Why Do Women Have Vaginal Rejuvenation Procedures?
Some women consider vaginal rejuvenation when having sexual difficulties after childbirth as well as before or during menopause — learn more
Vaginal rejuvenation can be used to describe several different procedures that are intended to change the feel and or appearance of a woman’s external genitalia or vagina. Women who undergo this treatment are usually postpartum, peri-menopausal, or menopausal. The basic goal of vaginal rejuvenation is to restore the appearance and or function of the vagina. Procedure details differ based on the treatment that is necessary.
Such procedures may be done to correct problems that can happen after childbirth as well as during the natural aging process. Vaginal rejuvenation is meant to correct trauma or damage experienced from radiation or other cancer treatment, repair congenital abnormalities, repair damage caused by childbirth, increase sexual pleasure, tighten the vagina, increase lubrication, and/or help with the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
What are the different types of Vaginal Rejuvenation?
The three most common types of surgical vaginal rejuvenation are:
- Vaginoplasty
- Labiaplasty
- Vulvoplasty
Vaginoplasty is the term used to describe types of invasive surgery that tighten connective tissues between the bladder and the vagina and/or the rectum and the vagina. Sometimes these surgeries are performed to repair cases of pelvic organ prolapse when the bladder shifts downward creating a bulge or outpouching in the vagina.
Some women have the procedure for purely cosmetic reasons to obtain an idealized version of what they think their genitalia should look like and how tight they should be. However, this procedure is done for many reasons: childbirth injuries, repairing congenital defects, gender affirmation, and repairing damage caused by cancer treatments. Although an invasive and risky surgery, vaginoplasty can aid in the restoration of confidence and mental health.
Risks of vaginoplasty include the possibility of painful intercourse, nerve damage, or numbing of the entire vaginal area.
A statement from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 2017, noted that “the safety and effectiveness of these procedures have not been documented… and women should be informed about their potential complications, including infection, altered sensation, dyspareunia, adhesions, and scarring.”
Labiaplasty is a procedure that focuses on reducing the size of the labia minora. These are the folds that surround the urethra and vagina in women. Labiaplasty is primarily a cosmetic surgery. However, especially after childbirth, labia skin can experience stretching. During exercise, physical activities, or sexual intercourse, the excess skin can cause extreme discomfort.
Basically, the surgeon will trim the excess labia minora skin to make the area tighter and prevent the skin from pinching during physical activity.
Vulvoplasty is often known as a gender-affirming surgery for transgender or non-binary individuals who were designated male at birth. While outwardly creating the appearance of female genitalia, unlike vaginoplasty, there is no creation or work done on the vaginal canal, and thus, no chance of sexual penetration. Tissue from the penis, scrotum, and testes is used to create labia, mons, clitoris, and urethral opening.
Energy-Based Treatments
The two types of energy-based treatments which use heat for vaginal rejuvenation include:
● Radiofrequency Treatments. RF devices generate electromagnetic waves (a more focused version of the waves used by microwaves) to heat vaginal tissues and stimulate collagen growth. Brand names for such devices include ThermiVa and Geneveve by Viveve.
● CO2 Laser Treatment. Lasers are used to heat up outer layers of tissue and thus causing the inner layers of tissue to produce more collagen. The procedure is meant to make the skin tighter and firmer. Brand Names for the devices used include FemTouch, MonaLisa Touch, and FemiLift.
ESWT stands for extracorporeal shock wave therapy which uses low-intensity sound waves to restore sensation and natural lubrication and eliminate urinary incontinence. It's a simple in-office non-surgical procedure with no side effects or downtime. Non-invasive, drug and laser free. Multiple sessions are completed over a few weeks and the results are long-lasting and very affordable.
The O-Shot created by Dr. Charles Runnels is a non-surgical procedure in which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is injected in order to enhance sexual pleasure and rejuvenate vaginal tissues. Blood is drawn from the patient and used to create PRP which is then injected near the clitoris, clitoral body, and the upper area of the vagina.
The G-Shot or O-Shot enhanced is also made from the patient’s blood plasma, and consists of hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a type of collagen found in a woman’s body. This injection is meant to treat mild urinary incontinence and enhance sexual stimulation.
Many of these procedures have recovery windows that differ from a few hours to weeks or months. Recovery is a very personal experience that changes between individuals and the extent of the procedure performed.
If you’re experiencing sexual difficulties after childbirth, during perimenopause, or menopause and want to know about the best options available to you to fix the problem, then let’s talk.