Vaginal rejuvenation is a procedure that is gaining more and more popularity in these current times as females begin to become more aware of the importance of their physical wellbeing that goes beyond just physical looks. Women are beginning to understand that wellness includes even their intimate and sexual lives, and as such are looking for solutions such as laser vaginal tightening to help them with conditions such as vaginal relaxation syndrome, which will be discussed in this article.
To understand how vaginal rejuvenation works, we must first understand 1) the vagina in relation to the pelvic floor muscles, and 2) how the vagina or pelvic floor muscles undergo changes over time. When we understand those two factors, then we will also understand how laser vaginal rejuvenation can help women all over Singapore.
Firstly, what is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that forms a hammock-like structure to help create abdominal pressure and hold in our internal reproductive organs. Just behind the pubic bone lies our bladder, and seated in between our bladder and our rectum is the uterus. The uterus channels down to the woman’s vaginal canal, which is the main target of treatment during laser vaginal tightening. Hence, we can understand that the pelvic floor surrounds the vagina and is what helps to give the vagina it’s ‘tone’ such as the feeling of tightness or squeezing. The pelvic floor is important because changes in it – such as overstretching, or weakness – can cause the vagina canal to feel different during sexual intercourse, or even affect continence (ability to hold in urine).
Secondly, over time, a woman’s body changes. In its youth, the pelvic floor muscles are strong and there are usually no issues with vaginal laxity. However, when ageing occurs and the natural atrophy of muscles occurs along with collagen and elastin degradation, the vagina is also affected. Combined with childbirth, the elasticity and tone of the vagina reduces. It reduces even further when menopause occurs and estrogen drops, which causes laxity in the vaginal walls and poor vaginal lubrication. Hence, sexual intimacy becomes even more affected.
Vaginal rejuvenation works by the insertion of a circular adapter which provides a laser treatment using Er:YAG laser. This laser, called Fotona IntimaLase laser treatment in our clinic, is a non-ablative procedure meaning that it does NOT remove or burn away any surface tissues. Instead, it uses photothermal energy to stimulate collagen remodelling and synthesis of new collagen. This helps to ‘rejuvenate’ the lax vaginal canal which has been overstretched, and produces a tightening effect that lasts.
The laser probe is inserted into the vagina to emit an Er:YAG laser. This laser uses energy to heat up the genital mucosa and initiate collagen remodelling. This subsequently stimulates the production of new collagen in the vaginal canal. The final result is:
Results of laser vaginal rejuvenation can be seen after the first session with mild vaginal laxity, or will improve from up to 2-3 sessions with more severe vaginal relaxation syndrome. The majority of patients have 2-3 sessions, with a month apart in between treatments. Those with severe vaginal laxity will also benefit from yearly maintenance even after seeing results from the first few months. To further assess how long these results last, studies show that the effect of the laser can last up to 16 months. Other studies also show that two treatments done a month apart had good results with maintenance done on a once yearly basis.
Overall, these results have shown to be stable up to 16-18 months post-treatment. After this, they start to diminish slowly. Hence, regardless of the severity of the vaginal laxity, a maintenance treatment of one session per year is thus advised to achieve lasting optimal results.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of vaginal relaxation syndrome or if you are concerned about the strength of your vaginal walls after childbirth, contact SL Aesthetic Clinic! We can schedule a consultation for you at your nearest clinic branch with one of our professional female doctors. They are able to carefully assess each patient’s individual physical state and individual expectations to formulate a specific treatment program catered to your goals. Contact us here today to get started on your laser vaginal rejuvenation journey!
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