Vaginoplasty & Tightening · Treatment

Perineoplasty (Perineal Repair Surgery) in Gangnam, Seoul

Perineoplasty is surgery that rebuilds the perineum, the band of muscle and skin between the vaginal opening and the anus, when it has been shortened, scarred or stretched, usually by childbirth. It narrows a gaping vaginal entrance, restores the distance between vagina and anus and re-approximates the perineal muscles. At Somssi Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Yoon Ho-joo usually combines it with posterior vaginal repair so the entrance and the canal match.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist, Somssi Women's Clinic · Last updated October 2026

At a glance

Key facts

The essentials, based on how Somssi Women's Clinic performs this procedure or answers this question. Your plan is confirmed at consultation.

• Procedure time: About 1 hour when combined with posterior vaginal repair, the usual pairing
• Anesthesia: Sedation plus long-acting local anesthesia, or local alone
• Hospital stay: None; same-day discharge
• Back to work: Immediately or the next day; medication about 5 days
• Intercourse: After 7–8 weeks
• Sutures: Absorbable; dissolve in about 1 week
• Who it suits: Wide or gaping opening, short perineum, episiotomy or tear scars, rectocele at the entrance

What is perineoplasty?

Perineoplasty, also called perineorrhaphy or perineal reconstruction, is an operation on the perineal body, the wedge of muscle and connective tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus. During a vaginal birth the perineum stretches and often tears or is cut (episiotomy). When it heals short, thin or scarred, the vaginal entrance gapes, the vagina-to-anus distance shrinks and the muscles that should close the opening no longer meet.

The perineal body matters more than its size suggests. It anchors the bulbocavernosus muscles, the transverse perineal muscles and the external anal sphincter, and it supports the lowest part of the posterior vaginal wall. When it heals short, the vaginal opening loses its muscular ring, the rectum is less well supported, and the entrance gapes even when the woman contracts her pelvic floor.

Perineoplasty rebuilds that structure. The scarred skin and mucosa are removed, the bulbocavernosus and transverse perineal muscles are brought back together in the midline, and the opening is reshaped so it sits in proportion to the canal behind it. Somssi Women's Clinic, a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, performs it as part of its own-tissue pelvic floor repair. Dr. Yoon's 2005 study of colpoperineoplasty and sexual function was among the first Korean papers on this combined operation.

Who is a good candidate?

• A vaginal opening that gapes or feels wide after one or more vaginal births, especially after a difficult labor or a baby over 4 kg
• A visibly short perineum, or the sense that the vagina and anus sit very close together
• Episiotomy or tear scars that are tender, lumpy or pull during intercourse
• A bulge at the back of the entrance (low rectocele) with difficulty emptying the bowel
• Air escaping from the vagina, or water entering it when you bathe
• Reduced sensation at the entrance for you or your partner

Perineoplasty treats the opening. If the inside of the vagina is also wide, which is very common after childbirth, repairing only the entrance leaves a canal that is tight at the front and loose behind it, a mismatch that causes pain and disappointment. That is why Dr. Yoon nearly always performs perineoplasty together with posterior colporrhaphy. Our guide Perineoplasty vs Vaginoplasty explains the distinction.

A short perineum is often obvious on inspection, but how much of the problem lies at the opening and how much inside the canal can only be judged by examination, which is why Dr. Yoon measures both before recommending anything.

How Somssi performs perineoplasty

Assessment

Dr. Yoon measures the vaginal length and width, the length of the perineal body and the strength of the pelvic floor, and checks for cystocele, rectocele and uterine descent on examination and ultrasound. Before-and-after photographs document the change.

Removing scar, preserving tissue

Scarred skin and mucosa at the entrance are excised conservatively. The clinic's guiding principle is minimum surgical scope for maximum effect: taking too much tissue at the opening is a leading cause of painful intercourse and reduced lubrication after surgery elsewhere, and it is specifically avoided.

Rebuilding the muscle

The separated perineal muscles are identified and sutured together in the midline with absorbable sutures, lengthening the perineal body and restoring the distance between vagina and anus. At the opening the pubococcygeus muscles are reinforced using the clinic's figure-8 suturing pattern, which strengthens the muscular ring without creating a tight band.

Matching the entrance to the canal

When combined with posterior repair, the inner vagina is narrowed first by peeling the posterior mucosa to under 1 mm and closing it in two layers, and the perineum is reconstructed last. The result is a canal of consistent size from the cervix to the opening, with no mesh, implants or fillers.

Anesthesia, duration and hospital stay

Perineoplasty with posterior repair takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour under sedation combined with long-acting local anesthetics; local anesthesia alone is an option. A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory injection is given at the end of surgery. There is no hospital stay. You walk immediately and go home once you have urinated. Fast for 2 hours before your appointment and wear loose clothing.

Recovery timeline

Perineal skin heals in the open, so sitting may be uncomfortable for the first week. Avoid constipation and straining, which put direct tension on the repair. Follow-up can be done remotely for patients abroad.

For the first few days, rinse with warm water after using the toilet and pat dry rather than rubbing. Loose cotton underwear and a cushion for desk work make the first week more comfortable. Showering is encouraged from the first day, but soaking in a bath, swimming and saunas wait until six weeks.

Results and what to expect

A rebuilt perineum gives a closed, proportionate vaginal entrance, a longer vagina-to-anus distance and a firmer muscular ring that you can contract voluntarily. Tender scar tissue is replaced by a fine, well-healed line. When combined with posterior repair, the whole canal feels consistent rather than tight at the door and empty behind it.

Results vary with tissue quality, menopause status and any future vaginal birth, which can stretch the perineum again. Surgery restores structure; it does not, on its own, change desire or arousal, and Dr. Yoon will discuss sexual function honestly at consultation.

Dr. Yoon's 2005 study in the Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology followed women after colpoperineoplasty and reported on their sexual function afterward. Those are the clinic's own data rather than a guarantee for any individual.

Risks and how we reduce them

Risks include bleeding, infection, wound separation (the perineum is a moist area under tension), scarring, asymmetry, over-correction leading to painful intercourse, under-correction, altered sensation and recurrence. Because the rectum lies directly behind the perineal body, rectal injury is a recognized but uncommon risk. Sedation carries standard anesthesia risks.

We reduce these risks by excising conservatively, by rebuilding muscle rather than relying on skin tension, by avoiding over-tightening, by using absorbable sutures with no foreign material, and by giving clear advice on bowel care and hygiene. Showering from day one and, if the labia are treated at the same time, clinic ointment keep the area clean.

Why international patients choose Somssi

The clinic has been a Ministry of Health and Welfare registered institution for foreign patients since 2011 and a Seoul Medical Tourism cooperation clinic since 2016. Consultations are in English, there is no hospital admission, and follow-up can be completed from home. Somssi is 100 meters from Gangnam Station Exit 1. Read more on our international patients page, learn about Dr. Yoon, or contact us.

Questions patients ask

Frequently asked questions

Short, honest answers. For anything personal, a consultation is the right place to ask.

See the full FAQ →

Is perineoplasty the same as vaginoplasty?

No. Perineoplasty repairs the perineum and the vaginal opening, the outer part of the structure. Vaginoplasty, or posterior colporrhaphy, repairs the inner vaginal wall and pelvic floor along the length of the canal. Many women need both, because childbirth stretches the whole vagina and not just the entrance. The combined operation is called colpoperineorrhaphy.

Can perineoplasty fix my episiotomy scar?

Yes. Tender, lumpy or tight episiotomy and tear scars are one of the most common reasons for perineoplasty. The scar tissue is removed, the underlying muscle is rebuilt and the skin is closed with fine absorbable sutures so that the new line heals flat. If the scar is the only problem and the opening is not wide, a smaller perineal scar revision may be enough.

Will perineoplasty make intercourse painful?

It should not, provided the opening is not over-tightened. Pain after perineal surgery usually comes from removing too much tissue at the entrance, which leaves a tight, dry band. Dr. Yoon sizes the entrance to match the canal behind it and rebuilds muscle rather than relying on skin tension. Intercourse is resumed after seven to eight weeks, once the tissue is soft and fully healed.

How long after childbirth can I have perineoplasty?

Tissue should be fully healed and hormone levels settled before any decision, so most surgeons suggest waiting at least six months to a year after delivery and, ideally, until you have finished breastfeeding. If you plan more children, it is often sensible to wait until your family is complete, because another vaginal birth can stretch the repair.

Does perineoplasty help with bowel symptoms?

When a low rectocele is part of the problem, rebuilding the perineal body and the posterior wall closes the bulge and usually improves the feeling of incomplete emptying and the need to press on the perineum to pass stool. Bowel symptoms from other causes, such as constipation or anal sphincter injury, need separate assessment.

Keep reading

Related treatments and guides

• Perineoplasty vs Vaginoplasty: What Is the Difference? — which part of the anatomy each repairs
• Vaginoplasty After Childbirth: Can Surgery Repair Vaginal Laxity? — what birth changes and what surgery restores
• How Long Does Vaginoplasty Recovery Take? — the recovery schedule shared with perineoplasty
• Is Vaginoplasty in Korea Safe? — risks and safeguards
• Perineal Scar Revision — for scars without a widened opening
• Posterior Colporrhaphy — the inner repair usually combined with perineoplasty
• International Patients — travel and follow-up support

Sources and medical review

• Yoon H.J. Perineal plastic surgery (colpoperineoplasty) and female sexual function. Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 48, no. 6, 2005.
• Te Linde's Operative Gynecology (textbook), perineorrhaphy and posterior colporrhaphy.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), practice guidance on obstetric lacerations and pelvic organ prolapse.

Next step

A consultation first. A decision only when you are ready.

Tell us what you are experiencing and what you hope to change. Dr. Yoon examines, measures and explains the options, including when no surgery is the right answer. International patients can start with an online consultation before travelling to Seoul.