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Last week, I found myself talking about labia over lunch with a beauty PR in Mayfair, a topic I normally shy away from broaching. But “vaginal health and wellness” is such a hot topic among people over 40 that I bet you’ll soon be doing the same thing I am.
Blame it on menopausal women who no longer suffer in silence and find ways to compensate for the many debilitating consequences of their stage of life.
Or point to the growing realization that non-surgical “tweaks” designed to counteract collagen loss in your face can seamlessly translate to your nether regions. Either way, the truth is out there, and the “down” makeover is upon us.
A level of urinary incontinence, lack of lubrication, burning, itching and even discomfort when sitting can become a part of life as we age and/or go through menopause.
The reality is that age and menopause cause a loss of hydrating, plump, and supportive collagen in the vulvovaginal area, and this creates more problems than your mother ever told you about. A level of urinary incontinence, lack of lubrication, burning, itching and even discomfort when sitting (due to, hopefully, atrophy of the labia) can, to a greater or lesser extent, be a part of life.
Meanwhile, having children can damage the bladder nerves, pelvic muscles, and supporting vaginal tissues, causing even more bladder leaks.
And the good news? You no longer have to put up with it “because it’s natural.”
“My patients want to take control of their bodies,” says Galyna Selezneva (in drritarakus.co.uk), a cosmetic doctor with a background in gynecology who has become the go-to ‘vagina whisperer’ for wealthy Londoners.
She has noticed a tendency for women to reinvent themselves after childbirth or when they reach menopause, divorce, the death of a partner, an empty nest: “life-changing milestones but they don’t have to be the end of life.” as we know it.” .
Selezneva, whose vaginal retouching clientele is divided into “60 percent between 50 and 60 years old, 20 percent over 70 and the other 20 percent approximately between 40 and 40,” estimates that her reservations In the last two years they have increased. “by approximately two thirds.”
She says women now broach the topic without being asked, talking about function and strength rather than aesthetics, which used to be the main driver of “bottom-up” procedures.
Consultant gynecologist Miss Tania Adib (adib.org.uk).
“I have noticed a significant increase in the number of women seeking vaginal lasers, injectables and other regenerative treatments,” she says. “They do it for themselves: they want to feel and look good, as well as enjoy the benefits of a better feeling that often comes along.”
The options menu is bewildering, as well as looking scary. As with facial touch-ups, most procedures are based on stimulating cell regeneration using heat or injecting substances.
As expected, in some cases local anesthesia is required to perform the procedure, although none require recovery time. It goes without saying that you want to look for a doctor with a lot of experience and good knowledge of gynecology.
As for your modesty, try to forget it completely. I suggest you check in advance about her doctor’s treatment: you’ll want it to be excellent.
These are the five most popular and effective V-tweaks.
Inge van Lotringen discovers the most popular and effective vagina ‘touch-ups’ that exist
For a toned vagina, just sit back and relax.
High intensity electromagnetic muscle stimulation with Emsella (Dr Selezneva from Rita Rakus clinic, Knightsbridge, drritarakus.co.uk)
What is it? Kegel exercises are the gold standard for strengthening pelvic floor muscles that no longer effectively control the urge to urinate, and this machine, which is basically a chair, produces the equivalent of 11,000 muscle contractions in half an hour. The best? You just sit on it, fully clothed.
What happens? The intense, strange, but not painful energy simply travels through your vajayjay in waves while you read a magazine.
Results and cost? With multiple reasons for a leaky bladder, Adib recommends an internal exam to determine if weak muscle tone is your problem before shelling out for this treatment. If so, four to six sessions, a few days apart, make a significant difference in those leaks caused by coughing, laughing, or simply the knowledge that a bathroom is nearby. Individual sessions cost approximately £200, while Emsella treatment packages can cost from £850 to £2,000 for six sessions.
For plumper lady parts and bladder control.
Emfemme 360 radiofrequency vaginal remodeling (Dr. Selezneva at Rita Rakus clinic)
What is it? Radiofrequency heat at a relatively comfortable 42°C gently increases collagen production, including in and around the vagina and vulva.
This improves “the hug and plumpness” of the lips, as Selezneva memorably puts it. “It also increases internal lubrication and can relieve itching and burning that can occur when tissues wear out,” she says.
Importantly, “collagen remodeling” strengthens the vaginal walls and their ability to support the bladder, while heat calms the overactive bladder, thereby controlling incontinence.
What happens? The recently launched Emfemme 360 and its previous incarnation, the UltraFemme, treat the vagina in eight minutes and the vulva in about 12.
The heat is gentle and Dr Selezneva explains that ‘the skin of the vagina has no painful nerve endings. Underlying structures such as muscles and fascia. [thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place] They have a pain response, just like the uterus.
But there’s no getting around the fact that the ‘treatment head’ is basically a heated ‘wand’ (in a choice of two sizes) that moves in and out while you lie back and think of England.
Results and cost? Three sessions are recommended. Some notice increased lubrication after just one treatment, but about three months after the last session will result in plumper tissue and greater comfort and bladder control. Costs start at £350 for single in-house sessions, but Selezneva charges £3,200 for a full course combining in-house and out-patient treatment.
For tissue regeneration and lubrication.
Fractional vaginal laser (Tania Adib at The Medical Chambers, Kensington, adib.org.uk)
What is it? A vaginal laser causes small microlacerations to trigger a healing “collagen remodeling response” within the vagina and at its entrance, thickening and tightening the tissues to provide comfort and support to the bladder. The procedure is particularly “amazing for correcting dryness,” says Adib, who uses the “best-researched fractional carbon dioxide laser for this purpose,” the MonaLisa Touch.
What happens? Your doctor will insert a small probe to deliver the laser energy; It only takes five minutes.
It is painless due to the absence of painful vaginal fibers, but “the vulvovaginal entrance is usually where the main dryness problem occurs and is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, so I will apply a numbing cream there before the treatment,” says Adib.
There is a small risk of burns and loss of sensitivity (choose a very experienced specialist) and you may feel slight irritation for about a day after the procedure.
Results and cost? Initially you need three treatments, followed by a maintenance treatment approximately every year. Ninety percent of patients achieve good results after three sessions; some notice improvement after just one. Adib charges £1,800 for the course and £650 for a single session.
To increase collagen and orgasms
Intimate PRP (Tania Adib in The Medical Chambers)
What is it? Platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy involves placing a small amount of blood in a centrifuge for a few minutes to separate the plasma, which is rich in regenerative growth factors.
These can be injected into the vagina to “bulk and strengthen collagen around the urethra to keep it strong, and into the vulva to help regenerate dry, stiff tissues,” says Adib.
And there’s an additional application: “PRP injections into the clitoral hood tighten the tissue, improving the intensity of the orgasm.” Who knows?
What happens? An anesthetic cream is applied before the punctures and is completed with an analgesic injection if the clitoris is being treated. Thank God. Some temporary staining and bruising may occur after treatment. The entire procedure takes approximately one hour.
Results and cost? Adib charges from £1,150 for the procedure and follow-up. You will notice full results after three months and they usually last for a year.
For cushioning, tension and moisture of the lips
Vulva Fillers and Enhancers (Sarah Tonks at The Lovely Clinic, Chelsea, thelovelyclinic.co.uk)
What is it? Desirial Plus is a different type of “lip filler”: a dense hyaluronic acid gel, it is specifically designed to re-cushion the outer lips, which can lose density and tone as collagen is lost. Filling the outer labia also serves to provide protection to the labia minora if they are exposed and causing discomfort.
“It works wonderfully, but you need quite a bit of product,” says cosmetics doctor Dr Sarah Tonks, who also uses its sister product Desirial, an injectable moisturiser. Injected into the mouth of the vagina, it spreads to restore moisture, tone and tension.
What happens? “To inject the inside and mouth of the vagina, a tampon with anesthetic gel is used an hour before so as not to feel the punctures,” says Tonks. “The worst thing is the anesthetic injections in the outer lips. After that, it’s easy.”
Some bruising is possible, as well as a very small risk of lumps and encapsulation, so these treatments should only be trusted to highly qualified doctors.
Results and cost: Desirial Plus filler can last a few years, while Desirial hydrating injections last six to nine months. Desirial starts at £500; for Desirial Plus, two syringes of product cost £1,445.