WHAT IS VAGINAL REJUVENATION?
Vaginal rejuvenation is a general term used for both surgical and nonsurgical methods for treating a variety of symptoms many women may face during post-menopause or at childbirth. Many women will experience various symptoms and complications as they endure the labor of childbearing and hormonal changes as they age. These changes can significantly affect the health and wellness of their genitalia. Genitalia changes affected by childbirth and age may include:
- Vaginal laxity
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Lack of vaginal lubrication
- Loss or reduction of sexual pleasure and sensation
- Loss of tone of the labia majora
In the past, these issues were untouched and silent. Today, doctors and physicians are finally talking about these issues and treatment options are increasing.
VagiNu™ (VNu™) treatments are more functional in nature in that the goal is to identify and treat the underlying cause of the patient's symptoms. It is the ideal combination of technologies for women who are struggling with symptoms such as incontinence, lack of sensation, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse. A typical patient receiving this treatment is generally older with a history of childbirth, although any women may have symptoms as early as 18 years of age. Hormonal decline also contributes to the symptoms and may need to be replaced with bioidentical hormone therapy. This can be done with an anti-aging consultation. After a thorough history and examination, Dr. Dima will customize your treatment plan to best suit your needs.
VagiTite™ (VTite™) treatments are for women who are not suffering from incontinence issues but would like to be tighter for purposes of sexual gratification. The ideal combination of radiofrequency and laser technologies to stimulate and resurface vaginal tissue is used to restore vaginal wellness. PRP or PRF can sometimes be used to enhance results. The treatment course is approximately 3 months.
VagiTox™ (VTox™) uses Botox® in the vaginal area, which has been shown to help tremendously with chronic, debilitating vaginal symptoms. If you suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction or spasms at the opening of the vagina, Botox® may alleviate these symptoms. It can be a “cure” for a condition called vaginismus, which is involuntary muscle spasms at the introitus. Women with this condition cannot insert tampons or have intercourse without severe pain. Typically, 200 units of Botox® is used and both a topical and/or local anesthetic is used to ensure patient comfort.
WHO IS VAGINAL REJUVENATION FOR?
Vaginal rejuvenation treatments are primarily for women who have experienced the aforementioned symptoms due to childbirth or menopause. However, they can also serve a cosmetic purpose for women who may suffer from these symptoms without experiencing labor or menopause. In some cases, genetics may play a role in decreased vaginal health.
ENERGY-BASED VAGINAL REJUVENATION
Energy-based treatments for vaginal rejuvenation are nonsurgical treatments that use heat. These treatments utilize devices that use radiofrequency and laser technologies to induce collagen production, tissue tightening, circulation, and lubrication. These devices use clinically proven cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency (CMRF) to uniformly deliver gentle volumetric heating while cooling delicate surface tissue.
At WellMedica, we prefer to use radiofrequency devices for vaginal rejuvenation because they have proven to be more comfortable, restore vaginal wellness, reduce laxity, increase lubrication, and resolve stress urinary incontinence more successfully than laser treatments, while also offering little to no downtime. Laser treatments are often more painful, damage the skin more harshly, and statistically prove to be less successful in treating urinary incontinence.
WHAT DOES AN ENERGY-BASED TREATMENT FEEL LIKE?
It is uncommon to experience any pain or discomfort during an internal, radiofrequency procedure. You may experience warmth in the area being treated, however, typically without irritation. The procedure uses a ThermiVa or Viveve device to heat up the top layers of skin inside the vaginal canal in order to encourage natural collagen growth. Although this procedure damages the top layer of skin, the deeper tissues are unharmed and begin producing increased levels of collagen to heal the treated area, making the new skin firmer. If you are interested in external vaginal rejuvenation, a topical anesthetic is often used in order to produce the same effects.
THERMIVA
ThermiVa is a non-surgical option for vaginal rejuvenation. These treatments use radiofrequency energy to gently heat tissue to reclaim, restore, and revive feminine wellness without discomfort or downtime. ThermiVa uses a special wand applicator, which may be applied externally to labia and vulvar tissues to lift the vagina and restore normal tissue tone and function. The specially designed handpiece also delivers radiofrequency energy inside the vagina to revive atrophic tissue and other structures. Typically, ThermiVa requires a series of three treatments to obtain optimal results.
Benefits of ThermiVa
- Rejuvenates and tightens vaginal tissue.
- Enhances sex life (as reported by our patients).
- A minimal series of 3 quick, nonsurgical outpatient treatments to achieve desired results.
- There’s no downtime. Patients can resume regular activities immediately.
- Anesthesia is not required, as it is painless, and patients experience no discomfort.
- May help reduce symptoms of urinary stress incontinence.
VIVEVE
Excessive stretching of the vaginal muscles is a common occurrence after vaginal birth or due to aging. Therefore, many have sought out different treatment options to help get their bodies back. Viveve does all this and more. The Viveve treatment is a comfortable, single-session, 30-minute treatment performed by a trained healthcare professional in an outpatient setting. During the visit, we use a small treatment tip (about the size of your thumb), which is inserted into the vaginal opening. The tip is then rotated while it alternately cools the surface and heats the soft tissue beneath. Women typically begin to feel the results about 30 days following treatment and the full effect after about 90 days. Depending on how you respond, we may recommend a touch up treatment every year or as you see fit.
FORMAV & VTONE
FormaV applies radiofrequency energy and localized heat to the inside of the vagina, which reaches the underlying layers of tissue and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, remodeling and tightening the tissues and increasing circulation. This results in vaginal tightening, increased circulation, and sensation. The radiofrequency of FormaV will feel warm, which many women find soothing and comfortable.
VTone is a different vaginal rejuvenation technology that provides electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to rehabilitate weak pelvic floor muscles. During treatment, an applicator is gently inserted into the vagina and emits waves that stimulate and contract the muscles. This treatment strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, tightens the vagina, and reduces urinary incontinence. VTone contracts the muscles at a high intensity to strengthen the pelvic floor, which patients experience as a tingling, contracting sensation that is easily tolerable and not painful.
Is It Permanent?
Although highly beneficial and effective short-term, some energy-based treatments are not permanent. Many energy-based procedures, like ThermiVa, will require future appointments. However, Viveve is a different type of nonsurgical treatment. As compared to other noninvasive procedures, the Viveve is different because it only requires one treatment. As opposed to other nonsurgical treatments that require routine appointments, the Viveve is one and done. This makes this treatment less expensive, less time consuming, and much easier for those with a busy schedule.
SURGICAL VAGINAL REJUVENATION
Although Wellmedica only offers nonsurgical treatments for vaginal rejuvenation, there are times when energy-based treatments may not be enough to produce the desired results. Some women with significant laxity may find surgical treatments more beneficial. In these cases, the laxity may be so severe that patients experience difficulty using tampons or are experiencing symptoms of sexual dysfunction.
VAGINOPLASTY
Vaginoplasty is a vaginal rejuvenation surgery. It seeks to bring the separated muscles together while excess skin and tissues (excess mucosa skin) are removed from the back wall of the vagina. If the patient desires any external treatments, excess external skin will be removed as well for a more aesthetic appearance.
During the procedure, your surgeon will delineate the extra skin to be removed from inside the vagina. After cutting into the skin, strong sutures and supports will be used to tighten the skin. After the vaginal canal has been tightened, the mucosal skin is then sutured closed. Any protruding external skin may then be reduced to produce the desired aesthetic result.
Risks of Vaginoplasty
As with many surgical procedures, there are potential risks of having a vaginoplasty performed. The risks of a vaginoplasty may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Skin or clitoral necrosis
- Suture line dehiscence
- Urinary retention
- Vaginal prolapse
Other more serious complications may arise post-operation. It is important to be aware of the risks and benefits of the procedure prior to the operation. Talk with your surgeon and be sure to have any and all of your questions answered before making a decision.
Recovery
Recovery typically requires one to two weeks of downtime. Some patients may feel a deep ache in their abdomen or vaginal canal for the first few days. Tampon use and sexual intercourse are discouraged for at least 8 – 9 weeks. If the procedure was extensive, some patients may be encouraged to use a dilator.
IS IT OKAY TO HAVE SEX AFTER AN ENERGY-BASED PROCEDURE?
We typically encourage our patients to wait at least 24 hours before having intercourse after a nonsurgical procedure. However, some patients report being able to comfortably continue sexual activity soon after their treatment. If you experience any signs of pain, bleeding, or vaginal or bladder infection, you should talk with your Dr. Dima right away and schedule an evaluation.
