is removed after 2–3 weeks. At discharge, individuals learn how to take care of the incisions and must limit their physical activity for the initial 2–3 weeks. Swelling of the abdominal area or abdominal pain are signs of complications during recovery. Some common complications that occur are urethral fistulas and strictures in individuals who undergo vaginectomy and phallic reconstruction for gender affirming surgeries. This is due to poor blood supply and improper width of the new urethra. History Vaginal surgeries have been around throughout medical history. Even before the invention of modern surgical techniques such as anesthesia and sterile tools, there have been many reports of vaginal surgery to treat problems such as prolapse, vaginal fistula, and poor bladder control. For example, the first documented vaginal hysterectomy was performed in 1521 during the Italian Renaissance. Surgical techniques and medical knowledge developed slowly over time until the invention of anesthesia and antisepsis allowed for the age of modern surgery in the mid-nineteenth century. Since then, many techniques and instruments were developed specifically for vaginal surgery like the standardization of sutures in 1937 which greatly improved survival rates by lowering risk of infection. Noble Sproat Heaney developed the "Heaney Stitch" in 1940 to standardize the technique for vaginal hysterectomy. The first documented case of radical vaginal surgery was in February 2003 where a person underwent a radical hysterectomy with vaginectomy and reconstruction. Other animals Vaginectomies are also performed outside of the human species. Similarly to humans, animals may also undergo vaginectomies to treat cancer of the vagina. Domesticated animals and pets such as dogs, cats, and horses are more likely to receive a vaginectomy because of its complicated procedure. Dogs Total and partial vaginectomies aren’t commonly done on dogs as they are complex and aren’t considered first line therapy however, if other procedures don’t work a vaginectomy can be performed on a dog. The most common reasons for a dog to get a vaginectomy include cancer and chronic infection of the vagina. Tumors on the vagina and vulva of the dog accounts for 2.5%-3% of cancers affecting dogs and vaginectomies are one of the treatments to remove and cure the dog. Possible complications from the surgery include loss of bladder control, swelling, and improper skin healing. However, loss of bladder control was fixed spontaneously within 60 days of the operation and the dogs survived at least 100 days with no disease. See