Vaginal Rejuvenation

Vaginal Rejuvenation 

So when I first learned about my laser, I was like what the heck is this? I was finishing up my ob gyn residency, a mom of one at that time (3 now) and really was just thinking of how I could make a difference in my field. I didn't want to work in a hospital setting where everyday was an uphill battle at doing what was right in my opinion for my patients and I just so happened to stumble upon the opportunity at a Cutera laser conference. Now these salespeople are pushy! But, I saw this as a way to make a difference in a group of people I think are not as often thought of in the gyn world. This being my postpartum mama’s and my mama’s above the age of 50. We all want to age gracefully and feel delicious till our last days…I saw this as a way to help with that. 

Alright, now. What is Vaginal rejuvenation?

Vaginal rejuvenation is a term that encompasses various procedures aimed at enhancing the appearance and function of the vaginal area. These procedures are typically done to address concerns such as vaginal laxity, dryness, decreased sensation, or stress urinary incontinence. Vaginal rejuvenation techniques can include both surgical and nonsurgical options, such as labiaplasty, vaginal tightening procedures, laser therapy, or radiofrequency treatments. 

There are two types of vaginal rejuvenation that I am aware of as described above but further broken down into: Noninvasive Vaginal Rejuvenation and Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation. 

Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation: This procedure typically takes place with a gynecologist or urogynecologist skilled in procedures such as labiaplasty, vulvovaginoplasty, perineoplasty and sling placements. The GYN surgeon will snip, cut and stitch vaginal tissue in the attempts to create a tighter vaginal canal so that the patient may have more sensation during sexual intercourse and or the patient’s partner could feel that feeling of tightness which is sometimes lost with time or after childbirth. A Urogynecologist may place a sling in order to help with urinary incontinence. If a woman is concerned about the external appearance she may undergo surgical labiaplasty which essentially is surgically removing and reshaping external vaginal tissue i.e. the labia. Downtime from a procedure like this is likely 6-8 wks. 

Non Invasive Vaginal Rejuvenation:  There are two types. 1. Radiofrequency and 2. Laser therapy. These two types have been found to both be effective at vaginal tightening and decreasing symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause and or vulvovaginal atrophy.

In both cases (radiofrequency and laser)  the instrument is inserted into the vaginal canal and sequentially moved down the canal while passing the mechanism. 

At PURR I offer Juliet erbium/ yag laser therapy: In this case there are two passes of the wand. The first is a cooling laser which is considered ablative which essentially means it is breaking down the tissues like that of skin resurfacing. The second pass is a warm laser which is considered to build the tissue back up via collagen stimulation. The internal portion of the procedure is painless however the sensation that is often expressed is a feeling of pressure or knocking during the laser integration. This type of laser vaginal rejuvenation is aiming at your body's own ability to create new collagen (like radiofrequency) with the added bonus of a quicker breakdown process because of its ablative features. Because it is a type of resurfacing the cells within the vaginal canal will slough off and re-generate which typically happens over a longer period of time but is stimulated with the laser to happen much quicker. Your own body's ability to maintain cellular slough off and regeneration begins to wane overtime, and with the decrease in hormonal stimulation as occurs during the menopausal years. With the laser, the regeneration of new cells leads you to experience more vaginal lubrication and with the synthesis of new collagen fibers the sensation of vaginal tightening occurs. In addition, this tightening helps to alleviate symptoms of Urinary Incontinence, by tightening up the slack that occurs at the level of the urethra, like a sling… however with your body's own natural mechanism. 

A treatment like this in conjunction with possibly the need of some pelvic pt should help to alleviate urinary incontinence and hopes to prevent more invasive surgical procedures. Downtime from a procedure like this is 1-3 days, where normal activity may occur but patient should abstain from sexual intercourse, genital stimulation or hot tubs. 

Who is a candidate for this type or procedure?

Essentially anyone who wants a refresher. Patients looking to experience improved sexual function, with increased sensitivity and better orgasm. Anyone looking for vaginal tightening, or decreased pain with intercourse.  Anyone looking to reduce symptoms of incontinence, reduce vaginal dryness and or just want an enhanced appearance of their vagina. 

I would be happy to book a free consultation to see if you are a candidate if you are interested in this incredible procedure.