Vaginal rejuvenation using energy-based devices

Abstract

Physiologic changes in a woman’s life, such as childbirth, weight fluctuations, and hormonal changes due to aging and menopause, may alter the laxity of the vaginal canal, damage the pelvic floor, and devitalize the mucosal tone of the vaginal wall. These events often lead to the development of genitourinary conditions such as stress urinary incontinence; vaginal atrophy; dryness; and physiologic distress affecting a woman’s quality of life, self-confidence, and sexuality. Various treatment modalities are currently available to manage these indications, varying from invasive vaginal surgery to more benign treatments like topical vaginal hormonal gels or hormone-replacement therapy. A new trend gaining momentum is the advent of energy-based devices for vaginal rejuvenation that apply thermal or nonthermal energy to the various layers of the vaginal tissue, stimulating collagen regeneration contracture of elastin fibers, neovascularization, and improved vaginal lubrication. This review aims to present the available technologies offering vaginal rejuvenation and the scientific evidence that underlines their safety and efficacy for this indication.

Treating Vaginal Laxity Using Nonablative Er:YAG Laser: A Retrospective Case Series of Patients From 2.5 Years of Clinical Practice

“…3 Recently, different studies suggested promising short-term results with treating vaginal laxity using energy-based devices such as lasers and low-dose radiofrequency. 5,6 In the present study, we aimed to retrospectively extract and analyze the safety and efficacy data of the nonablative Er:YAG IntimaLase treatments performed in our clinical practice during a 2.5-year period. The results of our retrospective case series indicate that the nonablative Er:YAG laser produced favorable results without serious adverse effects.…”

“…In the last decade, new energy deviceebased therapies have become available, including radiofrequency, high-focused ultrasound, and different laser therapies. 5,6 These methods are minimally invasive and offer better efficiency than traditional noninvasive methods. 2 different laser technologies have been proposed to treat genitourinary problems-microablative fractional CO 2 lasers and Er:YAG lasers.…”

Post-menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy — an overview of the current treatment options

“…and the patients can resume their usual activities the same day. In 2015, the results of treatment of vulvovaginal laxity, sexual dysfunction and mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence with RF-based device, were published [50]. This prospective study involved 23 women including 6 premenopausal and 5 menopausal.…”

Primavera: A new therapeutical approach to vulvo-vaginal atrophy

“…The noninvasive treatments may also be performed by fractional carbon dioxide laser, non‐ablative laser, monopolar radiofrequency devices, hyaluronic acid fillers, and fat transplantation (Karcher & Sadick, ).…”

“…The noninvasive treatments may also be performed by fractional carbon dioxide laser, non-ablative laser, monopolar radiofrequency devices, hyaluronic acid fillers, and fat transplantation (Karcher & Sadick, 2016). Some studies aimed to quantify the intensity of vulvovaginal symptoms before and after treatment with high molecular weight HA, to test the tolerability and safety of the product, to evaluate the effect on the quality of life and the compliance to the treatment (Chen et al, 2013).…”