There are several reasons why vaginal health is considered an important aspect of women’s wellbeing. After childbirth, women might suffer from long-standing issues with their intimate health and sexual life. Vaginal rejuvenation is the term used to describe procedures aimed to address these problems. It works by enhancing the cosmetic appearance and restoring the functionality of the vaginal area. The procedures can be non-invasive, minimally invasive and surgical.
How Does Childbirth Affect The Vagina?
The pregnancy hormones and the mechanical stretching caused by the pregnant uterus make the ligaments supporting the pelvic structures lax and loose. Vaginal birth also stretches and sometimes tears the vagina and its surrounding structures. This leads to vaginal laxity, vaginal dryness, reduced sexual sensations and a sense of downward pressure in the postpartum period. The tearing of the vagina can also result in perineal scarring and a wide-open vaginal orifice.
Risk Factors For Vaginal Laxity
Certain factors make you more vulnerable to vaginal laxity. These include
- Age more than 35 years
- Obesity
- Delivering a large baby
- Baby delivered through forceps or vacuum
- Multiple vaginal births
- Genetic collagen disorders
How Long Does It Take For The Vagina To Heal After Birth?
The soreness, discomfort and bruising will go away in the first couple of weeks. Any tearing of the vagina and perineum will also get better during this time. In extensive lacerations, the healing is slow and it may take up to six weeks for the tenderness to alleviate.
The vaginal laxity and dryness also improve over time. Regular workouts and Kegels exercises help in recovery, and your intimate body form rebounds to normal in 6 months. If you still feel too slack even then, and it affects your sexual life, contact your healthcare provider for other possible remedies.
Types Of Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatments
Nonsurgical
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation (FemiLift)
The procedure uses a laser probe to deliver heat to the vaginal lining which boosts tissue regeneration. This improves vaginal tone and enhances vaginal lubrication. In addition, it relieves symptoms of stress urinary incontinence by restoring strength of the vaginal walls supporting bladder.
Radio Frequency Vaginal Tightening (Thermiva®)
This is a technique that works by delivering energy to the vaginal tissue via a radio frequency emitting wand. This enhances the collagen production in vaginal tissue thus effectively treating vaginal laxity, dryness, urinary incontinence and improving sexual dysfunction.
Minimally invasive
O-Shot®
In this technique, growth factors extracted from a woman’s own blood are injected to the erogenous spot on the anterior vaginal wall, the G-spot. This revitalizes the vagina and enhances sexual gratification.
Vaginal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injected into the outer vaginal lips improving its saggy and wrinkled appearance and giving an aesthetically pleasing plumper look. The fillers can also be injected into the G-spot for better sexual arousal.
Vaginal Fat Transfer
This technique involves harvesting a woman’s own fat tissue and using it as filler agent in the saggy and wrinkled labia majora, giving it a more plumper look. The volume added helps in concealing the labia minora and clitoral hood, thus giving good cosmetic results.
Surgical
Labiaplasty
This procedure is directed to improve the aesthetic appearance of the inner labia. The irregular and protruding edges of the labia minora are reconstructed by resection with a laser knife, followed by resuturing of the cut edges. This gives a more tucked-in appearance and reduces discomfort in intimacy and chafing during exercise.
Vaginoplasty
This is a reconstructive surgery after childbirth for vaginal laxity. It involves the removal of excessive tissue from the vaginal wall along its length and resuturing to tighten it. Cosmetic vaginoplasty improves vaginal tone, makes intimacy gratifying and alleviates symptoms of urinary incontinence. The procedure is usually done in conjunction with perineoplasty.
Perineoplasty
The unsightly scars from episiotomy and perineal tearing during childbirth can make sex painful. Perineoplasty addresses these scars and relieves dyspareunia associated with it. It also tightens the loose vaginal opening.
Benefits Of Vaginal Rejuvenation
- Restores labial symmetry
- Tightens vaginal canal
- Improves vaginal lubrication
- Increases sexual sensations
- Helps with urinary incontinence
- Alleviates painful sex
- Enhances self esteem
Associated Side Effects
These procedures can also have some unwanted effects on your body including
- Procedure site pain, swelling and bleeding
- Infection
- Scar formation during healing
- Altered sensations at procedure site
- Sexual dysfunction secondary to scarring and altered sensations
- Overdone or underdone procedure leading to asymmetry
- Injury to surrounding structures like the rectum and bladder
What Is The Best Time To Have Vaginal Rejuvenation After Childbirth?
It is generally recommended to wait for at least 6 months after delivering the baby. In many cases the intimate symptoms get relieved with time. In addition, your body is still recovering from pregnancy and childbirth during this time. Your health needs to be optimised before undergoing any procedure to get the desired results. It is also advisable to complete childbearing before opting for these procedures as succeeding vaginal birth/s can undo the results. Consulting healthcare providers for personalized advice is crucial, and exploring resources like Evvy can offer further guidance.
What Is The Cost Of Vaginal Rejuvenation Treatments?
The cost of reconstructive surgery after childbirth depends upon the location and expertise of your aesthetic practitioner as well as the type of procedure you are opting for. Most of these range from 3,000 USD to 10,000 USD.
When Can I Resume Sexual Activity After Treatment?
It’s recommended to wait 3 to 5 days after non-surgical treatments. If you had surgery, it’s best to avoid sex for a few weeks until the stitches are gone and the area is healed. Your doctor will usually advise you on the period of abstinence.
In a Nutshell
The miraculous and rewarding journey of pregnancy and childbirth comes with certain challenges for women, including changes in the intimate body form. Vaginal rejuvenation treatments are a safe and effective way of rebounding to normal for women having persistent intimate issues affecting their quality of life.
In recent times, there are many innovative techniques developed to improve the look and feel of the vagina. If you are suffering from sexual dysfunction after childbirth, talk to your healthcare provider. Vaginal rejuvenation might be an option for you.
