July 09, 2021
Culturally, we are talking about vaginal procedures more and more, which is so so good, but still maybe not enough. And we might even go as far as saying that sometimes we feel like vaginal concerns are discussed in a kind of misguided way.
If you’re someone who’s been struggling with vaginal issues, which can range anywhere from a lack of sexual sensation or pain during intercourse to a need for vaginal tightening and incontinence relief (and this is by no means an exhaustive list), then you’ve probably read a lot about vaginal rejuvenation and vaginal rejuvenation treatments.
We’re not the biggest fans of the term vaginal rejuvenation, because for so many women—we might go out on a limb here and say that probably even for the majority of women—it’s not really about “rejuvenating” but about treating your concerns wherever you’re at. You want to live and enjoy your life without thinking about it.
If you’re someone who struggles with incontinence, or can’t fully orgasm, or if you’re someone whose religious or cultural beliefs require your hymen only to be broken on the wedding night, we think that these are pretty big issues that can affect your quality of life and cause a lot of anxiety. And these concerns go way beyond the idea of vaginal rejuvenation.
The great news is that we’re here to listen and we’re here to help and, depending on your issues and needs, we have a range of both surgical and non-surgical vaginal treatments that can really improve your quality of life.
If we’re talking vaginal rejuvenation, then our guess is that the terminology might have originated with labiaplasty also known as labia reduction. We think it probably has to do with the fact that this surgical vaginal procedure can make the vagina more aesthetically pleasing in appearance, but this surgery really addresses so much more than that.
Some women can develop labia (also called the vaginal lips) that are larger than what is considered as typical, or develop uneven labia. This can be a major source of anxiety and embarrassment for some women, but it can also be very uncomfortable and/or painful.
Enlarged labia can cause pain during intercourse, be a source of discomfort if you’re riding a bike, make the insertion of tampons problematic, or even be uncomfortable or painful when you’re sitting, walking or running. The feeling can limit the types of clothing people feel comfortable wearing as well as the activities they participate in. In short, it can create a negative impact every single day.
Labiaplasty is actually a pretty simple procedure as far as surgeries go. It’s a procedure that takes less than an hour and can be performed under local anesthetic. It involves removing a small amount of the labia in order to correct the specific issue of concern for the individual patient, whether enlarged or uneven labia, and then the incision is stitched up with dissolvable sutures.
Most patients have very little pain following the surgery, and can resume exercise and sexual activity after about 3-4 weeks. In the world of plastic surgery, it’s a comparatively low key procedure that produces a significant and permanent result.
Concerns surrounding the hymen and hymen repair can be a super sensitive topic for many women, and at The Plastic Surgery Clinic we are really sensitive to the nature of the surgery and to the multiple delicate as well as complex reasons why women might seek hymenoplasty out.
We typically think about the hymen breaking when we lose our virginity, which is one of the most common ways that a hymen breaks. That said, there are actually a number of ways besides through intercourse that you can break your hymen.
Some women might break their hymen by inserting a tampon, or when engaging in certain activities like horseback riding or gymnastics. The hymen can even be inadvertently broken with a regular pap test, and many women may not even be aware that their hymen has been broken at all.
There are also a range of reasons why women might want their hymen to be repaired. It could be simply to repair a broken hymen that broke unexpectedly for reasons other than intercourse, or some women seek out hymen repair in order to satisfy cultural and religious beliefs, particularly when it comes to their wedding night. However, some women may also be seeking out hymen repair in order to help with the emotional and psychological trauma that they might be struggling with due to sexual abuse.
Hymenoplasty is a surgery that can repair a hymen or even create a new one, if the entire hymen is gone, however it can’t restore your virginity. The surgery overall is simple, and there is usually minimal pain. It takes about 6 weeks for your hymen to fully heal. Light exercise can be resumed about a week following the procedure but we recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for about 4-6 weeks.
Many women struggle with a variety of issues, and often more than one, that can sometimes be treated non-surgically. We’ve recently had a lot of success with PRP/PRF vaginal treatments for a wide range of issues, from sexual stimulation to mild to moderate incontinence issues.
PRP (Platelet-rich plasma) and PRF (Platelet-rich fibrin) vaginal treatments consist of separating plasma or fibrin from a patient’s own blood, and strategically injecting it into target areas depending on the patient’s needs. For example if you’re someone who is looking to increase sensation or to improve orgasms, we would target the clitoris, what we call the “O Shot.” We target the urethra for incontinence issues, and the vaginal wall for overall vaginal tightening.
By injecting PRP/PRF into these target areas, we are effectively helping to promote collagen production, tissue regeneration, as well as new healthy skin cell turnover and growth, all with the patient’s own natural elements.
The treatment is administered under local anesthetic. You may experience some discomfort but the treatment is not painful. It takes under an hour and there is virtually no downtime (except for abstaining from intercourse for 5 days!). Results typically appear within about two months (the time it takes for collagen to build-up and tissue to regenerate) and we recommend two initial treatments for best results, and after that maintenance treatments once per year.
We always recommend starting with PRP/PRF treatments for moderate vaginal concerns, before considering surgery or more aggressive interventions.
Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.
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