Laser Vaginal Relaxation Surgery & Labia Reduction Posted: 01-22-08 04:12am
Hi, I have just returned home from having
surgery to fix a very embarassing problem.
I have two children who were quite large
and have suffered a number of issues since
childbirth. I felt that my vagina was too
loose during sex and my sensations down
there were not as good as they were years
ago and was self conscious about this. I
was also having problems with emptying my
bowels which caused me pain and painful
sex with bleeding during or after.
My lovely husband assured me that it did
not bother him and he was not really aware
of the issue. (He was just being nice). I
was unaware that there was any surgery or
help available except for the usual pelvic
floor exercises which in fact did not help
at all! (Found out from the doctor later
that my muscles were not attached to
anything so no amount of these would have
helped).
I found some information on this surgery
on an American website and they had a link
to a doctor in Australia who performed the
above surgery by laser. I contacted the
doctor who after a few weeks of telephone
conversations and emails to and fro
arranged my surgery. I also discovered
during my surfing the net that my inner
vaginal lips were not normal looking and
had in fact been torned in half during
childbirth.
I had to travel a great distance to get
there but it was worth it to find a very
understanding and experienced doctor who
understood my concerns. I had previously
discussed these issues with my local GP
who told me that having a looser vagina
was just what happened after having
children and was a price that we ladies
have to pay. (Thanks alot mate).
I had my first examination with the doctor
the day before surgery and he confirmed
that I had a very relaxed vaginal wall at
the back and also the front which is
considered to be a prolapse of the vagina.
He also advised me that could be why sex
was painful. He also suspected that I
might have polyps in my uterus which were
painful. I asked him about my labia
minora (inner lips) and he said that he
could fix these easily and that they could
benefit from surgery.
I am 5 days post surgery, I am feeling
good. I am quite a nervous person who
suffers some anxiety so I thought I would
be too embarrassed and gutless to go
through with it. Before surgery I had a
pre-med which made me very relaxed and I
only vaguely remember lining up for
theatre but don't remember the operation
at all. When I woke up in recovery I felt
some small pain and they gave me drugs
which fixed it straight away. I was awake
all night and didn't sleep but still was
not in too much pain as long as I didn't
move. I had to have a catheter which was
probably more annoying than the pain. I
have a low pain threshold so I was very
surprised that I was okay.
After this surgery they pack your vagina
with material of some sort which puts a
slight pressure down there but it was
removed the next morning which again
reduced the discomfort. I was in hospital
for 2 days but could of got out sooner
only the investigation of my bladder made
it quite hard to pee and it was
challenging to keep my bladder empty.
I wondered if I would be well enough to
fly all the way home, I was abit spewy on
the first flight but that went away after
awhile. Today I am down to taking one
panadeine a day and a few panadol. I
suspect that in a weeks time I will be
back to almost normal. I would be ok to
go back to work now but I am on holidays.
I showed my husband my labia (I didn't
want to look yet in case it made my pain
level higher) and he said it was amazing
that he could not see any scars, stitches
or any evidence that I had them fixed but
they looked good! And they don't even
hurt.
I have to have a check up down there at 6
weeks post op which I am not looking
forward to the speculum thing they use
like a pap smear. After this I am free to
have gentle sex. The doctor told my
husband that he should be more than happy
with this result as I would be. I think
it has been a long time since my husband
and I have had good friction sex and I
can't wait to see how much better it is.
It takes your self esteem away thinking
that sexually you are not satisfying your
partner and that you can't enjoy sex
anymore even when you are trying.
I have had no bleeding except for the
first night and I think laser surgery has
benefits over the old traditional style.
My advice to anyone considering this is to
make sure you are happy with your doctor.
It was expensive but I think well worth
it. I know if I didn't have the internal
stuff fixed it would have given me much
more grief later on. What has surprised
me about this whole situation is that when
I sent an email to the doctors office, the
doctor emailed me back and then phoned me.
If it wasn't for dealing with him direct
I think I would have backed out.
For all you ladies out there who have this
problem and think about it often, you CAN
get it fixed. I am blown away that it was
not that painful and the recovering is so
quick. For me this was an extreme thing
as I am a cautious and reserved person but
I am so glad I went through with it.
I am happy to answer any questions anyone
might have. I will put another post up in
a few weeks to let you know of my progress
and of course after the final result is
known.
Cheers!
|
missdoo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 6
Laser Vaginal Surgery - 2.5 weeks later Posted: 02-05-08 03:22am
Hi, back again. Just to update my
recovery from the laser surgery and labia
reduction. About a week after the
operation I found that I got severe thrush
from the antibiotics but this always
happens to me. The only reason why I
needed the antibiotics was due to the
bladder infection and unrelated to the
surgery. The problem was trying to rub
the canasten cream on my downstairs area
after the operation was bad!! It was too
sore and sensitive. The cream itself made
me itch for sensitivity reasons while it
was clearing up the thrush but I got
through that. I think I snapped at my
husband abit that week!
I have had no other issues. I haven't
been taking anything for the pain except
for panadol at night time. My peeing is
back to normal and it is surprising that I
go once or twice during the day now which
is nice as I used to urinate up to 20
times a day!! I have also noticed an
extreme difference when emptying bowels as
it seems just too easy now. (Before my
posterior wall of my vagina had fallen and
was pressing into my bowels making
emptying them difficult).
Just yesterday I had a funny sensation in
my vagina that something was in there. I
told my husband and he said to phone the
doctor. I phd the doctor and he told me
to put my 2 fingers in there and gently
feel around in case there was packing or
something left there. I did this very
gingerly I might add but only put one
finger in and felt around. I was very
shocked to find that the space in there is
so small. Before I had not only a widened
entrance but also it was wide and gaping
internally as well. Not any more!! I am
still amazed at how tight and small the
area feels. I wasn't game enough to put
the 2nd finger in. The only thing I found
was a row of stitches that were coming
out. I rubbed them gently and they fell
off. I phoned the doctor back at his
request to let him know that it was just
stitches. He said it can take up to 6
weeks for them to either heal or fall out.
If they don't you have to get a doctor to
pull them out.
I have been leading a normal life from
about 1.5 weeks after the surgery. There
is not much I can't do except for heavy
lifting, hanging washing or jumping
around/gym which is okay. I wasn't
allowed to drive for 2 weeks but that has
now past. The only real complaint I have
is occassional itching from my labia. I
had a very good look down there and have
found that I cannot visibly see any signs
of surgery or stitching. Its really
amazing. My doctor must know his stuff.
I have read heaps of stuff on these forums
where ladies had their labia done and have
stitches hanging everywhere and have been
butchered. It sure pays to get the right
doctor for the job.
I can imagine the first time having sex
will be uncomfortable. At six weeks I am
required before having sex to see a local
doctor and have the speculum thing. Not
looking forward to that.
I am surprised that no one has added to
this post - I am not a huge fan of surgery
but at this point I would do it all again
to get the problems fixed. Am I the only
one who has had this done?
|
jbear
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
great post Posted: 02-18-08 15:56pm
Hi there,
I read your post with great interest. I
have three children. I too feel too big
and stretched out down there. After my
third baby three years ago I was diagnosed
with a vaginal (cystocele) and rectal
(rectocele) prolapse. I have some
incontinence too.
My gynocologist referred me to a
urogynocologist. I have met with him twice
over the last two years to discuss surgery
to repair the prolapses. My gynocologist
also told me that the repairs may tighten
up my vagina.
Then recently I called the urogynocologist
to ask about vaginal rejuvenation
procedures and they did not seem in favor
of them at all. I got the feeling like the
doctors office thought these were just
schemes and not medically safe.
Anyway, your post gave me hope that I
could get these repairs and/or laser
treatment to safely and successfully
tighten me up.
Do you live in Australia? I live in the
midwestern part of the U.S. and I do not
know where to get a reliable reference for
a doctor here that does these types of
procedures.
Next time I see my regular gynocologist I
will ask her but I am afraid she also
won't be able to help me.
Thank you,
Jessica
|
missdoo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 6
Reply to your Post - 4.5 Weeks after LVR & Labia Reduction Posted: 02-19-08 04:24am
Hi, yes - I do live in Australia.
I had an overactive bladder which meant I
was peeing way before I was meant to and
any social event seemed to revolve around
the toilet!! The doctor told me that
having prolapse/relaxed bits can mask
incontinence and when you get the vagina
tightened up that I might find that I
would suffer from incontinence but I still
chose to leave my bladder alone and so far
have no real issues. I also had the
cystocele & rectocele. (Read this in my
hospital chart when the nurse wasn't
there).
You are right that most doctors don't want
to know about these issues. No one seems
to care about the woman's long term
complications. I had asked 2 doctors
about this and they both basically said to
put up with it. In the 2 years that
passed my problem got worse by the month.
I still didn't really understand how bad
my problem was. I actually thought when I
got there and the Doctor examined me he
would tell me to go away and do some more
pelvic floor exercises but during the exam
it became obvious that my operation was
warranted.
When I booked into the surgery I was very
shocked when my husband very kindly
admitted that he was glad I was having the
operation. Don't get me wrong, we are not
sexual animals or anything but we just
would like to enjoy each other again. In
the end I bypassed the GP's and spoke to
the specialist first and then went back &
told them that my specialist asked them to
refer me and it worked!
I don't think my operation was unsafe nor
a gimmick. As it is performed vaginally
it is minimally invasive and the recovery
time is amazing. Every surgery does have
risks and for each person they may differ
but I have not regretted having the
surgery for one second! I have also
suffered no complications and hope not to
have any. The labia reduction could be
seen as non essential surgery but any
woman with large labia would understand my
reasons for having it done.
I do know that if I had of sought the
advice of a gynocologist they could have
fixed the relaxed walls etc but they do
not tighten the entrance
to your vagina. If you go to all the
effort to get the problems fixed, it would
be a shame to still have that loose/no
feeling. I have had a close look and I
have a thin line just internal of
disolving stitches around the entrance but
you have to really look to find them and
they do not hurt. I have another 10 days
to go before having sex so I will be able
to give a more accurate description of the
result after that but I know already that
the area is very tight which is amazing.
I am looking forward to wearing tampons
again.
Don't give up or let the doctors
discourage you if you are sure you have a
problem. Get a consult with a doctor who
understands and then look at the other
factors. I wish I had of known someone
who had the procedure prior to my
operation but I couldn't find many
testimonials on the web but I hope this
helps you.
I will definately put another post up in
about 2 weeks to let you know if the
result was good or great. Might help you
make up your mind.
Good luck!.
|
missdoo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 6
Follow up on LVR & Labia Reduction Posted: 05-13-08 04:55am
Hi,
I am the original poster of the above
story. Forgot to give an update but I
figure its not too late.
I had sex at 6.5 weeks after my option and
found it was quite uncomfortable. My
husband told me the next day that he
didn't like it which made me quite upset.
He thought that the space in there was too
narrow. I then avoided sex for the next
month as I felt quite offended.
I had been told to start doing the pelvic
floor exercises by the doctor and to my
surprise they felt very different, I
actually felt they were doing something!
It now has been 4 months post op and I can
say that I am glad I had it done. I still
have one sensitive area in my vagina which
is more noticeable in one position that
any other but it isn't serious and I feel
that it will go away with time. The
entrance is nice and tight and I can feel
everything going on which is really quite
intense when you have been missing out on
these feelings. My husband has no
complaints now that he is used to it and
likes the tightness. The narrow feeling
for him has gone (must have loosened a
little) and I have found that I can have
several orgasms which is a first for me.
I think this is due to the excess labia
being removed.
Overall, no complaints and no serious
problems except for some thrush. I feel
like an attractive female again with no
baggage.
