The gynecologist-surgeon explained when doctors can refuse intimate plastic surgery.

      August 8, 2026 15:33 Society Women are increasingly turning to doctors with requests to change the shape or size of their vagina. However, not every patient is offered such surgery. Gynecologist-surgeon Elena Kolesnikova explained in an interview for "MegaTyumen" that in some cases, surgical intervention may not only be ineffective but also dangerous.

      When surgery is performed and when it is not needed

      Intimate plastic surgery is performed not only to improve appearance. Often, women approach gynecologists with problems that arose after childbirth: urinary incontinence, prolapse of the vaginal walls, discomfort and pain during intimacy, difficulties with urination and defecation, as well as the consequences of childbirth injuries. When there are medical indications, such surgeries can significantly improve a woman's quality of life.

      But there are also other cases: "Patients come in wanting to change something, to have surgery, to do something, but they have no indications. If surgery is performed without indications, it can harm the patient, including negatively affecting intimate life," says Elena Kolesnikova.

      However, any type of intimate plastic surgery is a full-fledged surgical intervention that requires careful preparation and a long recovery. When performing surgery on the anterior wall of the vagina, the surgeon works near the bladder, and when correcting the posterior wall, near the rectum. This increases the risk of damaging neighboring organs, forming hematomas, and other complications.

      Therefore, before surgery, patients undergo standard preoperative examinations. This allows for an assessment of the woman's health and the identification of possible contraindications.

      Excessive narrowing: risks and consequences

      One of the most popular requests is to reduce the volume of the vagina. Usually, such surgery is performed after childbirth or to enhance sensations during intimacy. However, some women want to make the vagina even narrower.

      "There are patients who come in wanting to narrow something, but there is nothing to narrow. Anatomically, everything is fine," notes the doctor. In such cases, surgical intervention is not only pointless but also dangerous. It can lead to pain, discomfort, and a deterioration in the quality of intimate life.

      Paid medicine: it's not that simple

      The doctor emphasizes that even in paid medicine, doctors will not perform any surgery at the patient's request. The decision to perform surgery is made after a thorough examination, assessment, and evaluation of all possible risks.

      "The fact that we work in paid medicine does not mean that any desire of the patient will be a guide to action. Our gynecological surgery is still more about health than beauty," says Elena Kolesnikova.

      At the same time, she acknowledges that if a patient is firmly decided to change her body, she may find another specialist who agrees to perform the surgery. But this does not guarantee that the surgery will be safe and effective. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+