VIVEVE VS. LABIAPLASTY
WHICH IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR VAGINAL REJUVENATION?
For the majority of my female patients, vaginal rejuvenation is all about enhancing genital urinary health, function, and feeling. While some are looking to enhance aesthetics, I have found that more women turn to me for vaginal rejuvenation because they are having some level of dysfunction that is compromising their quality of life or relationships and they’re looking for a solution. And these conditions are more common than many imagine. For instance, more than 30% of women are affected by urinary incontinence, and half of postmenopausal women are affected by vaginal dryness and discomfort with sex. Additionally, many women postpartum struggle with vaginal changes including decreased tone or sensation.
While there are several treatment options available - most women seem to be curious about Labiaplasty or radiofrequency treatments like Viveve. I feel it’s important for potential patients to have a clear understanding of the differences in these approaches before determining which is the best for their unique needs.
WHAT ARE YOUR TREATMENT GOALS?
There are several reasons why women are turning to vaginal rejuvenation as it can treat a wide array of conditions:
Loss of vaginal lubrication (drier tissue during intercourse often causes discomfort or pain with sex - this is common post-partum, post-menopause, as a result of age, or in association with some medications.)
Urinary incontinence (this can include stress incontinence resulting in small amounts of urine leakage from physical strain - i.e. jumping, coughing, sneezing, running, etc. - or urge incontinence which is loss of bladder control where a woman has less warning when needing to urinate.)
Sexual dysfunction (This can occur at any age, often manifesting as pain with intercourse, loss of sensitivity, loss of lubrication or loss of ability to reach orgasm.)
Vaginal tone or tightness (This can manifest as less sensation during sex as well as a decline in pleasure for the woman and her partner.)
Visual changes (Some women become unhappy with tissue atrophy, loss of plumpness, drooping tissues, or loss of tissue pinkness following pregnancy, aging, and menopause.)
Additionally, some women turn to vaginal rejuvenation treatments to maintain their general sexual health and others use them for preventative care.
VIVEVE VS. LABIAPLASTY
Viveve is a radiofrequency treatment that uses a small probe or wand that is inserted inside the vagina to gently deliver pulses of energy to remodel vaginal collagen. Treatments last approximately 8-60 minutes and the Viveve treatment only requires one visit. Viveve effectively treats vaginal tone due to its ability to penetrate tissues 8-10 times deeper than other radiofrequency treatments like ThermiVa. Also - Viveve features a cryogen-cooled tip, making it far more comfortable than ThermiVa.
Radiofrequency treatments typically cost between $1,000 and $6,000. Following the treatment, women are required to abstain from sex for at least two days. With Viveve, women will see immediate results in vaginal tissues with continuing benefits occurring up to three months following treatment. These results are substantiated by clinical studies - and a documented patient satisfaction rate of 98% in a 2018 Viveve-registered FDA study. Radiofrequency treatments for the vagina are safe for most women, especially those that have issues relating to stress urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, vaginal tissue atrophy, pain with sex, mild vaginal prolapse, and unsatisfactory aesthetic appearance.
Labiaplasty may be also considered for vaginal rejuvenation. Labiaplasty is a surgery to remove excess tissue from the labia, either for cosmetic reasons or for women who feel physical discomfort due to enlarged or elongated labia. During the procedure, anesthesia is administered to the patient, and the excess tissue is removed to obtain the desired contour, then the labia is aligned and closed with absorbing sutures. This procedure costs between $3,500 - $9,500 depending on the surgery and the healthcare provider. Women are encouraged to take two days off following surgery to decrease swelling and can expect healing to be complete in approximately two weeks.
Labiaplasty is targeted more toward women seeking aesthetic or partner experience enhancements and less to those seeking to address pain, dryness, or lack of sexual function. It is important to note that there are rare but possible complications with surgery that may include wound infection, hemorrhage, lack of lubrication, and constipation.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
After significant research, we chose the Viveve solution because of its efficacy and safety - and also because it treats the broadest range of concerns of our patients. Additionally, Viveve treats not just the superficial, visual changes - but also tone, lubrication, and sexual experience. If a patient’s main concern is redundant tissue of the labia (droopy, uneven, or elongated labia), then labiaplasty is the ideal intervention. These vaginal rejuvenation treatments have afforded many patients significant improvements.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE, OR WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VAGINAL REJUVENATION - JUST GIVE THE OFFICE A CALL AT 425-970-8733.
More from the blog
