Vaginal rejuvenation: current perspectives

Female genital cosmetic surgery includes several procedures aimed at reaching better female genital appearance and/or improved sexual functioning. Among these procedures, vaginal rejuvenation is considered as one of the most controversial genital cosmetic surgical interventions and involves a range of surgical procedures performed by gynecologists or plastic surgeons to decrease the average diameter of the vagina, mainly for sexual reasons. In this narrative review, vaginal rejuvenation outcomes are examined in order to clarify the current scenario of the different vaginal rejuvenation techniques, as well as their effectiveness and associated complications. Psychological and ethical issues linked to these procedures are also addressed.

Experts Say Vaginal Rejuvenation Devices Are Necessary for Women's Health, Despite FDA Warning

If we worked in Silicon Valley or were part of the gaming community, we would be referencing “virtual reality,” but because we’re beauty-obsessed, “VR” means one thing: vaginal rejuvenation. “For a long time, the focus has been on men’s sexual health, but people are now paying attention to what can be done for women,” says New York plastic surgeon B. Aviva Preminger, MD. “The conversation is finally changing.” 

The term vaginal rejuvenation has been called into question by some doctors who suggest it only encompasses aesthetic procedures, but we spoke to many experts who disagree. “Women come to us with functional and medical issues such as laxity, dryness, lack of sensation or inability to climax, and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and our arsenal of tools can help correct them,” says Cindy Barshop, founder of VSpot, a female wellness spa in New York, which she runs with her business partner and obgyn Carolyn DeLucia, MD. “Whether we’re treating the area internally or externally, we’re rejuvenating it in some way to help improve a woman’s life and self-esteem.”

A novel non-invasive radiofrequency dermal heating device for skin tightening of the face and neck

CASE REPORT ABSTRACT - Loose, lax skin is a common cosmetic complaint. Previous non-invasive skin tightening devices had modest efficacy and were associated with pain or downtime. New technologies may allow for effective skin tightening with a series of radiofrequency (RF) treatments with no downtime. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel bipolar RF device for skin tightening. Methods: Fifteen consecutive female patients were enrolled in the case series; 14 completed the study and were included in the analysis. The device under investigation is a novel, bipolar RF device allowing for achievement and maintenance of optimal dermal temperatures to stimulate collagen remodeling and skin tightening. Patients underwent a series of 4 – 6 weekly treatments. Three blinded, experienced cosmetic physicians evaluated paired pre-treatment and post-treatment photographs and determined the associated improvement, if any. Results: All patients (14/14) were determined to have a clinical improvement, as the pre-treatment and post-treatment photographs were correctly identified by the evaluators. It was observed that 21% (3/14) of patients had significant improvement, 50% (7/14) had moderate improvement, and 29% (4/14) had mild improvement. No pain, side effects, or adverse events were observed. Conclusions: This novel bipolar RF device represents a safe, effective treatment option for non-invasive skin tightening.

Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Radiofrequency Device for Vaginal Treatment

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel radiofrequency (RF) device for internal and external vaginal treatment.

Results: For all parameters that were scored in the questionnaires, including vaginal symptoms, sexual matters, quality of life, pelvic floor impact and Stress Urinary Incontinence, significant improvements were found at a 2-month follow-up, compared to baseline (p<0.001). No significant or unexpected adverse events were noted.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that this novel RF-based device with continuous and fractional RF technologies is useful, safe and effective for treating vaginal relaxation and atrophy symptoms.