Vulvectomy is associated with a female’s external genital. It is a surgical procedure and is usually performed for vulvar cancer treatment. During this procedure, a gynaecologist removes the vulva part, partly or completely, to prevent cancer and other conditions like severe lichen, chronic infections, dysplasia, etc. Although the surgery is painful for any woman because it discards the complete vulva. However, according to doctors, it is a life-saving procedure that prevents cancer cells from spreading in the whole body and minimizes certain symptoms. One of the key benefits of undergoing this procedure is that it evacuates all the cancer tissues from the vulva and supports individuals to live cancer cancer-free life.

Types of Vulvectomy

There are various kinds of vulvectomy each depending on how much tissues need to be removed. The specific procedure chosen is based on the severity and spread of the disease, and patient’s health condition, and personal preference.

Simple Vulvectomy

This kind of vulvectomy requires small incisions to remove just a portion of the vulva. It typically involves the removal of the labia minora ( a significant area of skin of the vulva ) and other small areas of the external genitalia. During this procedure, doctors aim to excise the cancerous or abnormal tissue while retaining as much healthy tissue as possible.

Partial Vulvectomy

When the cancer is more widespread, however, still confined to the vulva in this case a partial vulvectomy may be required to perform. This type of vulvectomy involves the removal of a large part of the vulva and it may include the removal of labia, clitoris and perineal parts as well. Here a healthcare provider’s aim is to eliminate the malignant or affected tissue while maintaining functionality and aesthetics.

Radical Vulvectomy

Radical vulvectomy is performed when cancer is spread beyond vulva. Its most extensive form of vulvectomy involves removing whole vulva, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and surrounding tissues like perineum. In some rare cases, it also involves eliminating nearby lymph nodes to prevent cancer from spreading. The surgery requires a longer recovery period and leaves emotional impacts.

Modified Vulvectomy

Modified vulvectomy is similar to radical vulvectomy however, it requires the elimination of fewer tissues. Here in this vulvectomy, doctors aim to effectively remove cancerous tissues meanwhile reducing the physical consequences of the surgery.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Vulvectomy Treatment

The cost of vulvectomy ranges from 2 lakh to 9 lakh in India. However, it is not considered as final cost the overall cost of the vulvectomy depends on various factors, which include:

Hospital Type
Surgery Type
Surgeon’s Expertise
Location of the hospital
Complexity of the case
Pre-hospital care

Vulvectomy Surgery Procedure

The surgery is carried out through the following steps:

First of all, the operating surgeon provides anaesthesia to the patient to make her relax during the procedure.
After that, depending on the type of vulvectomy, the surgeon starts the surgery and then makes an incision in the vulva to access or eliminate the affected tissues by using specific surgical techniques.
In case the surgeon finds lymph then he/she need to perform lymphadenectomy. It is very important in cases of vulva cancer where the chances of spreading cancer are high.
Once the surgery is done the wounds are carefully closed with the help of sutures that may need to be removed after a few weeks.

Recovery After Vulvectomy Surgery

Vulvectomy is not an easy procedure, it can pose physical and emotional challenges, and it requires a longer recovery period. Therefore, doctors suggest some guidelines to patients for better recovery from before to after, which include:

Taking pain management medications while experiencing pain, discomfort, and swelling.
If you see the signs and symptoms of any kind of infection, then consider taking antibiotics to prevent infection.
A patient needs to carefully take care of wounds and also keep them clean and hygienic.
Since it is not an easy procedure, one should also take consultation from a psychologist to take care of mental health.