Childbirth, age, and genetics can all take their toll on a woman’s “southern region”. Surgical procedures such as a labiaplasty can be quite effective at trimming tissue in the area, but many patients, according Dr. Holly Wall of Shreveport, Louisiana, want a vagina that looks younger and functions like it used to. This requires what Dr. Wall calls “some fluffing up”, but fat grafting in the vaginal area is difficult. With ThermiVa – a new modality that uses heat therapy to induce “retraction and tightening of the feminine areas” – a new option has opened up for women, all without surgery.
by Katherine Stuart
and Holly Wall, MD
Get a Younger Vagina on Your Lunch Hour
Vaginal rejuvenation may not be something that women talk about at a dinner party, but the latest statistics show that it’s something women want. Childbirth, genetics ,and age can all result in a loss of elasticity in the delicate tissues of the vagina, making the area not only look less attractive, but also potentially painful. ThermiVa is a non-surgical procedure that tightens the skin in the vaginal area, both externally and internally, with absolutely no down-time or pain. “There’s a lot of down-time to a labiaplasty or fat grafting of the feminine areas so we’ve had a lot of success with this modality,” says Dr. Wall.
The ThermiVa procedure takes about 30 minutes, depending on how many areas you want to treat. The patient is placed in a similar position as a pelvic exam. The wand, which is flat and thin, can be placed over the external lips as well as inside the vagina itself. It works by using radio frequency energy to heat the tissue and rejuvenate collagen. When placed internally, the ThermiVA can increase moisture, something all women have a problem with as they head towards menopause. Other changes include tightening of the vaginal vault, orgasm improvement by increasing blood flow to the area, and treat mild to moderate stress incontinence. According to Dr. Wall, it feels, “like a jacuzzi”. The ThermiVa is great for anyone, with the only exceptions being that a patient can’t be pregnant and must have had a clear pap smear within the last two years.
Dr. Wall recommends 3 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. This should last for a year. After that, yearly maintenance will probably be necessary. Just as with lasers and fillers, you may need a touch up to retain your results. So far, patients are loving the ThermiVa. Dr. Wall recently hosted a “lunch and learn” at her office and all 14 women who participated signed up. It became clear, once women started talking, that there’s a lot of unnecessary suffering out there. The ThermiVa is changing that. “It’s a very easy treatment,” explains Dr. Wall. “There’s no down time. You can exercise right away. You can have intercourse right away.”
As with many modern treatment options that avoid the scalpel, ThermiVa is showing promise as something that can fix a variety of small female issues never before thought realistic or possible.