Frequently asked questions, Somssi Women's Clinic, Seoul

It repairs the posterior vaginal wall and the pelvic floor muscle behind it, not just the opening. The operation begins at the posterior fornix in front of the cervix and works outward. The mucosa is peeled to under 1 mm rather than cut, the muscle layer is gathered and sutured, then the mucosa is closed over it, thickening the posterior wall. The anterior wall, urethra and bladder are left untouched. What vaginoplasty repairs

Vaginoplasty takes about 50 to 60 minutes. Most women choose sedation combined with a mixture of long-acting local anesthetics, so there is no memory of the procedure and little pain afterwards; local anesthesia alone is possible if you prefer to stay awake. A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory is injected at the end. You are discharged the same day once you have urinated comfortably. Vaginoplasty procedure details

You walk out the same day and can shower, do housework and return to desk work within a day or two. Golf is usually fine after one week. Vigorous lower-body exercise, running, cycling, bathing and saunas wait about six weeks. Intercourse resumes at seven to eight weeks, when swelling has settled and the final result can be judged. Medication is taken for about five days. Vaginoplasty recovery timeline

They do different things. Energy devices and fillers act on the surface or the opening and do not reposition muscle or thicken a thin posterior wall, so their effect is limited and tends to fade. Surgery is the only way to rebuild that support, but not every woman needs it; mild laxity with good muscle may respond to pelvic floor training. Dr. Yoon measures first and tells you honestly which applies. Surgical versus non-surgical tightening

Women with looseness after vaginal birth or aging, reduced sensation, air escaping during intercourse, recurrent vaginitis from pooled secretions, or a feeling that the uterus sits low. Women who have never given birth can also be candidates, including those who have had earlier surgery or filler elsewhere. The best candidates are in good general health, have realistic expectations and have finished or paused childbearing. Candidacy for vaginoplasty

It is possible, but we usually advise waiting until your family is complete. A later vaginal delivery can stretch the repaired wall and pelvic floor again, and a repeat operation would then be needed. If pregnancy after surgery does occur, a cesarean delivery is often discussed to protect the repair. Talk this through with Dr. Yoon before deciding on timing. Vaginoplasty after childbirth

As with any operation: bleeding, infection and reaction to anesthesia. Specific to this surgery: injury to the rectum or the cul-de-sac behind the cervix, over-narrowing that makes intercourse painful, and changes in sensation or lubrication if too much tissue is removed. The clinic's technique of peeling rather than cutting and leaving the anterior wall alone is designed to limit these, but results vary and no outcome can be guaranteed. Safety of vaginoplasty in Korea

Common signs are a feeling of heaviness or something falling out, a bulge you can feel at the opening, low back ache that eases when lying down, the cervix being touched during intercourse, and urinary or bowel symptoms such as urgency, incomplete emptying or constipation. A pelvic examination that measures how far the cervix has descended, together with ultrasound, confirms the stage. Signs of uterine prolapse

Usually not. Prolapse is a problem of support, not of the uterus itself, and removing the uterus does not fix the vaginal wall that let it descend. At Somssi the uterus is lifted and fixed to its own supporting tissue (hysteropexy), the cul-de-sac is closed and the posterior wall and pelvic floor are repaired. Hysterectomy is reserved for uterine disease such as cancer. Hysterectomy and prolapse

No. All prolapse repair at the clinic uses native tissue: the vaginal wall, pelvic floor muscle and uterine ligaments. Synthetic mesh can erode through the vaginal wall, cause pain or infection and be difficult to remove years later. Women who have had mesh, bands or implants placed elsewhere are seen for removal and tissue repair when complications arise. Mesh complication revision

It can. Recurrence is more likely when the vagina has been shortened, when the pelvic floor is weak, after further vaginal births, with chronic coughing, constipation, heavy lifting or significant weight gain. Restoring vaginal length and rebuilding the muscle layer aims to lower that risk, and most women in the clinic's reported series keep their result, but no repair can be guaranteed for life. Prolapse recurrence after surgery

Both have a place. Pelvic floor exercise helps early, mild laxity when the muscle is still thick enough to respond. A pessary supports the prolapse mechanically and suits women who cannot or do not wish to have surgery, though it must be cleaned and refitted. Once the muscle layer has thinned to a few millimeters, exercise alone rarely restores support, and surgery becomes the definitive option. Pessary versus surgery

Surgery is done under sedation plus local anesthesia, takes about an hour and you go home the same day. Walking is encouraged immediately. Avoid heavy lifting, straining and vigorous exercise for about six weeks, and intercourse until seven to eight weeks. Sutures are absorbable. Patients from outside Seoul are followed by message, with a check-up before travel. Prolapse surgery recovery

Neither is better in every case. An edge (trim) reduction suits labia that are long or dark along the whole edge, and lets the color and shape be refined. A wedge excision removes a V-shaped segment from the middle and keeps the natural edge, which suits labia that are wide in the center. Dr. Yoon designs the labia to a normal size first and removes only the excess; the clitoral hood can be addressed at the same time. Trim versus wedge labiaplasty

The labia minora are reshaped along their edge, away from the clitoris, and the nerves and vessels within them are preserved, so sensation is usually unchanged once healing is complete. Temporary numbness, tenderness or swelling for a few weeks is normal. Over-resection by inexperienced hands can cause dryness or discomfort, which is why we remove only what is excess. Labiaplasty and sensation

The procedure takes 40 to 60 minutes, usually under local anesthesia, with no hospital stay. You can shower the same day; apply the ointment we provide about four times a day and use an ice pack for the first three days. Most swelling settles within two weeks and the stitches dissolve. Intercourse can resume after about two to three weeks, once Dr. Yoon has checked healing. Labiaplasty recovery

The incision runs along the natural edge of the labia and is closed with very fine absorbable sutures, so once healed the line usually blends into the normal folds and is hard to see. The quality of suturing accounts for most of the result; uneven or bumpy edges are a common reason women come to us for revision after surgery elsewhere. Every woman heals differently. Labiaplasty scarring

It restores the outer labia when they have sagged, wrinkled or lost volume with age, weight change, friction or childbirth. Loose, wrinkled skin is excised and closed; thin, flat labia can be filled with the patient's own fat. The operation takes about an hour under sedation or local anesthesia, recovery is about three weeks and intercourse resumes at about four weeks. About labia majora reduction

Yes. Many women combine labia minora reduction with posterior vaginoplasty or labia majora surgery in one session, which means a single anesthetic, one recovery period and, for visitors, one trip to Seoul. Recovery instructions follow the longer of the two timelines, so intercourse waits for the vaginoplasty interval of seven to eight weeks rather than the two to three weeks for labiaplasty alone. Labiaplasty at Somssi

Often, yes. Common reasons for revision are asymmetry, bumpy or notched edges, persistent irritation or a hollow, over-trimmed appearance. Uneven edges and excess tissue can be refined; where too much has been removed, the options are more limited and Dr. Yoon will tell you what is realistic. Bring details of the previous operation if you have them. Labiaplasty revision

Hymenoplasty reconstructs the hymenal ring at the vaginal opening using the remaining hymenal tissue and adjacent mucosa, closed with fine absorbable sutures. It is a short procedure done under local anesthesia, with or without light sedation, and you leave the clinic the same day. It does not change the vagina itself or affect fertility. How hymenoplasty works

The tissue needs time to heal fully, so the procedure should not be left to the last days before a wedding. Dr. Yoon will suggest timing at consultation based on your situation and the technique used, and for visitors we plan the trip so that a check-up before departure is possible. Avoid tampons, cycling and intercourse until you are told healing is complete. Timing hymenoplasty

No surgeon can guarantee it. Even without surgery, many women do not bleed at first intercourse, because the natural hymen varies in thickness and elasticity. Reconstruction restores the ring, and bleeding is common, but it depends on healing and on circumstances at the time. We would rather tell you this honestly than make a promise we cannot keep. Hymenoplasty and bleeding

Once healed, the reconstructed hymen looks like natural tissue, and the sutures dissolve, so there is nothing to find on ordinary examination. A gynecologist cannot reliably determine from the hymen whether a woman has had intercourse, which is also why so-called virginity testing is not scientifically valid. Your medical record is confidential and is never shared without your consent. What the hymen can and cannot show

Inquiries, photographs and records are seen only by Dr. Yoon and the coordinator handling your case. The clinic is on a single floor of an office building without street-level signage describing the practice. Appointment times are spaced to keep waiting short, receipts can be worded neutrally, and no clinical photographs are used in marketing. Privacy, cost and travel for hymenoplasty

Typically three to five days: consultation and examination, the procedure, and a check-up before you travel home. Recovery is quick, with mild soreness for a few days, and you can walk and go about quiet daily activities immediately. The final plan is confirmed by Dr. Yoon after examination and may vary with the technique used. Hymenoplasty recovery

Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can usually be dissolved with an enzyme injection, sometimes in more than one session. Semi-permanent or permanent products, and fillers that have hardened, migrated or formed nodules, are removed surgically, and the surrounding tissue is repaired at the same time. The approach depends on what was injected, how long ago and what symptoms it is causing. Removing vaginal filler

That is common. We start with your account of when and where it was done, then examine and use ultrasound to see where the material sits and whether it has spread or encapsulated. Hyaluronic acid responds to a test dose of enzyme; other materials do not, which tells us surgery is needed. Ask the original clinic for records if you can, but we can plan without them. Unknown filler

The vaginal wall is thin and mobile, so injected material can clump, shift with intercourse or form a capsule of scar tissue around it. Some products stimulate inflammation on purpose; in the vaginal mucosa that can produce firm, tender nodules. Infection, uneven injection and larger volumes make lumps more likely. Persistent lumps, pain or discharge are reasons to have the filler assessed. Causes of filler lumps

Often, yes. Once the material is removed, the posterior wall and pelvic floor can be repaired with your own tissue in the same operation, which is what many women wanted from the filler in the first place. Whether this is done at once or in stages depends on inflammation and how much tissue was affected; Dr. Yoon decides after examination. Filler removal and repair

The clinic runs a revision program for women whose earlier surgery left a narrow or painful opening with a loose interior, recurring odor or vaginitis, or problems with silicone implants or mesh that have moved, become exposed or infected. The foreign material is removed and the canal and pelvic floor are rebuilt with native tissue. Bring any operative records you have. Revision after implants or mesh

Enzyme dissolving needs little recovery beyond a day or two of mild swelling. Surgical removal with tissue repair follows the vaginoplasty timeline: same-day discharge, walking immediately, light activity within days, vigorous exercise after about six weeks and intercourse at seven to eight weeks. Visitors typically stay five to seven days so a check-up is possible before flying. Filler removal recovery

In experienced hands the risks are those of any vaginal surgery: bleeding, infection, injury to adjacent tissue and scarring. Removing material that has spread or encapsulated is more demanding than the original injection, and sometimes not every trace can be removed safely. Dr. Yoon will explain what is realistic for your case before you decide. Risks of filler removal

For vaginoplasty and prolapse repair, sedation (sleep anesthesia) combined with a mixture of three long-acting local anesthetics, so you have no memory of the operation and the area stays numb for hours afterwards. Local anesthesia alone is an option if you prefer to stay awake and talk with Dr. Yoon. Labiaplasty and hymenoplasty are usually done under local anesthesia. General anesthesia with intubation is not used. Anesthesia and safety

No. All procedures are day surgery. After vaginoplasty you rest briefly, walk, shower if you wish and are discharged once you have urinated comfortably; a morning operation usually means leaving around lunchtime. Fast for two hours before your visit, wear loose clothing and remove nail polish. Daily life, including desk work, resumes the next day. What to expect after surgery

Because long-acting local anesthetic is used and a non-narcotic anti-inflammatory is given at the end of surgery, most women report mild soreness rather than sharp pain, controlled with oral medication for about five days. Bruising and swelling are usually modest. Pain thresholds differ, and combined procedures or revision surgery may be more uncomfortable; tell us if your pain is not controlled. Pain and recovery after labiaplasty

As a guide: three to five days for hymenoplasty, five to seven days for labiaplasty or filler removal, and seven to ten days for vaginoplasty or prolapse repair. That allows the examination, surgery and a check-up before you fly. These are typical recommendations; Dr. Yoon confirms your plan after examination, and combined or revision procedures may need longer. Medical tourism guide for vaginoplasty

You leave with written aftercare instructions and medication, and the coordinator stays in touch by KakaoTalk or email. Dr. Yoon reviews your messages and photographs if you have a concern, and video calls can be arranged. The clinic's absorbable sutures and self-managed aftercare were designed so that patients from other provinces and countries do not need repeated visits. Follow-up for international patients

We do not publish prices, because the right operation depends on the examination. After your written or video consultation you receive a preliminary written quote, confirmed after the in-person exam and before surgery. The quote covers consultation, surgery, anesthesia, post-operative visits during your stay, medication and remote follow-up. These procedures are non-covered under Korean national insurance; cards and bank transfer are accepted. How vaginoplasty cost works in Korea

No. All sutures are absorbable. After vaginoplasty they dissolve in about a week; after labiaplasty they dissolve on their own, though some women prefer to have any remaining threads removed at about two weeks, which can be done by a local doctor if you have already gone home. There is no sitz bath requirement; showering from the day of surgery is fine. How labiaplasty is performed