People get vaginal rejuvenation to address common issues associated with having children or menopause, including vaginal looseness, lack of lubrication and loss of sexual intimacy. Treatment can help minimize these symptoms as well as:
- Loose skin around the vagina.
- Leaking urine when jumping, sneezing or laughing.
- Not being able to hold your urine.
- Decreased libido.
- Excess dryness.
- Painful sex.
- Loss of sensation and sexual satisfaction.
- Lack of confidence or low self-esteem.
Surgical methods of vaginal rejuvenation typically involve sedation or anesthesia. A gynecologic or plastic surgeon performs these procedures. Some common surgical procedures for vaginal rejuvenation are:
- Labiaplasty: Reshaping your labia or the “lips” of your vagina.
- Vaginoplasty: Tightens or repairs the vaginal canal after childbirth.
- Clitoral hood reduction: Removes extra tissue that covers the clitoris.
- Monsplasty: Removes fatty tissue from the public bone area.
- Vulvoplasty: Reshapes the vulvar area (external genitalia).
- Perineoplasty: Strengthens the perineum (space between your vagina and anus).
It depends on the type of surgery. First, you’ll meet with a surgeon to discuss your symptoms and what you hope to achieve with surgery. Use this time to ask questions and understand the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Most vaginal rejuvenation surgeries last one to two hours, but it depends on the procedure, the level of work involved and the method the surgeon uses. In most cases, surgical vaginal rejuvenation is done under general anesthesia in an outpatient facility. Once you’re asleep, the surgeon makes incisions (cuts) on your vulva or in your vagina and the surrounding tissues and muscles. The location of the incisions varies depending on the type of surgery. Finally, they close the incisions with dissolvable stitches.
Your surgeon will give you post-operative instructions, including a list of restricted activities (like sex). You’ll be allowed to use ice packs and pain relievers for discomfort. Since you’re asleep, you won’t experience pain during the surgery.
Before consenting to surgical procedures, make sure you understand the treatment method and risks. As with any surgery, there are post-operative instructions you need to follow to prevent infection and injury.
Vaginal rejuvenation can:
- Improve the tightness of your vagina.
- Help with incontinence (leaking urine).
- Increase lubrication and moisture.
- Increase vaginal sensitivity and sensations.
- Strengthen weak vaginal and pelvic muscles.
- Improve painful intercourse.
- Enhance the appearance of your vulvar area (labia, clitoris or vaginal opening).
Like most cosmetic surgeries, individual results will vary. Some vaginal rejuvenation treatments are questionable and lack scientific proof.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned some companies marketing vaginal rejuvenation procedures. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) warns against these procedures, calling the marketing practices “deceptive.” They recommend that you go through a careful evaluation with your gynecologist and understand the risks and complications before proceeding with vaginal rejuvenation procedures.
It depends. Laser and RF treatments usually need to be repeated over several sessions. Results are not permanent. Surgical procedures may last longer, but there is no guarantee that the results will last forever.