I'm going in for my posterior rectocele surgery one week from today. With all that's going on, until this week I hadn't given much thought to what affects this is going to have on me aesthetically. Please anyone who has had this surgery vaginally, as I will be having, tell me did you have disfigurement after? I'm only 27 and while my rectocele needs to be repaired, I fear becoming self conscious over my girly parts for the rest of my life. Any help is appreciated! Thank you!
I am 6 1/2 weeks post surgery. Certainly not disfigured, Things seem to be tighter. I have not had sex yet, but from my post surgery exam a couple days ago I think things are back where they were years ago, before children.
Kirsty.
What was the name of your surgery and precise technique?
Did you have anaesthetic prior to surgery to see what was needed.
Apparently my womb bladder and lining of bowel are down.
So I may need a joint surgery.
However I believe it needs to be taken slowly now in stages.
The pressure if my womb appears to be causing most if the problems.
Let me know how u get on.
What were your symptoms for surgery?
Sandra
Hi Meg, rectocele repair is internal , nothing visible. It's the perineal repair or perinorrhaphy that is visible and you don't mention that. Look it up on line , you can find graphic descriptions of what is done. Very helpful
I am having a rectocele repair, Posterior Vaginal Wall & Perineal Body Repair for a rectocele, my Doctor grades at a 2.5. I'm being cut completely open from one hole to the next. They will remove excess tissue and then put internal and external stitches. My Dr says almost like a layered corset to hold everything where it is supposed to be.... and while he also says I'll be "tighter", with all the external stitches, how disfigured will my vagina be?
Hi Meg, my doctor just stitched me up internally and left me with a frill on the outside which currently hasn't got any where to go. I think I would rather have had a proper perinoplasty (plastic repair ) which should be much more aesthetically pleasing and in the long term more comfortsble. Again there is quite a lot on line showing you what is done . I would expect the cosmetic results to be good but personally haven't had it done your way so can't really advise. It's going to be sore and very swollen at first but don't let that panic you. Bit more than episiotomy after childbirth but very similar so it's worth looking on line for advice for that. Probably find it in a midwifery/mum & babies type forum, I did. Good luck
Sue
I had an anterior and posterior repair 6 weeks ago and the majority of the stitching is done internally, i also had a perinopharry which is closing up my previous episiotomy scar.
Everything has healed nicely and given time will dissapear..i take pure aloe vera gel which is excellant for promoting healing and has helped sort out my severe constipation where healthy diet and drinking copious amounts of water failed.
So pleased I had the op.
Is the aloe vera gel a supplement? or a drink of sorts? I've only ever used aloe for cuts and sunburns.
Yes i take about 10mls first thing in the morning. Cant recomend it enough
Hi Sarah, I have been reading your comments. How was your perinorrhappy done. We're you cut and tidied up on the outside? Was yor previous scar very bad? Can I ask where you live?
Sue
Im in coventry. My scar wasnt bad...just had a big opening where my prolapse was falling down. All done on the inside
So no stitches on the outside. Did it leave you with your vaginal tissue pulled together on the outside, a bit lumpy and like a frill
A tiny bit. But early days yet. Probably about a half inch scar
Hi Meg, Dont you get worrying about a thing as all is going to be great. You'll be so glad and relieved later that you had it done. I had a rectocele and a cystocele with a perinorraphy done 14 months ago. The latter procedure was to tighten the underparts around the entrance to the vagina. I am a little older than you (a 'very young' 70) but had at that time recently remarried a man 8 years younger than myself, so like you I was petrified I would look 'ugly' or 'different' down there. I even feared my new husband wouldn't fancy me either and that we wouldn't be able to have sex again. Meg I can honestly say now that all is back to normal, I am absolutely delighted with the result. I feel like a new woman. I looked with a mirror at about 6-8 weeks and I could see the improvement already - wow! (Shame my surgeon couldn't have done a face lift at the same time - ha ha!) Life is now fantastic as is the sex, so please don't worry all will be fine. Do as you are told and rest, rest, rest, as per all the medical advice. This is crucial; a good, final result depends on this. So get as much help as you can at home and don't be ashamed or feel guilty about putting your feet up as much as you can. Try not to rely on Movicol or any other laxatives for too long but eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and high fibre bread and breakfast cereals. Lots of bland drinks too. No lifting children or anything in fact heavier than a kettle of water. The recovery IS challenging but if you are prepared and know that, then all the frustration of the early weeks is soo worth it. Good luck and let us know how you get on. We're a friendly bunch on this Forum so if you have any further questions there's loads of us here with advice. All the best and a happy Christmas. LadyPink
Hi Sarah , sorryI didn't reply sooner been a bit hectic with Xmas etc. Saw my consultant Thursday & she pulled out a stitch which was possibly contributing to my continued perineal discomfort & put me on antibiotics as there was a little bit of localised infection, which I really wasn't aware of. Not sure you & I had quite the same repair for the perineum, was just curious as to what other women had done as I didn't quite expect mean to be like this.
Anyway take care & have a lovely Xmas one & all
Sue
Hi Sue, forgive me for butting into your question for Sarah but I had a rectocele and cysotcele repair with a perineum correction (a perineorraphy) 14 months ago. The results were amazing and I can't tell you how delighted I am with the results. I too had to have a stitch snipped out in the early days as it was pulling and hurting and was given abtibiotics at that time because the stitch had caused a slight infection the same as you had. All went extremely well afterwards and everything is beautiful down there. My husband says I have the feel of a teenager (who's he kidding!?!) pity I couldn't get a facelift at the same time though as I've just had my 70th. Sex life is great too. Best wishes, LadyPink
Hi Lady pink I was actually considering texting you personally. I am not too worried about the aesthetics it's just the method. At present there doesn't seem to be anywhere for the surplus tissue to go. It is not a text book copy of the procedure. It may well be that when all the swelling has gone icompletely it will settle into place ., but unfortunately using this method the inside sutures have pulled unequally on the tissue causing tension externally in uneven places. I suspect it is all stretching to accommodate. Internally it seems to be OK. Can I ask were you actually cut on the outside, surplus tissue removed and the edges stitched together. That would certainly heal evenly?
regards
Sue
Hello Sue, Yeah I know exactly what you mean and as I too could feel uneven lumps and bumps along the folds where the (lady) gynaecologist had stitched and tucked everything in.. It seemed so messy and uneven. As the tissue heals and reduces though everything sort of shrivels. You'll just have to take my word for it but it does. Naturally your vaginal area won't be 'exactly' as it was, it can't be - but I have just asked my husband if he had noticed anything and he said "No, not at all". I myself can feel two small, soft nodules and that is all that remains. The human body is so miraculous in its healing. There was no cutting at all done by the way. I read a lot before my op and asked my Gynae consultant all these questions beforehand too but like you couldn't quite believe how it would turn out so well - but it has. It's amazing. Hope this puts your mind at rest? LadyPink
Hi again. Yes actually I think you have answered my question & I can feel a difference at one end , I think it is shrinking back which I really didn't think would happen at my age. Can you remember how long before this settled. The SHO was going to send me back to work after 4 weeks which would have been the 10th but the cosultant had told me six weeks , which is now extended to Jan 12th as I still have discomfort & will see her again before I go back. I think now that stitch is out it will heal a lot quicker. I just need to be able to sit comfortably for my job as well. Thanks for your support
Sue
Hi LadyPink--Thank you for so much sharing. I have a rectocele that I am contemplating my options for and following some of the discussions in order to educate myself. I'm curious when you say that there was no cutting. Is there a name for this procedure? Is that the usual technique for this type of surgery? I guess that I had pictured the surgeon cutting and stitching back to tighten. Thanks for your input! --Suzanne