There is a lot of pressure on women nowadays to stay beautiful and youthful-looking as they age. Just like the face and body, the vagina is also an organ that needs to be nourished and looked after. And every woman should feel confident when looking at her lady parts. It isn’t only a reproductive organ but a part of the female body representing womanhood.
Therefore, if this issue bothers you, you shouldn’t ignore it because there are many possible solutions. Aside from helping with the aesthetics, the vaginal rejuvenation procedure will help you fix any pain or discomfort. Our team of experts at University Park OBGYN will be happy to assist you in this journey.
What Is Vaginal Rejuvenation?
The purpose of vaginal rejuvenation is to firm up the skin around your vagina or tighten the vaginal canal through surgical and nonsurgical methods. A vagina can change and become loose after childbirth or as a woman ages, so the purpose of this reconstructive and cosmetic procedure is to reverse those changes. It doesn’t only affect inner muscles but the outside tissue and skin as well.
Vaginal Rejuvenation Benefits
There is a whole list of advantages that come with this procedure, and they include the following:
- Better sexual experience: as mentioned above, vaginal rejuvenation treatment tightens the vaginal canal, which will help with greater pleasure and stimulation during intercourse. Sexual lives are bettered not only by improving the vaginal structure but also by enhancing patients’ self-confidence, resulting in increased libido.
- Reduced vaginal dryness: this is one of the most common complaints among women in their 50s. It happens because of the drop in estrogen levels when they enter perimenopause, the hormone that regulates moisture and collagen production to encourage sexual relations.
- Improved vaginal health without using hormones: many women use hormone replacement therapy to replace the missing estrogen in menopause. If you want to change the health of your vagina without using any medication, consider the MonaLisa Touch procedure.
- Fewer issues with urinary incontinence: as the skin in your vagina loosens up as you age, you may find it harder to hold the urine or even experience an involuntary loss of it. That is where vaginal therapy is needed to strengthen your urinary tract.
- Less painful sex: besides experiencing vaginal dryness, thinning vaginal walls can also make intercourse unbearable. As discussed, laser systems such as MonaLisa Touch help tighten your vulvovaginal tissue, making it thick and flexible again.
Surgical Methods
Plastic surgeons and gynecologists perform these surgeries, which usually involve anesthesia or sedation. This technique is painless since patients are asleep during the operation. Most of these surgeries last for 1-2 hours. Depending on your chosen procedure, the surgeon will make cuts in your vagina or on your vulva and the nearby tissue and muscle mass. After they are finished, the incisions are sealed with dissolvable stitches. You will get a list of after-care instructions, such as advice on hygiene, rest, exercise, heavy lifting, or straining.
You may choose from several surgical options:
- Vaginoplasty: tightens the vagina, stops incontinence, and reduces vaginal dryness.
- Labiaplasty: increases or decreases the size of your labia, the inner and outer folds of the vulva.
- Vulvoplasty: changes the shape of the vulvar area (the external parts).
- Monsplasty: reshapes and tightens your pubic bone region and changes its appearance.
- Perineoplasty: firms up the area called the perineum, which is located between your vagina and anus.
- Clitoral hood reduction: removes excess skin from the clitoris.
Nonsurgical Methods
They are noninvasive and have a short recovery time, so you can return to your everyday activities as soon as the procedure is finished. In this type of vaginal rejuvenation, your gynecologist inserts a probe in your vagina or slides it across your vulva. This wand has a heated top that warms up the tissue being treated. Gentle strokes are used to distribute the heat precisely in all regions. Laser vaginal therapy usually lasts five to 30 minutes, depending on your type of laser. If you feel any discomfort during the vaginal rejuvenation treatment, your doctor can apply a topical anesthetic. Some redness and swelling are normal afterward.
There are two different types of nonsurgical methods available:
- Radiofrequency treatment (RF): doctors use a wand that produces electromagnetic waves similar to those of a microwave. This process heats vaginal tissue and encourages collagen production and blood flow.
- CO2 laser treatment: also warms up the upper layers of the tissue in your vagina and sends signals to the lower layers to create more collagen. This method makes your skin tighter and firmer. One of the most used brand names for laser devices is called MonaLisa Touch.
What Is MonaLisa Touch?
It is a minimally invasive and painless laser treatment that boosts your vaginal health. This treatment gently works on the vaginal mucosa by stimulating collagen production, restoring the suitable trophic balance to the mucous membrane, and improving the performance of the ministered area.
Many women choose the MonaLisa Touch procedure because it helps with vaginal burning, dryness, vulvar rashes, lactational atrophy, vaginal loosening, pain during intercourse, and urinary incontinence after childbirth or during pre-menopause. One of the leading causes is usually vaginitis, which can negatively affect your life and relationships.
How Long Does Vaginal Rejuvenation Last?
It depends on the type of method that you choose. Usually, surgical procedures last longer than nonsurgical ones, but results may vary from person to person. Effects are generally not permanent.
Intercourse After Vaginal Rejuvenation
If you opt for the nonsurgical method, you should wait for at least three to five days to engage in sex. Watch for complications such as bleeding or infection, and talk to your doctor first. Putting in a tampon is also forbidden, as well as inserting anything else into your vagina during recovery.
As for the surgical option, abstinence from sex is usually required for a few weeks until the treated area is fully healed. You should follow the post-operative instructions that your surgeon gave you.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Vaginal Rejuvenation?
Several complications have been reported after vaginal rejuvenation treatment options, especially surgical ones. Those include:
- Bleeding
- Discomfort while urinating
- Infection
- Pain
- Scarring
- Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
Vaginal therapy can not only help you with unwanted symptoms like pain during sex, vaginal dryness, and urinary incontinence but also boost your confidence and libido. If you are wondering what vaginal rejuvenation is or want help choosing the right technique, talk with your trusted healthcare provider about it and its associated risks. In the end, this treatment might be perfect for you.
If you are considering this procedure, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation!
