Prolapse Surgery

This type of surgery uses the patient’s own natural tissues to treat vaginal or uterine prolapse. The surgeon will make an incision in the vagina before stitching the prolapsed part to a ligament or muscle in the pelvis to return it to its previous position.

Women with a prolapsed uterus, who are post-menopausal or do not plan on having any more children, may be suitable for a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).

This can help to relieve the pressure on the vainal walls, cutting the chance of a prolapse recurring.

There are different types of hysterectomies and some involve also removing the cervix or ovaries or both.

This is used to treat vaginal wall prolapse in the front (anterior) or back (posterior) vaginal wall. The surgery is done through the vagina. The surgeon will use stitches to strengthen the vagina, so it is once again able to support the bladder and rectum.

Also known as obliterative surgery, this particular prolapse treatment involves closing off some or all of the vagina.  It is an effective prolapse treatment, but by closing off the vagina, you will not be able to have penatrative sex again. This prolapse surgery is really only suitable for women who have advanced prolapse, where no other treatments have worked, and they are certain they do not want to have sex again.

Your journey with the Cadogan Clinic will start with up to two consultations with one of our leading specialist plastic surgeons at our award-winning premises in Chelsea. These consultations will take between 30 and 60 minutes.

During your consultation, your surgeon will ask about your expectations for your prolapse surgery and talk about what will happen during the procedure. They will also explain how the procedure will affect you and the recovery period.

It is important that you are open and honest about what you hope to achieve through surgery to help ensure the best possible result. Your surgeon will be happy to answer any questions you may have at this point. It may be a good idea to write your questions down before attending the consultation. Having established what you want from the surgery, and what is possible given your anatomy, several key measurements will be made and standard clinical photography will be taken. Your medical history will be discussed and a physical examination will be carried out.

If your surgeon feels you are a good candidate for surgery, you are then invited to consider whether you would like to proceed with your prolapse treatment or not following a two week 'cooling off' period.

If you decide to go ahead with surgery, the next time you will return to the clinic is on the day of your hoodectomy. It is important that you prepare by taking the following measures ahead of surgery.

• Stop smoking. Smoking can slow the healing process. If you smoke, your doctor will recommend that you stop smoking six weeks before surgery and during the recovery period. You should avoid smoking for at least 48 hours before your surgery.
• Avoid taking certain medications. You should avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements in the week ahead of your surgery. Taking these can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Avoid alcohol. You should not drink any alcohol for 48 hours ahead of your surgery. This is because alcohol can hamper the healing process.
• Arrange for help during recovery. Make plans for a friend or family member to drive you home after you leave the hospital and stay with you for at least the first night of your recovery at home.

In the six hours prior to surgery you must not consume food or any drink, other than small sips of clear fluid which will be allowed up to two hours before you are admitted to the clinic. Clear fluids include still water, black coffee and black tea.

Your prolapse surgery will take place at our award-winning clinic in Chelsea.

You will be given a general anaesthetic to put you to sleep for the operation.

The surgeon will make an incision into the vagina and will proceed to tighten the surrounding muscles and tissues to lift and support the pelvic organs. The surgeon may also make repairs to the front and rear walls of your vagina, depending on the nature of your prolapse. Cuts in the vaginal wall are closed with dissolvable stitches. This means you will not have to return to the clinic to have any sutures removed.

The length of the procedure depends on the extent of your prolapse.

Following your prolapse surgery, you will recover in our ambulatory recovery rooms. You may feel a little drowsy but this often wears off within a few hours.  Once you are able to eat and drink, and our specialist nursing team are happy that your initial recovery is complete, you will be allowed to leave the clinic with a friend or family member.

As this surgery involves a very delicate area of the body, you will likely experience some mild pain or discomfort in the aftermath of your prolapse surgery. You may experience some vaginal bleeding or discharge in the days following your prolapse surgery. This may last for up to two weeks.

The recovery time depends on which type of prolapse surgery you have. It may take anywhere between six and 12 weeks for you to make a full recovery.

After surgery, you should eat a healthy diet and take laxatives in order to prevent constipation and avoid straining when you go to the toilet. You should avoid driving for four to six weeks after surgery as performing an emergency stop may cause pain to the treatment area.

You won’t be able to lift anything heavy for eight to 12 weeks and you will need to take four to six weeks off work, depending on the type of job you do.

Our on-call nursing service is open 24/7 during your recovery period to help with any questions or queries that you may have.

It is important that you follow all the aftercare instructions issued by your doctor. Failure to do so may impact on your recovery and the final result.