Urogynecology - Vaginal Prolapse
With childbirth, aging, and often genetic predisposition, women can lose their pelvic support as they approach the age of menopause or even years before. The lack of tissue and muscle support can cause outright vaginal prolapse, the dropping of the uterus, bladder, or rectum into the vagina or even protruding out of the vagina.
With the weakening of the front wall of the vagina, the bladder drops into the vagina, causing a vaginal prolapse known as cystocele. Very often the dropping of the bladder neck support of the vagina also causes urinary incontinence.
When the back wall of the vagina is weakened, the rectum drops into the vagina, causing difficulties in bowel movements. This vaginal prolapse is known as rectocele.
Even without the gross vaginal prolapse, the relaxation of the pelvic tissue and muscles can give women a sense of vaginal laxity, causing self consciousness with sexual intercourse. Using specific plastic surgical techniques, many of those having been modified by Dr. Michael Lau to be minimally invasive, the prolapse can be corrected in an outpatient setting. The vagina can be rejuvenated and tightened, restoring one’s self confidence. Also, the external genitalia, the labia majora and minora can be reconstructed by the process of labioplasty (labiaplasty) to achieve the aesthetics that one might desire.