Non-surgical feminine rejuvenation is a term covering a broad range of corrective vaginal treatments.

While many of these procedures are performed for cosmetic reasons, some procedures are also performed to correct age-related issues including a lack of vaginal tightness, vaginal atrophy, urinary incontinence, a lack of lubrication, and other changes due to age or childbirth. While vaginal rejuvenation may be surgical or non-surgical, non-surgical feminine rejuvenation is often performed using energy-based rejuvenation treatments.

What are Energy-Based Rejuvenation Treatments?

Energy-based treatments are nonsurgical procedures that use heat and focused energy. Energy-based vaginal rejuvenation treatments are done with a device that heats the tissue by focusing energy. These treatments use electromagnetic waves and lasers to damage the upper layers of tissue. This prompts the lower layers of tissue to produce more collagen and increase the blood vessels in the skin, as well as promoting tightness and lubrication.

How is Non-Surgical Feminine Rejuvenation Done?

Energy-based feminine rejuvenation treatments may be done in your doctor’s office with minimal or no anesthesia. The procedure generally takes around 15 minutes to complete. Although the area being treated may feel warm or slightly irritated during the procedure, energy-based devices are usually not painful, and patients are usually able to recover the same day as the procedure.

Although these procedures are minimally invasive, these treatments are not permanent and generally take several sessions to achieve the best results.

What is the Purpose of Non-Surgical Feminine Rejuvenation?

While many women who undergo vaginal rejuvenation opt for surgical procedures including labiaplasties, vaginoplasties, and clitoral hood reductions to change the look of the vagina and vulva, there are also changes that can be made through less invasive methods. Women may choose energy-based procedures due to the lower price point, shorter recovery time, and less invasive and painful procedures.

Energy-based procedures may improve several uncomfortable side effects related to childbirth or aging, including a lack of vaginal tightness or laxity, lack of lubrication, decreased sensation, pain with intercourse, and vaginal atrophy or itching. Energy-based devices may also be able to improve the appearance of the vulva, by firming and tightening the skin and promoting collagen growth.

What are the Side Effects of Non-Surgical Feminine Rejuvenation?

There are several risks associated with non-surgical feminine rejuvenation. These side effects include a risk of bleeding, vaginal or bladder infections, vaginal or vulvar scarring, vaginal burns, pain during intercourse, and chronic vaginal or vulvar pain.

What About Surgical Options?

There are a number of surgeries that can be used, the most common of which is labioplasty. This is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia; excess labial tissue is removed, and the remaining tissue is tightened and shaped according to the patient’s wishes. While the patient is usually able to return to most normal activities within 5 days, full recovery can take up to a month.

Other surgical options include vaginoplasty and reduction of the clitoral hood or mons pubis. The latter is a strictly cosmetic procedure.

It bears mentioning that vaginal cosmetic or restorative surgery carries its own serious risks, including infection, loss of sensation, chronic pain, and scarring.

Will Feminine Rejuvenation Really Help my Sex Life?

Simply tightening vaginal tissues, whether through surgery or energy-based treatments, is no guarantee that sex will be more enjoyable. What many people of both genders and all inclinations often fail to understand is that human sexuality and sexual response are very complex matters, highly personal and often unique to an individual. Issues such as desire, arousal, and orgasm are conditioned by non-physiological factors, including emotions, spirituality and the nature of the relationship with one’s partner as much or more than appearances and aesthetics. Furthermore, heightened sexual “sensitivity” does not guarantee greater pleasure, and can actually be painful.

It also bears mentioning that while some of its members do offer feminine rejuvenation, the American Society of Plastic Surgery does not endorse such procedures. The organization cautions that further study is necessary in order to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of these operations.

What Does the FDA Have to Say?

Although energy-based devices are a popular choice for patients seeking non-surgical feminine rejuvenation, the FDA has warned consumers that these devices have not been cleared by the administration for cosmetic purposes. According to an Aug. 2, 2018, Medical News Today article, the drug and medical device oversight agency previously has given the green light to energy devices used gynecologically, but only for use within specific parameters.

Examples of these clinical applications have been the removal of genital warts, also known as condylomas, and extraneous or abnormal tissue growth identified as pre-cancerous. This tissue may be in the vagina or cervical area. The FDA remains very concerned about widening the application of use to include treating issues related to sexual and urinary function as well as menopausal discomfort.

According to the FDA and its former commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the safety and effectiveness of these devices have not been adequately examined. Without this research, marketing energy-based tools for cosmetic applications may run afoul of federal law.

Gottlieb is quoted by the Medical News Today report as saying: “Advancing the health of women is a priority for the FDA. […] And as part of [our] efforts, we also watch for, and take action against, bad actors who unfortunately take advantage of unsuspecting consumers by marketing unapproved, deceptive products that may pose safety risks and violate the trust of American consumers.”

He claims the agency is especially troubled about the potential of charlatans to make outrageous claims to women in vulnerable situations. Specifically, after a course of breast cancer treatment, a female might experience early menopausal symptoms which can be distressing—especially given the fact she has just fought for her life—and may be more susceptible to exaggerated advertising claims.

Due to the lack of information regarding all possible side effects of energy-based feminine rejuvenation, the FDA has urged patients who have experienced side effects to report these adverse events through MedWatch, the administration’s reporting program.