The average cost of a vaginoplasty is $7,579, but prices range from just $2,500 to as much as $18,000, according to hundreds of recent patient reviews.
Doctors on RealSelf say to be wary of low-cost procedures from physicians who claim to tighten with just a few stitches.
If this surgical procedure isn’t done right, “it won’t work, or will work for only a short while before breaking down, leaving you like you were before, only poorer,” says Dr. Michael Goodman, an OB-GYN in Davis, California, who specializes in female genital surgery. “Someone who only excises a bit at the vaginal opening and simply cinches and ties will leave their patient very disappointed.”
Read on to find out:
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The best way to get an accurate price quote is to have an in-person consultation with at least one qualified provider, who can perform a physical exam and recommend a customized treatment plan for your unique situation.
An all-in, written estimate for vaginal rejuvenation surgery should include costs for:
Also ask your surgeon about their pricing policy for revisions, in case you aren’t happy with your results or experience complications.
Some doctors will waive or reduce their fee when making minor adjustments to previous work, but others charge full freight for secondary surgeries, which can be more complex than the initial procedure.
In most cases, vaginoplasty isn’t covered by health insurance because it’s classified as elective cosmetic surgery. “Vaginal laxity is not considered a medical problem,” says Dr. Marco Pelosi, an OB-GYN in Bayonne, New Jersey.
However, the surgery can sometimes be reconstructive in nature, as urogynecologist Dr. Michael Tahery explains: “When the primary goals are to improve tightness, aesthetic appearance, and sexual sensation, vaginoplasty is more of a cosmetic procedure. But suppose you’re considering this procedure to correct injuries and trauma after childbirth, to treat urinary incontinence, or to address other medical concerns. In that case, your doctor may consider it medically necessary.”
If your doctor can provide documentation of a medical diagnosis, like pelvic organ prolapse, your surgical procedure may be partially covered by insurance. For instance, your healthcare plan may cover the anesthesia and operating room costs if a vaginoplasty is performed at the same time as a medically necessary procedure.
Vaginoplasty has a 96% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so a sizable majority say it was a worthwhile investment.
Many report that having plastic surgery to tighten their vaginal wall and vaginal muscles boosted their confidence during sexual intercourse and increased sexual satisfaction for themselves and their partners.
The surgery also improves comfort (tampons can now stay in place) and often reduces urinary incontinence, so it can make a big impact on quality of life and self-esteem.
Unless a new vaginal birth reverses your results, vaginoplasty offers life-long benefits. The vaginal canal will relax slightly with age, but it should never return to the degree of laxity you had prior to surgery.
The cost of vaginoplasty surgery is significantly higher than nonsurgical treatments like ThermiVa and MonaLisa Touch, which use thermal or radiofrequency energy to temporarily boost collagen production and mildly tighten vaginal tissue. Nonsurgical options have several advantages, in addition to a lower up-front price tag:
On the other hand, they usually require maintenance treatments every 1 to 2 years—at about a third of the price of the original treatment series. Over time, ongoing nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments can become more costly than surgery—and not deliver the same level of tightening as a vaginoplasty.
The bottom line: If laxity is your primary concern, you're done with childbearing, and you're a good candidate, a surgical vaginoplasty procedure can be money well spent.
Vaginoplasty tightens the vaginal canal to enhance sensation, improve the appearance of the vaginal opening and reduce urinary incontinence.
Several factors influence the cost of vaginal-tightening surgery, including:
Vaginoplasty procedures can be performed by an OB-GYN, urogynecologist, or plastic surgeon. But when it comes to this intimate surgery, finding a board-certified provider with many years—and, ideally, decades—performing vaginoplasties is key to getting the best result and reducing complications.
You'll pay more for their skills and experience, but this is not a surgery where you want to bargain shop. Revision vaginal rejuvenation surgery is not uncommon, and it can end up costing thousands more out of pocket, even if your initial surgeon offers you a price break on their fees to correct a bad result.
"I see too many patients that have had botched surgeries," says Dr. Aimee Nyugen, a urogynecologist in Dallas. "You definitely want to get it done right the first time."
Once you've found a surgeon with glowing patient reviews and an impressive gallery of before and after photos, verify their credentials; in the case of a gynecologist, look for board certification and specialization in "cosmetic gynecology." During your consultation, ask how many vaginoplasty surgeries they perform each month and year.
"Surgery doesn't come with guarantees, but a trained and experienced surgeon is your best bet for a good result," says Dr. Pelosi.
Cosmetic procedures like vaginoplasty usually cost more in major metro areas, due to the higher cost of living. This is especially true if your provider has a luxurious medspa in an upscale part of town, rather than a more modest practice in a less exclusive neighborhood.
If you're more concerned about saving money than how the waiting room looks, it's worth getting price quotes from a few qualified providers in different areas.
Procedures like this one are also more expensive when they're performed in a hospital than in a surgeon's own surgical center or office, so it's good to ask during your consultation where it will take place.
Vaginal rejuvenation surgery is an outpatient procedure, so you shouldn't have the expense of overnight recovery care.
General anesthesia is usually the most expensive option, though the cost of local anesthesia with IV sedation can be comparable because it also needs to be administered by an anesthesiologist (an MD) or a nurse anesthetist (a CRNA), who then monitors your vitals throughout your procedure.
A spinal or epidural block for the pain may be less expensive, and it can also be administered with oral sedation to provide sufficient comfort during the procedure.
Many women combine this vaginal surgery with other reconstructive surgeries for the genital area, pelvic floor, or anus. For instance, a vaginoplasty is usually performed with a perineoplasty ($4,725 average cost), which surgically tightens the vaginal opening.
"We combine surgeries all the time and would recommend that you don't do surgeries separately if you're able," says Dr. Nguyen.
Most providers discount their fees if multiple procedures are being performed—in some instances by as much as 50% after the first procedure—so it's more cost-effective to have them done together. Treating several concerns at once also allows you to consolidate the recovery time.
Vaginoplasty is also commonly combined with:
Browse average vaginoplasty costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.
State | Average Cost |
|---|---|
California | $8,500 |
Colorado | $8,583 |
Florida | $6,490 |
Georgia | $6,240 |
Indiana | $5,680 |
Michigan | $5,167 |
New Jersey | $5,150 |
New York | $5,572 |
Ohio | $6,550 |
Texas | $9,000 |