The feeling of looseness can affect women in both private and sometimes embarrassingly more public ways. Pelvic relaxation can impact the pleasure felt during sexual intercourse, it can be associated with involuntary urinary leakage. It is a common condition and unfortunately is often still a taboo topic.
Previously, the treatment options were pelvic floor exercises or surgery, but relief has recently become more accessible with the emergence of alternatives, i.e. effective non-surgical solutions. While there are now various modalities of vaginal tightening, good quality research on each is not readily available and patients should take caution.
What is non-surgical Pelvic Tightening?
Non-surgical pelvic tightening is the minimally invasive, tissue rejuvenating procedure that tightens the canal. This procedure also treats urinary leakage.
In addition, the regenerated tissue reduces dryness, which is a huge advantage for women suffering from the thinning of the walls (‘atrophy’), or ‘genito-urinary syndrome of menopause’, which can range from involuntary urinary leakage to dryness, burning, irritation, lack of lubrication or pain during intercourse. Having this treatment impacts the frequency and intensity of orgasms, ultimately enhancing sexual pleasure.
What are the different methods offered by Dr Novikova?
Pelvic Radiofrequency Treatment
Laser Rejuvenation with pelvic radiofrequency treatment (UltraFemme 360 in our practice) increases the temperature of skin in a very controlled manner, shrinking the collagen fibres and stimulating the production of new collagen in the tissue.
The wall tissue is thicker and less sensitive than external skin tissue thus making it pain-free and full results are apparent a month after the final treatment session, although some patients report feeling a difference from the first session. Body and Skin Clinic offers BTL Ultrafemme 360 radiofrequency treatment technology.
Emsella Pelvic Floor Trainer Chair
The BTL Emsella Pelvic Floor Trainer Chair is a 28-minute ‘lunchtime’ procedure that is an advanced alternative to manual pelvic floor exercises as each session delivers intensive electromagnetic pulses which simulate up to 11 200 muscle contractions. There is no downtime and it is suitable for almost all patients, with results showing from just 4 to 6 sessions.
Emsella helps fix looseness by toning muscles and it treats mild to moderate involuntary urinary leakage of all types.
What can I expect?
A Pap smear should be done within the 12 months leading up to the procedure, as well as a pelvic examination, pelvic ultrasound (if indicated) and a general medical assessment. At your consultation, Dr Novikova will ask you a few questions regarding the medical and sexual history and the reasons why you seek to get the intimate tightening procedure done. She will then take you through how the procedure works and what you can expect.
The vaginal radiofrequency treatment takes 8 minutes, It is not painful. Patients can feel warmth/heat. The probe is inserted with gel and it’s moved continuously during the session. This treatment can be used on labia majora to tighten the skin,
There is no down-time following this treatment.
Who is this treatment for?
As well as the more obvious conditions of:
- pelvic relaxation/laxity (loose or too wide)
- involuntary urinary leakage (leaking urine when jumping, sneezing, coughing, running)
Vaginal tightening can also treat:
- dryness (or atrophic vaginitis)
- frequent infections
It can also increase sexual sensitivity and achieve the cosmetic effect of firming the skin of labia majora
What does non-surgical Vaginal Tightening cost?
The cost of the Ulrafemme vaginal procedure is R3300 per session, 3 sessions are recommended.
The cost of Emsella chair treatment is R3850 for 6 sessions.
Neither vaginal radiofrequency nor Emsella chair treatments are covered by medical aid.
