Natural childbirth is the most physiological way of coming into the world. However, for the woman carrying the baby, it involves significant trauma to the anatomical structures that separate the abdominal cavity from the outside through the pelvic girdle. When dilation occurs, the muscles of the pelvic floor give way to allow the passage of the baby's head, and also the cervix and the vulva. An episiotomy is often performed to facilitate controlled tearing of the tissues to prevent tears that can lead to incontinence. During the course of the episiotomy or when it is not performed, important anatomical alterations may occur, as the diameter of the baby's head can be very large and the vulva has to dilate enormously to allow it to pass through.
We are frequently consulted by women who have had one or more births and who want a solution to certain vulvar deformities they suffer as a result. These deformities must be studied in depth, an external examination must be carried out to visualise the possible anatomical deformities, not only of the labia majora, but also the possible prolapse of certain structures such as the rectum through the vagina.
Anatomical alteration of the pelvic floor musculature and the possibility of incontinence are also not uncommon. For this reason, before undertaking any postpartum reconstruction, a correct examination must be carried out, a correct evaluation of the patient's clinical history and finally, on some occasions, diagnostic tests must be carried out in order to reach the most detailed conclusion possible.
Postpartum reconstruction can be very simple or very complex depending on which anatomical structures are involved in the destructuring after the passage of the child through the vaginal canal.
Postpartum Reconstruction
Surgical Time
1 to 4 hours.
Admission Time
Outpatient Procedure/ Hospitalisation.
Type of Anesthesia
Local/Epidural.
Type of Surgery
Reconstructive Surgery.
Recovery Time
10/30 days.
Genital Surgery
Postpartum
Reconstruction€ 1.200 a € 4.600
Preoperative tests
Preoperative consultations
Surgical Procedure Outpatient/Hospital Admission
Follow up
Before informing the patient about the price of the intervention, it is very important to carry out a correct evaluation and the relevant diagnostic tests to determine the magnitude of the postpartum anatomical alteration she is suffering from. Once this has been done, we will be able to correctly inform you about the type of technique to be used, whether or not hospitalisation is required, type of anaesthesia, recovery time and, of course, give you a quote adapted to your case. Some postpartum reconstruction procedures are very simple and are done on an outpatient basis with less than an hour of intervention and under local anaesthesia. On other occasions, if the patient needs a reconstruction of the pelvic floor, the intervention requires hospitalisation, epidural or general anaesthesia and, as a consequence, a higher budget.
The simplest alterations, such as alterations to the labia majora, are performed on an outpatient basis.
Reconstructions involving prolapse, pelvic floor disruption or a rectocele require hospitalisation and epidural or general anaesthesia.
Incontinence is more frequently associated with alterations of the birth canal than we think. It is therefore very important to carry out a correct evaluation of the patient and submit her to a questionnaire that will indicate the scale of risk of incontinence that this person has. If there is an alteration in continence of a sufficient degree to justify an intervention, the relevant tests should be carried out and the patient should be informed about the most appropriate procedure to follow.
Again, it depends on the type of surgery to be performed. The simplest are in the field of aesthetics and are performed on an outpatient basis and recovery is very quick. When the anatomical alteration exceeds the field of aesthetics and involves a functional alteration such as incontinence, prolapse or rectocele, the recovery will be longer, as will the surgical and hospitalisation times.
Care basically focuses on the hygiene of the genital area and keeping the area as dry as possible, we recommend always washing with a neutral gel after each urination.
Salvage surgeries are surgical treatments aimed at treating or modifying complications or negative results of a previous surgical treatment performed at another centre.
Below we will try to clarify some of the doubts that may arise before coming to our office and that may help you to make your decision.