Things To Know Before You Opt For Vaginal Rejuvenation

Today it is not just about the face. Women use hundreds of products and undergo an array of treatments/surgeries to maintain their youth as long as they can; may it be botox, fillers, face lift, body contouring, permanent make up, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, reshaping ears etc…

Vaginal rejuvenation is one of them and is on a rise these days. Who would have thought?

MD Jo Hill explains that vaginal rejuvenation is a procedure that alters the vaginal anatomy, both the internal and external structures.

But if we look at the statistics, most of the women opt for vaginal rejuvenation mostly for cosmetic purposes. Well, that is kind of obvious.

The question here is, whether the woman wants to opt for this procedure to increase their self-confidence or due to some pressure from her partner.  Before opting for vaginal rejuvenation, one must keep in mind that you are entrusting your physician/provider with your intimate, most sensitive and most complicated part of your body (by this I do not mean that any other surgeries do not come with complications but when it is your vagina, then yes, it a bit more complicated).

It is pretty much every woman’s choice what they want to do with their body. But you also need to be aware that you are putting both, your mental and physical health at risk. Is it worth it? Well, that is for you to decide and I sincerely hope that this article might help you a little with your decision.

Let’s quickly look at what is Vaginal Rejuvenation?

It is basically an assortment of both surgical and non-surgical treatments devised to repair, tighten, and change the outer appearance of the vagina and some procedures done on the inner part of the vagina that might help improve sexual functions.

Most of us have heard about labiaplasty, vaginoplasty etc. However, apart from these there are many others that are picking up steam as best suitable options to augment and have a better toned more attractive and better functioning female vajayjay. Hello, designer vagina!

I guess by now we have a general idea of what vaginal rejuvenation is all about. But let us now look at some important differences like; what is it that you are looking for? Cosmetic surgery or Reconstructive surgery? Obviously, they aren’t the same.

Cosmetic surgery mostly helps enhance the appearance of your vagina whereas reconstructive surgy would better the functioning of the vagina (let’s say toe curling orgasms!).

Vaginoplasty is a set of surgeries that give us our designer vagina. Some of the surgeries that come under this are:

• Revirgination – literally like becoming a virgin, again! It involves a surgery called hymenoplasty that repairs the hymen (the tissue that is broken during the first intercourse, remember?) to imitate its initial virginal state before one was sexually active. The feeling of being a virgin again… wonderful maybe, but it is shrouded with a lot of controversies due to certain religious beliefs.
• Amplification of the G-spot – here we are talking about “the spot” which is again a topic of debate. This is the most sensitive part present somewhere in the front wall of the vagina, which is known to be responsible for arousal and earth-shattering orgasms. In this procedure, collagen is injected into the front wall of the vagina supposedly to increase pleasure.
• Clitoral unhooding – this procedure involves the removal of the tissue that covers the clitoris.

The non-surgical options are:

• Radio Frequency – We are very much aware of RF, aren’t we? For the face and body, but here it is used to tighten the vagina. This treatment uses electromagnetic waves which is focused to heat the vaginal tissues and help tighten them.
• CO2 Laser – on the face it is simpler. But when this procedure is used “down there” a wand is inserted which heats up the tissue of the vagina. Just like the face, this procedure stimulates the collagen production and makes the inner skin firm and tight.

So, that was a peep into the world of vaginal rejuvenation. And just like with all other procedures, vaginal rejuvenation comes with its own sets of risk. Imagine, a risk down there!

Moving on…

There are few things that one should be aware of before one opts for vaginal rejuvenation.

To begin with, let me tell you that most doctors wouldn’t be quite able to define “vaginoplasty”. This can include surgeries which involve anaesthesia to non-invasive procedures.

1. Most Importantly: Most of these devices aren’t FDA Approved.

It certainly does have a scare factor, doesn’t it? For years, doctors have been using radio frequency devices and lasers to treat cancerous lesions and warts in the genital areas. But when it comes to vaginal rejuvenation, FDA clearly states that they haven’t approved any of these energy-based devices for anything related to vaginal tightening or rejuvenation.

2. Insufficient Data Regarding the Efficacy of Vaginal Rejuvenation.

Its all about data and statics. Always. This is exactly what makes a procedure reliable and trustworthy. Here, there are very few studies or data that provide information regarding the safety and effectiveness of this procedure.

There are some studies that involve less that 50 women and supposedly these were not high quality and controlled trials. However, no serious side-effects were noted albeit more research and data is required regarding the safety of these procedures.

3. Vaginoplasty Especially for Laxity requires General Anaesthesia.

Many a times childbirth can cause the muscles of the birth canal to separate causing severe “vaginal laxity” which basically means the muscles loosen. To tighten the vaginal canal, a reconstructive surgery can be performed to remove a wedge-shaped tissue from the inside of the vagina. The incisions are then tightly drawn together with sutures. Now, this is a major surgery and can cause bleeding and infection. If this is the vaginal rejuvenation method you opt for, then make sure that you discuss your health issues with your doctor first.

4. Laser Treatment ForVulvovaginal Atrophy Is Not FDA Approved.

Vulvovaginal atrophy means shrinking and drying of the vulvar and vaginal muscles. This mostly occurs after menopause. Many sources claim that laser treatments are the best option for treating this condition and they also claim that they are “FDA approved”. That is incorrect. The only approved options for this condition are estrogen treatments and moisturizers. In fact, there are no studies that prove that laser treatments for this condition is safe.

5. Non-invasive Treatments Are Not Permanent.

Many practitioners claim that thermal vaginal rejuvenation is quick and may last up to three years. If you opt for vaginal rejuvenation that consists of non-invasive laser or thermal methods, then you must know that no one knows how long the effects would last. Also, it is important to consider whether the expense is worth temporary results. Keep in mind that these procedures haven’t been well studied.

6. These Treatments are Expensive.

If you opt for vaginal rejuvenation, bear in mind that just like any other cosmetic surgeries, these aren’t covered by your insurance. Many of these non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation treatments require multiple sittings and you need to make sure what the overall cost would be. If you opt for surgeries, then it could run into thousands of dollars. Also, if there happens to be any kind of complication, then add that too to the cost. And oh, apart from the cost, you need to have “realistic expectations”. Do not expect any miracles.

Lastly, these treatments aren’t medically necessary. Of course, it is totally up to you what you want to do with your body. But before taking the plunge, it is advised that you talk to your gynaecologist and explain the reasons as to why you want to opt for vaginal rejuvenation. It is likely that your gynac could suggest proven treatments which could address your concerns better than “vaginal rejuvenation” which to begin with is not even a medical term; it is a “marketing term”. Medically, it means nothing. In fact, there are various adverse reports of burns, vaginal scarring, pain during intercourse and recurring pain as well.

The fact is that you really don’t need to opt for vaginal rejuvenation or tightening unless you have birthed a couple of heavy babies which could result in a pelvic floor prolapse. Even though rare, this surgery is critical and is not taken lightly by the doctors.

To sum it up: We could say that the cosmetic and plastic surgeons know the laser devices better, but doesn’t your gynaecologist know your vagina better?

And yes, remember Kegels?!

Featured Image from: Numaspa