Intimate rejuvenation: what is it and what options are there?

Intimate rejuvenation is an area of aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery that has gained prominence in recent years, offering options to improve the health and aesthetics of the female genital region.

In addition to aesthetic improvements, female intimate rejuvenation surgical procedures can bring functional and sexual benefits to a woman's genital area.

The main plastic surgeries to reconstruct or resolve conditions in the intimate region are labioplasty, vaginoplasty/colporraphy, hymenoplasty and perineoplasty.

This article clarifies what intimate rejuvenation consists of, the options available and their implications for women's health and emotional well-being.

What is intimate rejuvenation?

Like the face and body, a woman's genital area can also change because of ageing, pregnancy and childbirth, weight variations or many other conditions.

These changes can lead to functional and aesthetic changes on the outside or inside of the vagina, resulting in sagging, loss of volume, the appearance of blemishes and darkening of the skin. They can also have a negative psychological impact, causing embarrassment, discomfort, and shame, with consequences for a woman's self-esteem and intimate well-being.

Women's intimate rejuvenation is not only related to aesthetic issues, it can also resolve health issues such as urinary incontinence, lack of lubrication, vaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunction.

Thus, intimate rejuvenation refers to medical and aesthetic procedures to improve the appearance and functionality of the external and internal genital organs.

The most performed intimate rejuvenation surgeries are labioplasty, vaginoplasty/colporraphy, perineoplasty and hymenoplasty.

1. Vaginal labioplasty

Vaginal labioplasty, also known as nymphoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves remodelling or reducing the vaginal lips because they are too large, sagging, irregular or asymmetrical.

These changes can cause aesthetic discomfort, but also functional discomfort, such as local irritations, infections, discomfort, and pain when exercising or during sexual activity. They can be a source of great emotional discomfort, embarrassment, and insecurity, limiting quality of life and affecting a woman's self-esteem.

Hypertrophy or excessive growth of the labia minora, irregularities and asymmetries in the vaginal lips are due to genetic factors, hormonal changes, pregnancy, childbirth, medication, obesity, illness, or ageing.

This surgery reduces the excess skin and mucosa of the labia minora (it can be unilateral or bilateral) and, when necessary, also of the clitoral hood, making it possible to create greater harmony in the vulva area.

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2. Vaginoplasty/Colporraphy

Vaginoplasty, also known as colporraphy or "vaginal tightening", is a surgical procedure that involves correcting the walls of the vagina to reinforce tone, increase the firmness of its walls and correct vaginal laxity.

One of the most common indications for vaginoplasty/colporraphy is the correction of vaginal laxity, which can appear after childbirth, large weight variations or with advancing age, and which consists of increased flaccidity and widening of the vaginal canal, with a consequent decrease in the sensitivity of the vaginal walls and sometimes a sensation of vaginal air loss, which can be accompanied by noise.

Some women opt for vaginoplasty/colporraphy to improve tone and sensitivity during intercourse, while others also want to correct defects in the vaginal walls, including cystocele (where the bladder protrudes into the vagina) or rectocele (where the rectum protrudes into the vagina).

By narrowing the vaginal canal and its musculature, vaginoplasty provides greater day-to-day comfort, more confidence and self-esteem, more sensitivity in sexual intercourse, improving the couple's intimate life, and possibly reducing discomfort due to urine or air leakage.

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3. Hymenoplasty

Hymenoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to repair or reconstruct the membrane that normally partially covers the entrance to the vagina and whose integrity is traditionally interrupted during the first sexual intercourse.

Reconstruction is carried out by joining the parts of the hymen. This is a simple plastic surgery that lasts around half an hour and is performed under local anaesthetic.

Hymenoplasty can be performed for various reasons, including cultural, religious, social, or personal reasons.

There are various techniques for performing hymenoplasty. If part of the hymen is still present, the plastic surgeon can join the remaining fragments to restore the integrity of the hymen. If the hymen no longer exists or cannot be repaired, the surgeon can create a similar membrane using existing tissue in the vaginal area.

4. Perineoplasty

Perineoplasty is a surgical procedure used to repair or reconstruct the muscles of the perineum, the area located between the vagina and the anus.

This procedure is usually performed on women with tears in the mucosa and/or muscles of the vagina, to correct damage or weakening of the tissues of the perineum, which can result from tears or episiotomy during vaginal delivery, trauma, or ageing, and can result in urinary incontinence when straining.

For example, tears of the perineum are not uncommon during vaginal delivery. In some cases, these tears may not heal properly or result in the weakening of the tissues, causing discomfort, pain, or sexual dysfunction. Aesthetically, they can give the entrance to the vagina an asymmetrical or too open appearance.

There are various perineoplasty techniques, which vary according to the extent of the damage or weakening of the tissues, as well as the specific needs of the patient.

Perineoplasty can provide significant benefits for women suffering from perineal tears or weakened perineal tissues, improving their quality of life, sexual function, and physical comfort.

Before opting for any intimate rejuvenation procedure, it is essential to consult a plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns, goals, and treatment options. Each patient is unique, so a personalised treatment plan should be developed based on their individual needs.

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LMR, the plastic surgery clinic in Lisbon, is equipped with the latest technology and has an experienced, competent, friendly, and available team. If you are interested in having any of these plastic surgeries carried out and would like to know prices, request further information, or book your assessment appointment, please fill in this form. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Important note:

In case this article presents before and after photos please consider them merely demonstrative and may not serve as a reference for your particular case. These images are only to show possible results for one or several surgical procedures. The images we use are of patients who have consented to their use. Any images do not represent a guarantee of results.

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Intimate rejuvenation: what is it and what options are there?

Sobre a Médica Especialista
Dr. Luísa Magalhães Ramos / Plastic Surgery

PORTUGUESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Nr. 42810

Graduated by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, she specialized in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, at Hospital de São José, in Lisbon.

Throughout her training, she subspecialized in aesthetic plastic surgery, having worked in world-renowned clinics.

Currently, she is mainly dedicated to face and breast aesthetic plastic surgery and to intimate female surgery.