Vaginal rejuvenation can tighten your vagina and remove the effects of aging - here's how it works

• Vaginal rejuvenation is an umbrella term for procedures that change the appearance of your vagina.
• Labiaplasty reduces the size of the labia minora, meaning the inner labia.
• You can also get a clitoral hood reduction, which exposes the clitoris for more sexual sensation.

Vaginas are unique and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. However, that doesn't prevent some people from feeling self-conscious about their vaginas - whether it's with the appearance, tightness, or something else. Some people may also have oversized labias, which can cause irritation or poor hygiene.

Vaginal rejuvenation is a great option for those looking to alter their vagina in some way. Here's what you need to know about various methods of vaginal rejuvenation and their efficacy and safety.

What is vaginal rejuvenation?

Vaginal rejuvenation is an umbrella term that refers to procedures that may "correct" the appearance or anatomy of the vagina and/or vulva. There are two main groups of people who may benefit:

• People who have lost vaginal tightness due to childbirth, aging, or treatments like radiation therapy or hormonal treatment for breast cancer.
• People who are unhappy with their labia, either for aesthetic reasons or due to difficulties with hygiene, exercise, or sex.

"Vaginal rejuvenation literally means to make the vagina anew, to take away the effect of time. Remember, the vagina ages just like every other body part, so when we talk about 'correcting,' we really talk about reversing the effects of time," says Norman Rowe, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon at Rowe Plastic Surgery.

Important: Vaginal rejuvenation procedures are safe when performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon or OB-GYN. However, there are rare but potential risks to be aware of such as bleeding, infection, and hematoma, which is a collection of blood that may cause issues with the healing process.

Types of vaginal rejuvenation

Here is a breakdown of different types of vaginal rejuvenation procedures:

Labiaplasty: A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes and reduces the size of the labia minora (the inner labia). Research shows that labiaplasty has high satisfaction rates. A small 2016 study showed 82.8% of participants were moderately to extremely satisfied with aesthetic results.

Vaginoplasty: A vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that tightens the vaginal area. The procedure will tighten the muscles and reduce the diameter of the vaginal canal. A 2019 review says that this procedure has a low risk of complications and results in greater sexual functioning.

The best candidates for vaginoplasties are people who are very concerned with the laxity (or looseness) of their vagina, particularly following childbirth or the natural aging process.

Labia majora (outer labia) procedures: These procedures are different in that they focus on increasing the size of labia majora, by performing fat grafting to change the appearance of the area.

"Many times with aging, the labia majora lose volume and appear to be more wrinkled. A great solution to resolve the lost volume is fat grafting to the area which fills the skin, giving it a youthful appearance," says Luis Macias MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Aesthetic MdR. Typically, a surgeon will harvest fat through liposuction and inject it back into the labia majora.

Clitoral hood reduction: This is a surgery that focuses on reducing the size of the clitoral hood, which can expose the clitoris. Research has shown positive sexual results. A small 2015 study showed that clitoral hood reduction did not result in diminished sensitivity, and in fact, it resulted in increased orgasm frequency and strength in 35.3% of participants.

Laser treatment: There is also a non-surgical option for vaginal rejuvenation, which is a laser known as ThermiVa, says Rowe. He says this option is best for mild cases, and it can help with vaginal tightness as well as urinary incontinence. A 2016 study showed that ThermiVa laser treatment is effective at tightening vaginal wall tissue and improving elasticity.

Insider's takeaway

Vaginal rejuvenation procedures are not medically necessary, but if you are concerned with the appearance of your vulva or the effect that your vulva and vagina have on your sex life, you may be a good candidate.

In fact, according to one estimate, 91.6% of participants were satisfied with their vaginal rejuvenation procedure and reported greater sexual satisfaction, too.

"Surgical vaginal rejuvenation offers a permanent correction of the vagina and vulva. However, this does not mean they will not continue to age and change with time," says Macias.

Be sure to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon or OB-GYN when deciding if you want to go forward with vaginal rejuvenation. Rowe says you must determine what you want to accomplish, the best method to achieve the goals, recovery period, and risks.