Short answer
Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that tightens the vaginal canal and the muscles and tissue around its opening, usually after childbirth or with age. It typically takes 1-2 hours under general or spinal anaesthesia with one night in hospital. Most women stay in Istanbul for about 7 days and avoid intercourse for 6-8 weeks.
What is vaginoplasty?
Vaginoplasty, sometimes called vaginal rejuvenation or vaginal tightening, repairs and tightens the vaginal canal and the perineum, the area between the vaginal opening and the anus. It restores support to tissue that has stretched, often during childbirth.
It is often combined with a perineoplasty, which repairs the perineum, and can be performed together with labiaplasty if both are needed.
Who is it for?
Vaginoplasty is for adult women who have finished having children, or are prepared to wait until they have, and who notice a lasting change in vaginal tone. A doctor assesses suitability in person through a private consultation and examination.
- A feeling of looseness or reduced support after vaginal delivery
- Reduced friction or sensation during intimacy
- A widened or scarred vaginal opening after tears or an episiotomy
- Women who have tried pelvic floor exercises without enough improvement
How the procedure is done
Under general or spinal anaesthesia, the surgeon removes a small amount of excess lining, brings the stretched muscles together and closes the area with dissolvable stitches. There are no external scars. You usually stay one night in hospital so the team can monitor your comfort.
Pelvic floor exercises are still valuable after surgery and the team explains how to do them well. Your hotel, VIP transfers and a medical interpreter are arranged before you land, and a personal coordinator stays with you discreetly throughout.
Recovery and results
Discomfort and swelling are expected for the first one to two weeks and are managed with prescribed pain relief. Most women return to desk work within 1-2 weeks.
Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are avoided for about 6 weeks, and tampons and intercourse for 6-8 weeks. The tissue continues to soften and settle over 3-6 months. A future vaginal delivery can stretch the area again. Metropolmed's own medical team performs the treatment in Istanbul, and 12 months of follow-up are included.
Your private consultation
Your consultation is private and covers both your symptoms and your plans for the future. Before you travel, your coordinator asks for your obstetric history, including the number and type of deliveries, any tears or episiotomy, and any bladder symptoms. Up-to-date cervical screening is helpful. Plan surgery away from your period, stop smoking several weeks beforehand, and arrange for some help at home during the first week after you return.
Consultations take place one to one in a private room, with a medical interpreter if you need one, and you can ask for a male or female interpreter and coordinator. Your records, photographs and test results are kept strictly confidential and shared only with the clinicians treating you. Metropolmed holds the Turkish Ministry of Health international patient authorisation (USHAŞ AK-0164), and its own TÜRSAB-licensed travel division (licence 13032) books your hotel.
Risks and safety
Possible risks include bleeding, infection, wound breakdown, pain or discomfort during intercourse, scar tissue, over-tightening, temporary difficulty passing urine and, rarely, injury to the bladder or bowel. Results vary between individuals and vaginoplasty does not always treat urinary leakage on its own.
Your surgeon reviews your medical and obstetric history, examines you in person and explains which risks apply to you before you decide.
Recovery timeline
- Day 1Procedure and one night in hospital
- Week 1Rest, gentle walking and a check-up before flying
- Week 2Return to desk work for most women
- Week 6-8Exercise, tampons and intercourse usually resume
- Month 3-6Tissue fully settled and final result
Frequently asked questions
Is vaginoplasty the same as labiaplasty?
No. Vaginoplasty tightens the vaginal canal and opening, while labiaplasty reshapes the outer labial skin. The two can be combined when both are needed.
Should I wait until I have finished having children?
Usually yes. A later vaginal delivery can stretch the repaired tissue, so most surgeons advise waiting until your family is complete.
Will there be visible scars?
No. The stitches are placed inside the vaginal canal and at the opening, so there are no external scars.
Can vaginoplasty treat bladder leakage?
Not always. Stress urinary leakage often needs its own assessment and treatment, which your doctor can discuss during the consultation.
Is a female interpreter available?
Yes, you can ask for a female interpreter and coordinator, and the team will arrange this in advance where possible.
