The term “vaginal rejuvenation” has become very popular over the last 10 years. Many patients are coming to my office asking questions like, “Is this one procedure?” “What are the benefits?” “Is it covered by insurance?”
“Vaginal rejuvenation” is generally a term used for different procedures that address vaginal changes that occur after childbirth, aging, weight loss, trauma. Those procedures include clitoral hood reduction, labiaplasty, vaginoplasty, perineoplasty, CO2 laser vaginal/vulva treatment (MonaLisa Touch), PRP “G spot” and clitoris. Below I will discuss the specifics of these procedures.
Clitoral hood reduction or clitoropexy – Surgical correction of excess skin over the clitoris (clitoral hood.) Some women are bothered by the size of the clitoral hood and the clitoris shaft or head (glans). The hood may protrude too much causing the woman to be self-conscious or irritated. She may feel that the protruding hood and clitoris cause a bulge in her clothing. This in-office procedure that removes extra tissue is done under local anesthesia or IV sedation.
Labiaplasty – Surgical correction of the labia minora (inner small lips) and or labia majora (outer large lips). The procedure has increased by 75% over the last 4 years with over 10,000 women in 2016 having the procedure done. Elongated labia can make intercourse uncomfortable as well as cause discomfort in fitted clothing such as leggings, swimsuits, and even those skinny jeans. Not only can there be physical discomfort associated with elongated labia, there can also be a sense of self-consciousness based on the appearance they create in certain types of clothing. This in-office procedure that removes enlarged labia tissue is done under local anesthesia or IV sedation.
Vaginoplasty – Surgical correction of a widened vaginal canal caused most often by childbirth. Symptoms include decreased sensation and stimulation during intercourse, loose vagina and minimal muscle tone, gaping vaginal opening unpleasing in appearance, partner slipping out during intercourse, tampons falling out, vagina producing embarrassing “gas-like” sounds during intercourse or a “popping” noise while walking, tissue protruding from the vagina, problems passing bowel movements. This in-office procedure that tightens the vaginal cavity is done under IV sedation.
Perineoplasty- Surgical correction of the perineum which is the area located between the vagina and the anus. It provides support to the pelvic floor and also contributes to enhanced pleasure during sexual intercourse. A perineoplasty can benefit women who had an episiotomy or vaginal laceration during childbirth. This can lead to loosening of the skin and the sensation of a wide vagina. This can result in decreased sexual satisfaction for both patients and their partners. Not only does the procedure help women who have widened vaginal openings, it can be used in women who have small genital hiatus. This occurs in women that have had over-correction of a vaginal tear/episiotomy repair at the time of delivery, or they were born with a narrow opening, or they have a medical condition called lichen sclerosis which narrows the opening. In these patients a perineoplasty is performed to widen the vaginal opening to allow for less pain with intercourse. This in-office procedure is done under local anesthesia or IV sedation.
So those are the surgical procedures that can be done for “vaginal rejuvenation.” However, some vaginal symptoms women have will not improve with surgical correction and may even get worse. Symptoms including vaginal dryness, burning, urinary incontinence, pain with intercourse, recurrent UTI’s can all be addressed with the MonaLisa Touch vaginal laser.
Lastly is the platelet rich plasma (PRP) shot that is placed at the G spot and around the clitoris. There are many names for this shot, including the “O-shot.” The concept of injecting a patient’s own platelet rich plasma to promote healing and restoration of tissue throughout the body has been done for years. For many years professional athletes have been doing PRP joint injections to help them quickly recover from injuries. Thousands of women have now had the PRP injection into the vagina/clitoris to improve physical and sexual health. Reported improvements include low sexual desire, difficulty being aroused, trouble reaching orgasm, painful sex, vaginal dryness, stress urinary incontinence, lichen sclerosus.
So there are many options available for women with symptoms related to vaginal health. Studies show that most women never talk about these issues with their primary physician. Dr. Daniel Lee and the New Life Cosmetic Surgery team are here to help you with any of your questions. Please call us at 956-969-8369 to schedule your consultation.