Vaginal Laxity Palm Desert
Vaginal laxity is a condition where a woman’s vaginal muscles lose their elasticity and firmness, which can affect sexual function or discomfort during intercourse. The vagina typically becomes loosened after menopause when the levels of estrogen in the body decline. During childbirth, hormonal change can cause vaginal laxity as well as several factors such as smoking and chronic diseases.
If you are experiencing discomfort during sex as well as other symptoms such as dryness in the vagina or surrounding areas (labia majoria), feeling like you “stretch” too easily when trying to insert objects into the vagina, find that your partner does not appear fully satisfied with your sexual performance despite your best efforts, or if you are experiencing serious medical conditions that may contribute to vaginal laxity, surgery or a laser treatment may be a good option for you.
Dr. Tantawi understands this can be a sensitive subject and how this condition can affect your emotional and physical health. He is board certified and specializes in surgery as well as cosmetic surgery. Request a consultation with him today to discuss how you can have a great sex life again and avoid the discomfort from vaginal laxity. He will let you know your options and what is best for your unique situation.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
At your consultation Dr. Tantawi will look over your medical records and ask you about any medication you are on. He will discuss what your goals are and what results you would like to achieve. The options for treatment will be discussed as far as surgery or laser rejuvenation and the recovery time for each treatment. If you decide to go ahead with treatment, a plan will be drawn up for you. Be sure to bring any questions you may have for Dr. Tantawi. He will be happy to answer them and is highly motivated to give you the results you desire.
What Causes Vaginal Laxity?
There are two types of vaginal laxity: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic vaginal laxity occurs from stretching of the ligaments surrounding the uterus (the uterosacral ligaments), while extrinsic laxity occurs from stretching of the vaginal tissue itself. In some cases, a woman can have both intrinsic and extrinsic laxity. In either type, the tissues lose their support as collagen, an elastic fiber in connective tissue, breaks down. A decrease in estrogen levels before menopause is what triggers this process. Other causes include:
- Decreased estrogen levels after childbirth
- Multiple births
- Having a large baby
- Heavy lifting
- Weight Fluctuation
Regardless of the reason for vaginal laxity, there are options for correcting it and feeling good about your body again.
Treatment Options For Vaginal Laxity
Depending upon what Dr. Tantawi determines at your consultation there are two ways to treat a vaginal laxity condition. He will discuss your goals and come up with a treatment plan that works for you.
Vaginoplasty Procedure
A vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that rebuilds and tightens the vaginal walls. It is done under general anesthesia and takes 1-2 hours. Dr. Tantawi will determine the amount of tightening needed. Once that is determined he sutures vaginal muscles together to tighten them and return them to their original shape. If any excess skin needs to be cut to tighten the vaginal wall, he removes the excess skin and stitches up the incision.
Recovery can take 2- 6 weeks. You may have an aching feeling for the first few days. You will have to refrain from sexual intercourse or the use of tampons for six weeks. Depending upon the tightening you may need to use a dilator to stretch the muscle, so that it is not uncomfortable to have sexual intercourse.
Non-surgical Vaginal Tightening
Non-surgical vaginal tightening is done with a nonablative Er:YAG laser that is designed for vaginal use. The procedure takes about 20 minutes. Dr. Tantawi will insert the laser and treat the inner vaginal walls by passing the laser over the wall interior. The laser uses a gentle heat which rejuvenates the skin and stimulates the body to make collagen. This causes the vaginal walls to tighten and will also help with incontinence and chronic infections. It is a painless procedure that gives amazing results.
There is no downtime with laser vaginal tightening. You may feel some warm sensations in your vaginal canal for a few days but it will go away after that. You will need to refrain from sexual intercourse for 48 hours. Depending upon the results you are wanting you may need more than one session.
Vaginal Laxity FAQs
Is it better to have a vaginoplasty or laser vaginal rejuvenation?
The treatment that is best is determined by how much looseness is occurring and other factors. Many patients like the results from laser rejuvenation because there is little downtime. However, in some cases it is not enough to get the results you may want. In that case you may need to undergo a vaginoplasty. Dr. Tantawi will recommend what he feels is the best treatment for the results you are desiring.
How does vaginoplasty impact sexual health?
A vaginoplasty can help make sexual intercourse more pleasurable and get rid of any discomfort you may have had previously during intercourse.
How much does a vaginoplasty cost?
The cost is determined by the extent of the surgical procedure. Dr. Tantawi will let you know the total cost at your consultation.