Vaginal prolapse repairs typically take about 2.5 hours and patients usually stay in the hospital for one night. Occasionally patients will stay for two nights for comfort reasons. Restrictions after surgery include no heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for 2 weeks.
During surgery, the lining of the bowel, or the section of bowel that has prolapsed, is removed and stitched back together. The surgery takes about 1 hour and is done using a spinal or general anaesthetic. You will need to stay in hospital for a couple of days after surgery to recover.
You'll usually need to stay in hospital overnight or for a few days. Most women can go home once their bladder is emptying well. In rare cases, you may need a catheter for a week or so. You'll still be able to go home, but you'll need to come back in a week or two to have the catheter removed.
Surgical repairs are usually done by making cuts in the wall of the vagina under general anaesthetic. This means you'll be asleep during the operation and will not feel any pain.
Yes, cystocele (bladder prolapse) repair is major surgery. Even if your surgery is done through a less invasive way, surgeries to repair prolapse tend to be major surgery.
It is extremely important that you start your pelvic floor exercises again, don't lift anything heavy (heavier than a full kettle), don't get constipated or stand for too long. After 3 weeks short walks and swimming can be started. No high impact exercise.
Usually the graft is anchored to the muscles of the pelvic floor. Generally this surgery is not very painful. You may feel as if you have been 'riding on a horseback'. You will have some discomfort and pain, so please do not hesitate to take pain medication.
You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre supplement every day.
If your pelvic organ prolapse doesn't bother you, your health care provider might recommend treating your prolapse without surgery. If symptoms get worse and significantly affect your quality of life, surgery might be needed. Weakness of the pelvic floor often affects more than one area.
At present, the cost of female genital surgery (also known as labiaplasty or vulvoplasty), which involves the changing of the size and shape of the vagina, are only reimbursed under Medicare if a doctor deems it a medical necessity.
You should not drive until you can easily turn in your seat without discomfort and can safely perform an emergency stop, this is usually about 2 -4 weeks after surgery. You can return to work 4-6 weeks after the operation depending on your job.
Preparing for surgery
You may need to take a laxative or enema before surgery. Your doctor will tell you how to do this. Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
Most women go home within 24 hours of the surgery and feel well soon afterward. Your surgeon may still ask you to limit some activities—such as lifting, exercise, and sexual activity—for at least six weeks after the procedure.
Urodynamic testing is a group of tests that help to evaluate the way your bladder works. These tests are a standard part of evaluating urinary incontinence (urine leakage) and are also standard prior to surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.
Avoid Straining
For the first 2 weeks following your surgery it is important that you do nothing. You can potter around the house and make cups of tea but nothing more. After 4 weeks and up to 6 weeks post op you can start to walk and do gentle exercises. Increase slowly as you feel comfortable.
Uterine prolapse occurs when the muscles and tissue in your pelvis weaken. The weakness lets the uterus drop down into your vagina. Sometimes, it comes out through your vaginal opening. Nearly half of all women between ages 50 and 79 have this condition.
Vaginal prolapse repairs typically take about 2.5 hours and patients usually stay in the hospital for one night. Occasionally patients will stay for two nights for comfort reasons. Restrictions after surgery include no heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for 2 weeks.
Wait at least six weeks
Anything that increases the pressure in your abdominal cavity may also increase the pressure in your pelvis and cause your surgery to fail. For this reason, we recommend that you lift no more than 5 – 7 pounds for the first six weeks after surgery.
An additional stitch (sacrospinous fixation stitch) may be required at the top of the vagina or into the cervix to support the vagina. This stitch may cause some temporary discomfort in the buttock which may persist for up to three months.
Laparoscopic colposuspension is a minimally invasive surgical technique that provides a safe and durable method for reconstruction of the pelvic floor and its contents without the need for a large abdominal incision.
A surgeon might ask you to shave, this needs to be done a few days before the operation to avoid scratches on the skin and reduce the risk of infection. You should avoid becoming constipated before your operation; this is to avoid excessive straining afterwards.
Pain after Prolapse Surgery
You will experience cramping or pressure in your pelvic area after your surgery. Most people experience this pain for about two weeks, but it may last up to six weeks. If you have an abdominal incision, you may have pain around the incision as it heals.
Based on a U.S. claims and encounters database, the estimated lifetime risk of surgery for either stress incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse in women is 20.0% by the age of 80.