Temporary Hymenoplasty

Temporary Procedures:

This type of hymen repair is suitable for women whose sexual activity is imminent. The procedure simply involves joining opposing points along the circular line or within the vulva with sutures. It can be performed as little as one hour before intercourse, or — depending on tissue structure — up to fifteen days beforehand; the physician makes this determination.

The goal of temporary hymenoplasty is the same as with the permanent procedure: achieving bleeding.

The question patients ask most often on this topic is:

Is the permanent procedure better, or the temporary one?

Since all hymenoplasty types and techniques share the same goal, the difference between them essentially comes down to timing.

For a woman with no specific plan for future sexual activity, permanent hymenoplasty should be considered first.

For women with a confirmed, near-term date for sexual activity, either method may be used depending on timing.

For example, for a woman planning to be intimate with her partner within a week, the healing process (tissue integration) required for a permanent procedure would not be sufficient time.

Temporary procedures can themselves be classified further.

Broadly speaking, these fall into two categories:

Technique 1: Joining the remaining hymen tissue fragments within the vagina.

Technique 2: If no hymen tissue fragments remain in the vagina, bringing together the most suitable points of the internal vaginal tissue.

These techniques are, of course, determined by your physician based on your vaginal structure and whether hymen tissue fragments are present.

Laser is not used in temporary procedures!

Temporary hymenoplasty procedures are performed without any incision in about 99% of cases. For this reason, laser is not used in temporary hymenoplasty procedures.

Another common point of confusion regarding the temporary procedure concerns whether the sutures will be visible or noticeable.

Experience plays a key role here. In a hymenoplasty procedure performed by an experienced physician, there is never any visible suture material or scarring.

Beyond the physician's experience, the choice of surgical suture material for a temporary hymenoplasty procedure is also very important.

An experienced physician naturally wants to use the best available absorbable sutures among medical supplies.

For absorbable sutures (self-dissolving sutures), including locally manufactured options now available, we prefer Ethicon — widely regarded as the world's best brand.

Another distinguishing feature of the Ethicon Vicryl Rapide suture material we use for temporary hymenoplasty procedures is that it is never visible after the tissue heals (it essentially takes on the color of the surrounding tissue).

Not a single patient who has had a temporary hymenoplasty procedure with us has ever been able to see any trace of a procedure, even upon close inspection.

Temporary procedures are typically completed in 15–25 minutes.

A persistent myth continues to circulate that patients should not bathe after a temporary procedure.

The absorbable suture material we use in temporary procedures will not dissolve from the patient bathing — even bathing in hot water.

As mentioned, we use "Ethicon Vicryl Plus Rapide," and this suture material never dissolves prematurely from brief contact with hot water.

The source of this misconception is an older, organic suture material called catgut (now banned from use).

Absorbable catgut has been banned in Europe due to its association with infections.

Because catgut dissolves very quickly, it must avoid contact with water.

Newer-generation absorbable sutures, made with modern chemical compositions and antibacterial properties, carry no such infection risk.

You have talked with your doctor and decided on a temporary hymenoplasty procedure.

Your dedicated nurse, who will be with you throughout, will take you to the procedure room and help you get ready.

Your doctor will then arrive and begin the procedure.

The procedure is generally performed under local anesthesia. Our approach to local anesthesia is a little different.

Standard local anesthesia — numbing the treatment area — typically begins with an injection to the area.

Patients often fear the injection to the vaginal area so much, and tense up as a result, that they may feel more pain.

For this reason, we begin local anesthesia with a comfortable, zero-pain spray technique.

A specially prepared anesthetic solution is sprayed onto the target area as the first step of local anesthesia.

Patients feel no pain or discomfort at this stage.

The sprayed area then becomes numb, and local anesthesia is administered by injection.

To date, not a single patient has reported feeling any pain from the injection.

The procedure takes about 15–20 minutes on average. Afterward, our patients can return to their daily lives and work right away.

There is no outward sign that any procedure has taken place.

It is not typically a procedure with noticeable bleeding afterward. However, seeing 1–2 drops of spotting on your pad is completely normal.

We offer a few recommendations for the time remaining until intercourse.

Pausing sports activities until then.

Avoiding waxing as a hair removal method in the genital area.

Never taking aspirin-type medications (acetylsalicylic acid) to avoid increasing any bleeding.

Limiting alcohol consumption, to avoid the risk of excessive bleeding.

Being careful to avoid any traumatic incidents. These are our main precautions.

You can call us with any questions about temporary or permanent hymenoplasty.