6 Things to Know Before Getting Viveve® for Vaginal Rejuvenation
Like every system in the human body, the vagina and surrounding tissues are also affected by aging. Fluctuating hormone levels cause vaginal walls to become thinner, dryer and less elastic. Pregnancy and childbirth can also lead to vaginal laxity or the sensation of looseness. And all these changes can have a negative impact on your sexual well-being and affect your confidence.
While Kegel exercises can sometimes help with such issues by strengthening pelvic floor muscles, they cannot help with changes in the vaginal wall itself. And surgery — while found to be quite effective in addressing this particular issue — does carry many risks and requires long periods of recovery.
Non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation with the Viveve® System is a safe and convenient alternative for women dealing with vaginal laxity. Here are a couple of things you want to know before considering this treatment to improve your sexual wellness.
1. It Works By Increasing Collagen Levels
Collagen is your body’s main structural protein. Its levels gradually drop with age, unfortunately, and this drop leads to vaginal atrophy. Repeated trauma from childbirth can also affect collagen distribution in the vagina. The Viveve® System can correct these problems by increasing collagen levels deep within vaginal tissues.
The Viveve® System utilizes cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency (CMRF), which is clinically proven to improve sexual function in women with vaginal laxity. The radiofrequency energy heats vaginal tissues to about 104°F and 113°F while the device’s cooling system keeps the surface area cool. These temperatures cause only mild inflammation that triggers fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin fibers.
2. It Also Enhances Blood Flow and Lubrication
Radiofrequency energy delivered to the vaginal wall is also known to increase blood flow to the vaginal area through neovascularization. Neovascularization is when new blood vessels form in response to injury. In this case, minor injury from radiofrequency heating is responsible for this increase in blood vessels and flow. Increasing blood flow to the vaginal area this way helps increase sexual satisfaction and even lubrication.
And speaking of lubrication, radiofrequency energy also stimulates the proliferation of glycogen-rich epithelial cells of the vaginal wall. Besides blood flow, vaginal lubrication also depends a lot on the cells lining the vaginal wall.
3. You Only Need One, 30-Minute Treatment
Unlike most non-invasive treatments that require multiple rounds to make a difference, the Viveve® System works after a single session. In fact, it is the only FDA-approved, single-treatment option that delivers clinically significant results. What’s more, this treatment is quick, lasting about half an hour and no more than 45 minutes.
Case in point: a clinical trial compared the efficiency of the Viveve® System with a sham device and found that women treated with Viveve® System showed statistically significant improvement in their sexual wellness after a single session. The favorable results in this study lasted for at least six months in the majority of the participants. Because this treatment can deliver energy deep within the pelvic tissue, the results are exceptionally noticeable and long-lasting.
4. You Won’t Feel Any Pain
If you are afraid of painful procedures, you’ll be happy to learn that Viveve® does not involve any pain whatsoever. This treatment does not require any incisions, needles or anesthesia. Instead, your provider inserts a thin probe about an inch or two into your vagina. The probe emits short pulses of radiofrequency energy along with cooling. You will likely feel warm and cool sensations during treatment as a result but no pain.
After treatment, however, mild discomfort is possible and normal. This can include mild swelling, redness and tingling in the vaginal area that tends to resolve after a couple of days. Since this treatment heats vaginal tissues to cause mild and controlled injury, it is normal to experience post-treatment discomfort as the vaginal tissues begin to heal. But compared to other similar treatments, studies have found the Viveve® to be the least likely to cause post-treatment pain.
5. You Are Probably a Good Candidate
This non-invasive treatment has been FDA-approved for women over 18 years of age experiencing vaginal laxity. Nearly anyone with vaginal laxity and who is in relatively good health can get this treatment. However, there are a couple of contraindications to the Viveve® System: patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who are currently receiving chemo or radiation therapy and those who have had a pelvic floor prolapse.
All in all, this treatment is most effective for mild to moderate cases of vaginal laxity due to childbirth, menopause and aging. For more severe cases that may include severe pelvic floor prolapse, surgery may be the best route.
6. Recovery Is Quick and Painless
Unlike vaginoplasty — which requires weeks to months of preparation and four to six weeks of painful recovery — the Viveve® treatment requires minimal preparation and no downtime. You will only need to abstain from sex and avoid inserting anything into your vagina (e.g. tampon or menstrual cup) for the first 24 to 48 hours. Other than that, you can resume your usual routine immediately after treatment.
While you may experience some discomfort shortly after treatment, this usually resolves on its own within a week. As your vaginal tissues begin to heal from treatment, you will notice a gradual improvement in vaginal tightness, lubrication and sensitivity over the next four to six weeks.
Interested in Learning More About the Viveve® System?
Do you feel like tampons no longer fit as snuggly? Are you experiencing a decrease in sensation during sex? Do these changes affect your confidence and sexual well-being? Then you’re likely interested in how non-invasive treatments like the Viveve® System can help. We are here to answer all your questions about this and alternative treatments. Feel free to contact the office of Dr. William and Jeffrey Umansky in La Jolla, CA to schedule your free consultation.