Vaginoplasty and Vulvaplasty Revisions
While we hope all of our patients have a smooth healing process from their initial genital surgeries, we know this is not always the case. Complications can occur with any surgery, and some people may want or need additional surgeries to resolve these complications. This page will describe some of the more common revision surgeries that may take place after vaginoplasty and vulvaplasty. Please make sure to tell your surgeon if you are experiencing any issues during or after your initial healing
Vaginal Widening/Deepening
It is possible to experience loss of depth or width of the vaginal canal after vaginoplasty. This can be due to a variety of factors, including inconsistent dilation and individual outcomes from healing. An additional surgery using full thickness skin grafts can be used to help increase the width and/or depth of the vaginal canal. The skin grafts are generally taken from the lower abdomen, back of the arm, or the inner thigh. Frequent dilation is required after this surgery, similar to the frequency of dilation required after an initial vaginoplasty.
Labiaplasty Revision
If the labia minora loses definition during the healing process, meaning if they begin to appear flatter or smaller than you would prefer, you can have your labia minora revised. This involves using additional skin grafts to augment the existing labia minora. These skin grafts are taken from the labia majora or the hip area, depending on the extent of the reconstruction needed.
Clitoral Revision
If your clitoris is too large or exposed, or if it is too hidden, you can undergo a revision surgery to correct this. The clitoris can be reduced in size (“clitoral reduction”), and additionally the clitoral hood can be made larger (clitoral hood reconstruction) to cover more of the clitoris if preferred. If the clitoris is too hidden, a revision can be performed as well to make it more apparent and reduce the amount of skin around it.
Release of Posterior Vaginal Web
This is skin that can build up and cover the bottom of the vaginal entrance, which can make dilation or penetrative sex difficult. A revision surgery can correct this if it does occur.
Urethral Revision
If you have any troubles with urination after surgery, you may be able to undergo a revision. Complications can include urine spraying, inability to urinate, urinary frequency, etc. Some patients have issues due to having too much erectile tissue leftover after surgery. Discussing the issues you are experiencing with your surgeon can help in deciding what next steps are necessary, including whether or not a surgery is necessary.
