Questions and Answers:
Where can out of town guests stay?
Spring Suites Phoenix/Glendale
7810 W Bell Road
Glendale, AZ 85308
623 878.6666
Ramada at Arrowhead Mail
7885 W Arrowhead Town Center Drive
Glendale, AZ 85308
1-800-454-6835
Q: I am interested in having the procedure, can you explain more about it.
A: Because we offer numerous services it is hard to respond to a general question such as this. We have made every attempt to have a comprehensive, descriptive site with visual aids to assist you in identifying and determining your concerns and interest.
Q: Ever since having children, sex just isn't as gratifying. The vagina feels enlarged and loose. The muscles don't seem very strong. My gynecologist told me to do Kegel exercises but these haven't helped a bit. What can I do?
A: This is an extremely common description of the problem many women face and that we hear about in our office nearly daily. Kegel's really don't seem to help much because the tissue is broken, not weak. In order to enhance frictional forces and tighten the vagina, aesthetic vaginal rejuvenation can help. Women are very concerned about their sexual health and sexual gratification.
Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery is a modification of a standard gynecologic surgical procedures. The laser is used to perform, precise, aesthetic surgical incisions. The techniques that we have developed result in a relatively bloodless procedure performed on an outpatient basis. In brief we will tighten the vaginal muscles and support tissues, as well as reduce redundant vaginal mucosa (relaxed vaginal lining). The procedure will enhance vaginal muscle, tone, strength, and control. It will effectively decrease the internal and outer (introitus) vaginal diameters, as well as build up the perineal body (the area immediately outside the vaginal and above the anus. According to Masters and Johnson, sexual gratification for the female is directly related to the amount of frictional forces generated. We can accomplish this with our techniques. The procedure can also provide an aesthetic enhancement of the external vaginal structures (the vulva) to help produce a more youthful look. As with all of our surgical procedures you are an integral part of the team and we listen to you and abide by your wishes. You will let me know the degree of tightness and the appearance you are desiring.
Q: I lose urine when I laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise. This problem has really impacted on my life, it is socially embarrassing and hygienically unacceptable. Can I correct my urinary problem and have vaginal rejuvenation all at once?
A: Your urinary problem is called stress urinary incontinence. It is caused by the vaginal relaxation of the top part of the vaginal wall and hypermobility of the urethra. As I am specially trained in not only aesthetic techniques but also prolapsed repairs and vaginal reconstruction, wecan correct your problem with stress urinary incontinence and enhance frictional forces by vaginal rejuvenation surgery all at the same time.
Q: How long does Elective Vaginal Rejuvenationtake?
A: The surgical time depends on the extent of the procedure. In general the procedure takes about one hour per area.
Q: I have vaginal relaxation of the bottom floor of the vaginal and theperineal body. I cannot squeeze very well at all and my partner can't even feel it if I try. How can Elective Vaginal Rejuvenation help me?
A: In this case we only need to repair the lower floor of the vagina and the perineal body (area immediately outside of the vagina). Usually in this case vaginal relaxation is less extensive. Aesthetic Vaginal Surgerywill tighten the vaginal cylinder, rebuild the perineum muscles and enhance support over the rectum. This will improve frictional forces during intercourse.
Q: I haven't had any children but I have some vaginal relaxation and I would like to enhance vaginal muscle tone and strength as well as decrease the vaginal diameter. Can I have the procedure?
A: Depending on your circumstances you can be a candidate for the Elective Vaginal Rejuvenation.Such procedures primarily involve the bottom part of the vagina and the perineal body.
Q: What types of anesthesia are available?
A: You can be provided with your choice of anesthesia by our board certified anesthesiologist. (local, nerve block, epidural, spinal, IV sedation, general). Some types of anesthesia are procedure dependent.
Q: When can I return to work after Elective Vaginal Rejuvenation?
A: In general returning to work is dependent on the type of work you do. Most patients can return within 5 to 7 days.
Q: I am from out of town. How long do I have to remain in Arizona after Elective Vaginal Rejuvenation?
A: You can return home in 4 days but I usually like to see everyone the day after vaginal surgery and again prior to your departure. If you are in town, we will visit in my office at least every two weeks normally.
Q: How much discomfort will I have after Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery?
A: With our technique of submucosal tumescence and a pudendal block with long acting local anesthetic, you will be virtually pain free for the first 12 to 24 hours. After this, patients report mild to moderate discomfort which can be controlled by analgesics and cold packs to the area.
Q: How much does Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery cost?
A: Fees are all inclusive of the surgical center, anesthesiologist, surgical assistant, surgeon, and follow-up. The fees depend on the type of the procedure and the extent. A fee range can be provided once we know your particular needs, goals and desires.
Q: What are the surgical risks for laser aesthetic vaginal surgery?
A: Elective Vaginal Rejuvenationis a safe procedure with low risk. To put the risk in perspective, pregnancy is associated with far more risk than any of these procedures. Like any surgery the risks are hemorrhage and infection. These are less than 1%. If one requires work on both the upper and lower vagina then there is risk of injury to the bladder and the rectum. This is exceptionally rare and in many years of our surgical experience we have not encountered any of these complications. With any surgery one can encounter scarring. Over correction can potentially result in painful sex. Although rare there are anesthetic risks also depending on the type of anesthesia.
Q: Can Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery be combined with Elective Labial Reductionorprolapase repair?
A: Elective Vaginal Rejuvenationcan be combined with Elective Labial Reductionsuch as laser reduction labioplasty. We have many patients who desire to have prolapse repairs such as cystocele and rectocele repairs or vault suspension. We can usually do this at the same time as a vaginal tightening procedure or labiaplasty/labial reduction surgery
Q: My inner vaginal lips (labia minora) are too long and my labia majora is too bulky and pronounced. Can I have them reduced and at the same time?
A: The labia minora can be aesthetically sculptured to your specifications with reduction labioplasty in our office. We can also perform labia majoralabiaplastyconcurrantly.
Q. How much time does labial enhancement take?
A. As with any surgery, the time required depends on the extentof the surgical procedure. It often takes less than an hour but moretime is necessary if it is combined with a prepuce reduction forexample.
Q. Where is the labiaplasty and the hymenoplasty procedureperformed?
A. These procedures can be done and are often performed as anoutpatient procedure in our office. These usually do not requirehospitalization.
Q. Where is the vaginal rejuvenation procedure performed?
A. This procedure, because of the nature of it being a truereconstruction of the deep vaginal tissues is done in a surgi-centeron an outpatient basis. These usually do not require hospitalization.The bladder catheter and vaginal packing will remain inserted untilyour follow up appointment in my office and removed the next day.
Q. When you perform surgery, what sort of sedation isadministered?
A. Depending on the type of surgery required, the choice ofanesthesia that will be administered by an anesthesiologist canbe a local, nerve block, epidural, spinal, intravenous sedation,general anesthesia or conscious sedation (Twilight). Usually forlabiaplasty general anesthesia is not required. We use twilight conscious sedation and local injections in our office for labiaplastyand hymenoplasty and have found this is a great way to go.
For vaginal rejuvenation we usually attempt to really correctthe deep tissue defects that started the problem altogether sogeneral anesthesia is used at the surgicenter by a board certifiedanesthesiologist with deep local injections as well.
Q. How long after having surgery can I have sexualintercourse?
A. The norm is most often at least 4 weeks from labiaplasty and 8-10 weeks after vaginal rejuvenation.
Q. What about returning to work after surgery?
A. It depends on the type of work you perform. If you do heavylabor it could be a little longer, but most women resume their workschedule within a couple of days after labiaplasty or hymenoplastysurgery. After vaginal rejuvenation it depends on your healing andusually within 1-2 weeks our patients return to work.
Q. What sort of pain or discomfort will I have after surgery?
A. Certain anesthetic nerve blocks that are used are long lasting;you will likely be pain free for up to 12-24 hours after vaginalrejuvenation surgery. Following this period of time you mayexperience mild to moderate discomfort. To relieve pain applyanalgesics and cold packs to the area. You will be sore andpossibly a little swollen after surgery. You are typically ableto walk fairly comfortably within a few days. The labiaplastyand hymenoplasty are usually well treated with ice packs fordiscomfort.
Q. What can I expect from the surgery?
A. The main goal of labiaplasty surgery is reduction andsymmetry. We are attempting to accomplish a more symmetric anaesthetically pleasing result but a natural one as well. When theswelling subsides and the healing is complete you should have anoticeable change in the size and overall appearance of your pubicregion.
Q. What is the cost for labiaplasty?
A. Fees are usually based on an all inclusive program that wouldinclude the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, surgical assistant ifnecessary and follow-up visits. Fees are based on the extent of the surgery performed.
Q. What are the surgical risks with labiaplasty?
A. There is low risk with the labiaplasty procedure. The risks, aswith most surgeries, are hemorrhage (bleeding) and infection. Therate is less than 1%. Scarring is minor, and over correction can result in painful sex. Certainly, the experience of your surgeon canhelp minimize these risks, so choose your surgeon carefully andstrongly consider a surgeon who has a gynecology background andspecial training in cosmetic gynecology techniques.
Q. What about other procedures such as a breast lift? Canother cosmetic procedures be combined with the vaginalrejuvenation or labiaplasty?
A. Yes, any of the more common plastic surgery procedures canbe done during the same surgery though it may not be necessarilyin your best interest to do so. It is not impossible but is fairlyuncommon to have a tummy tuck, breast implants, nose job or anyof a number of other plastic surgery procedures performed at thesame time due to constraints on time under anesthesia and fluidshifts. It is not typically recommended to do many procedures allat once.
