Surgical vs. Nonsurgical Vaginal Rejuvenation

During the past few years, women have become more comfortable asking about vaginal rejuvenation treatments that enhance their confidence. We’ve seen this trend at our med spa in Houston, where we offer multiple treatments that address a patient’s specific concerns about her vaginal health and appearance.

Changes to a woman’s genital area can result from childbirth, weight loss, or the natural effects of aging. One of the main questions women ask when considering vaginal rejuvenation—which is an umbrella term for procedures that tighten the vaginal canal and opening, increase lubrication, and improve the appearance of the labia—is whether they should have surgery or get a nonsurgical treatment.

The answer may depend on the specific reasons she is thinking about vaginal rejuvenation, so knowing the differences between surgical and nonsurgical procedures is important. We’ll describe the treatment options in this blog post.

Older Woman Considering Vaginal Rejuvenation in Houston, TX

Nonsurgical Vaginal Rejuvenation Options

The availability of nonsurgical alternatives to vaginal rejuvenation surgery has been a game-changing development for women who were wary of more invasive procedures. Many of the nonsurgical treatments use energy from lasers or radiofrequency to heat vaginal tissue and boost blood flow and collagen production. This thermal energy spurs the gradual thickening of vaginal tissue, making it smoother and more elastic.

Because these procedures are less invasive than surgery, there is minimal downtime, but a series of treatments are usually needed. At Ovation Med Spa, patients have access to treatments that use either laser or radiofrequency energy, in addition to procedures that use platelet-rich plasma.

ThermiVa®

ThermiVa delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy using a thin probe that’s attached to a wand, heating tissue inside and outside the vagina. The heat triggers the body’s natural healing response, which tightens the vagina, increases moisture and sensation, and temporarily shrinks vulvar skin. Additionally, it helps minimize stress urinary incontinence.

A package of 3 treatment sessions costs $3,600.

diVa®

Using a hybrid fractional laser, diVa heats the deeper layers of tissue, stimulating the production of new collagen. This is essentially the same technology used for facial rejuvenation treatments. Because diVa uses a hybrid laser—meaning there’s more than a single wavelength—we can customize treatments to address a specific patient’s needs. This sets it apart from other laser-based vaginal rejuvenation treatments that use only 1 wavelength. A diVa treatment session also only takes a few minutes, compared to 30 minutes needed for other nonsurgical procedures.

As with ThermiVa, a package of 3 treatment sessions costs $3,600.

diVaTyte™

This is a procedure that uses a non-ablative laser that delivers infrared energy to heat the vaginal tissue. It addresses the vagina’s internal skin and is often combined with diVa or ThermiVa to enhance the results.

O-Shot™

Growth factors contained in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been widely used in sports to help athletes recover more quickly from injuries and in aesthetic treatments such as “vampire facelifts.” The O-Shot injects PRP near the clitoris to rejuvenate tissue in that area and enhance arousal and orgasm during intimacy.

The cost of an O-Shot is $1,500.

Woman considering Vaginal Rejuvenation in Houston, TX

Is Nonsurgical Vaginal Rejuvenation Right for You?

Women who want increased sensation or who experience painful intercourse after having children can benefit from treatments such as ThermiVa, diVa, and diVaTyte. They can also help women with urinary incontinence. EMSELLA® is another nonsurgical option for treating incontinence. Patients should wait at least 6 months after giving birth before scheduling their first nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation treatment. Multiple treatment sessions scheduled over several months are needed to produce the desired results.

Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation

Surgical techniques to address vaginal looseness, urinary incontinence, or excessive labia tissue may be right for you but have certain drawbacks compared to nonsurgical treatments.

Surgical procedures include vaginoplasty, labiaplasty, and perineoplasty. Women with severe vaginal relaxation may require vaginoplasty, whereas labiaplasty involves removing outer labial tissue to improve the exterior appearance. Perineoplasty helps re-support the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, after childbirth.

Because these techniques involve incisions, they each require some downtime to recover after the procedures. Most surgeons recommend that labiaplasty patients, for example, take it easy and rest for 10 days after surgery. Vaginoplasty patients need to take at least 5 days off and may require several months to heal fully.

The cost of vaginal rejuvenation surgery is typically several thousand dollars more than the cost of nonsurgical treatments. Surgery might be the best or only, option for some patients.

What’s Best for You?

If you’re considering vaginal rejuvenation and want to learn more about your nonsurgical treatment options, Ovation is considered by many people to be the best med spa in Houston. You can contact us to request a consultation using the online form or call us at (713) 936-2490 to schedule an appointment.