Over the past few years, the demand for surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedures, such as labiaplasty or vaginoplasty, has increased. Aging, childbirth, and other changes to the body can lead to changes in the appearance of the outer genitals and in the tone and tightness of the inner genitals. Vaginal rejuvenation surgery helps to correct those changes, giving patients their confidence back.
More recently, several non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments have also become available. Like their surgical counterparts, these treatments can reverse some of the changes to the female genitalia that develop due to aging or childbirth. There are some major advantages to non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments but also some drawbacks. If you’re considering one of these procedures, here’s what you need to know.
What Is Non-Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation?
Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation involves the use of lasers, radiofrequency energy, or injections to stimulate positive changes in the genital area. One example of a non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedure is the use of an injectable filler to restore lost volume to the labia majora.
Another example of non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation involves injecting the ‘g-spot’ with dermal filler. The goal of these injections is to increase sexual enjoyment and improve orgasms, though they might not help women who have never had an orgasm. Some versions of the treatment involve injecting filler into the clitoris to stimulate blood flow and improve sexual enjoyment.
While injections can be used on the outer genitalia, laser or radiofrequency energy treatments are often used to rejuvenate either the inner genital area or the labia. The heat produced by these devices helps to tone the area and stimulate collagen production. The treatments tighten the tissue, helping to improve enjoyment during sex, reduce incontinence, and improve the appearance of the genitals.
What Is Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation?
Like non-surgical options, surgical vaginal rejuvenation can correct issues on either inside or outside of the body, or in both areas. Surgery inside of the body is called vaginoplasty. During this procedure, a surgeon will trim away excess tissue in the vaginal canal and tighten the muscles.
Labia reduction, or labiaplasty, is performed on the outer genitalia. Often, the goal of the surgery is to reduce the size of the labia, which can become stretched out after vaginal delivery or as a result of aging. The surgery can be performed on either the inner or outer labia, or in some cases, on both.
Preparing for Vaginal Rejuvenation
What you do to prepare for a vaginal rejuvenation procedure depends in large part on whether you have decided on a surgical or non-surgical option. The preparation time for surgery is usually longer. You’ll need to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss the treatment, the recovery period, and what you can expect afterward.
Non-surgical options usually involve less preparation but you will still need to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon in advance of the procedure. During your consultation, you can ask questions about the benefits of each type of procedure, what you can expect from each option, and which procedures will help you reach your goals.
What Happens After Vaginal Rejuvenation?
One notable difference between surgical and non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments is the recovery time afterward. Usually, non-surgical treatments do not require any type of recovery period. You can go back to work, exercise, and have sex pretty much right away after the treatment.
Surgical treatments do require some downtime for recovery. The initial recovery often takes about one week, sometimes two. After vaginoplasty, there might be some bleeding during the first 24 hours. Bruising and swelling in the area is common after both labiaplasty and vaginoplasty.
While you might feel well enough to go back to a sit-down office job after a few days, any strenuous activity, including exercise and sex, should be avoided for at least four weeks. Your plastic surgeon will let you know when you can resume these activities.
How Long Do Results Last?
The results from surgical vaginal rejuvenation are usually very long-lasting. Your body will continue to change as you get older, however, so you might choose to repeat the surgeries sometime in the future.
Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments yield results that aren’t nearly as long-lasting. To maintain the results from these treatments, many women decide to repeat their procedures on a regular schedule. For example, injections to restore volume to the labia might be repeated once or twice a year, as the filler wears off. Dermal filler or PRP injections into the G-spot or clitoris are also repeated once a year or more frequently to help patients maintain results.
If you decide to have a laser or radiofrequency treatment to tighten the vaginal canal or to tone the labia, you might get the best results after undergoing a series of treatments. For example, you’re likely to see the most noticeable changes if you have three laser treatments spaced one month apart.
Whether a non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatment is right for you or not depends in large part on your goals and schedule. If you’re looking for a treatment that doesn’t require downtime and that provides quick results, non-surgical might be the way to go. For longer-lasting results or to reduce the size of the labia, a surgical procedure might be more appropriate.
Dr. Paul Vitenas offers both non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation options, such as the G-shot, as well as surgical treatments at his practice in Houston, Texas. He will be happy to discuss your options with you and to help you choose the treatment that works best for you. Call 281-484-0088 to set up a consultation with Dr. Vitenas or book an online visit today.
