects.
May 18, 2018
Everyone is different. At the time, it seemed like very few people were showing how bad it could be and doctor's definitely weren't. It really depends on your body and your surgeon. It wasn't my intention to scare people away, as my review is positive, but to share my experience that it isn't always easy and pain free as it was being advertised as, and to tell others they aren't alone. I am so glad yours was painless, your bruising and swelling must have been minimal. Mine was so bad that if I hadn't of went to the ER my bladder would have ruptured.
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January 22, 2015

I have definitely considered this procedure more than once, since I have the same problem that you described, that I can't really feel my husband.  But my pain tolerance is not high.  At all.  I cannot imagine getting through the experience you've described.  I hope that you are well on your way to healing, and that it all ends up worth it.  A good sex life is certainly worth sacrificing for!  Happy healing, and good luck to you.

January 26, 2015
If you do decide to go ahead with it I hope none of my experiences happen to you and everything is smooth sailing. To help with that I strongly recommend to sit on a cold pad asap after surgery for a few days. This isn't so much for pain as it is for swelling that could cause urinairy retention. Stick to the diet they give you afterwards. I pretty much live by it anyway but my husband didn't always want to go through the trouble and I ended up eating what the rest of the family ate; McDonalds, pizza, and other takeout foods. ( He hates cooking and grocery shopping so I was doomed) I believe besides the pain meds this is what caused my constipation to be so bad. Thank you for the kind words and good luck to you as well. :)
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January 23, 2015

That darn constipation from pain medication can often be worse than the surgery itself! This is wonderful that you took the time to document all these helpful details despite the pain you experienced. I'm certain your review will help other women wanting to learn about this procedure. Hoping you're back in "action" soon and that everyone is happy!

January 26, 2015
So true, except in my case the bladder retention was the worst of it all. I was about ready to shoot myself before the ambulance came, lol. Thank you, I am looking forward to the results! :D
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January 27, 2015

Hang in there and take it slow and easy! ;)

January 26, 2015
I'm the same age as you and have also had 2 vaginal births. I'm worried that my husband thinks the same. I hate the way mine looks, there is loose skin and it kinda wrinkles. I so wish I had money for this procedure. I know I need it. Sounds like a terrible experience though. Glad you were able to get this done and feel better about yourself and your sex life.
January 26, 2015
I don't think it will change the appearance of loose skin and wrinkles much, unless it is located at the bottom of the entrance of the vagina. This part is cut out and sutured up past the entrance along with reconstruction of the muscles which, in my case, repositioned the vagina higher. If you are referring to the vulva, I know there are surgeries you can get that involves fat graphing to plump up saggy looking areas due to childbirth and/or age. I couldn't afford all of that so I focused on the main problem which was tightness. I've heard you can get this surgery done cheaper and some clinics offer payment plans but be careful and do a lot of research if you decide to do this. Be sure whoever you choose doesn't just tighten the entrance. Good luck to you and thank you for your kind words.
UPDATED FROM alm89
3 months post

25 Yr, 2 Vaginal Births - Houston, TX

alm89
I apologize that it has taken so long to give an update but I had to move twice since my last update. As far as appearance, It actually looks better than before surgery by tightening skin around the vagina as well as the inside. The hemroid is gone and the small separation from the sutures has completely healed. I can not see any scaring though I was sure I would. The picture below is from 5 weeks post-op. My doctor said I was a weird case and he had employees have the surgery done and go to work that same day, sitting upright and not feeling a thing. I, on the other hand, couldn't sit without reclining some or it hurt badly. Now on to the sex. Wow, just wow! Yes, there is sharp pinching even when going slow but then it feels awesome! My partner feels huge and completely fills me. It is so great that I am able to experience this again. My husband could not go all the way in for about a month but it felt like he was. He also has no problems holding an erection. I still think is sex drive is way below mine but he is 10 years older so and very much overweight. He did promise me that if we went through the relationship problems that we had before the surgery, he would go to the doctor and check his testosterone levels. For me, this surgery, despite the problems I had, was definitely worth it all and the depression and self-consciousness is gone.

Replies (15)

April 30, 2015
Thank you for sharing all of this! What type of surgeon did you go to? I am from Pittsburgh and I can not find any information on surgeons who perform this surgery in this area.
June 13, 2015
I went to Dr. Vitenas in Houston Texas. His website should show what type of plastic surgeon he is. I chose him for his experience in this surgery and for the fact he was close by.
May 4, 2015
I'm just wondering how long until the bruising went away?
June 13, 2015
Oh goodness, like 2 months but I was a worse case scenario.
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May 13, 2015

Thanks for the update, so glad you are doing well. 

I put this forum post together if you want to check it out and comment: 

Sex After Vaginoplasty: How was your experience?

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May 30, 2015
Does insurance ever cover this???
June 13, 2015
Thank you and I will check it out :)
June 13, 2015
Most of the time, no. :'(
May 15, 2015
Congrats!!!!! I'm so very happy for you.
June 13, 2015
Thank you so much! :D