Springs Aesthetics is a full-service medical spa in Colorado Springs. Springs Aesthetics was founded and serves the purpose of helping people feel better about themselves. Dr. Burroughs was the second to bring ThermiVa to Colorado Springs. It is a non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation (VR) procedure, that has become very popular as it also helps women look and feel better in their intimate area. Dr. Burroughs had heard about how well these treatments work from an aesthetic surgical colleague, who is married to a OB/Gyn doctor. He researched its clinical effectiveness and during his study noted that on the RealSelf website it has a nearly 90% “Worth It” rating. Our experience with ThermiVa at Springs Aesthetics has also lined up with a 90% satisfaction rate, which is very encouraging.
Vaginal tightening, urinary incontinence and simple aesthetics are just a few reasons why women are getting vaginal rejuvenation. According to the American Med Spa Association, vaginal rejuvenation treatments have seen a 30% increase in recent years, due in large part to advances in non-invasive technology. Surgery carries certain risks, has downtime, and increased expenses compared to non-invasive treatments.
Vaginal rejuvenation procedures include laser and/or radiofrequency treatments to the vaginal canal and/or augmentation to the labia or clitoral hood to improve appearance, sexual function and help with stress incontinence.
Dr. Burroughs has noted awareness and acceptance of vaginal rejuvenation procedures is on the rise, with these improved technologies that are making these procedures broadly available.
With the continued trend of going hairless around the vagina, it is an area women are becoming more concerned about appearance-wise. This aesthetic driving force as well as the desire for improved sexual confidence and satisfaction is driving women to pursue these treatments. Many women lacking sexual confidence find that tightening of the vaginal wall will not only improve sexual experience but also restore confidence in bed.
Standard vaginal rejuvenation is done surgically by cutting and tightening the tissue with sutures. This provides a very high degree of satisfaction, patients are advised to have no intercourse for up to eight weeks.
Non-invasive procedures shrink the vaginal tissue with heat, stimulating collagen production and fibroblasts. Laser treatments are done in a series of treatments spaced weeks apart. Downtime is typically less than a week. Alternatively, ThermiVa is gentle radiofrequency heat applied with a comfortably shaped wand, and it only takes about 30 minutes and has absolutely no downtime. Patients treated with ThermiVa can go home after a treatment and immediately have sexual intercourse as soon as they wish.
The American Association of Family Physicians notes that vaginal atrophy is a chronic and progressive condition estimated to effect up to 40% of postmenopausal women. Unfortunately, only 20-25% of symptomatic women seek help. One of the earliest signs of vaginal atrophy is dryness followed by stress urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections. Vaginal atrophy may occur prematurely in women who have undergone surgeries that can alter normal estrogen hormone levels (e.g., hysterectomies) or those that have undergone radiation or chemotherapy (e.g. Tamoxifen) for breast cancer.
A reduction in estrogen results in cytological changes in the vagina leading to shortening, elasticity issues, and narrowing of the vagina. Thinning changes lead to vaginal bleeding and deficient lubrication that causes burning, itching, discharge, and dyspareunia. Up to 76% of women experience decreased vaginal sensitivity over their lifetimes, which is expected to rise with increased longevity. Besides normal aging changes, childbirths, particularly multiple vaginal births lead to stretching of the vaginal walls and opening. Symptomatic vaginal laxity interestingly is reported more in younger females (15-44) than in older women.
Stress urinary incontinence is a prolific problem and largely goes untreated due to the surgical risks, difficulty in consistently performing Kegel exercises, and because there are. no medications that can help it.
These VR energy devices stimulate new collagen and blood vessels to nourish vaginal tissue leading to strengthening, tightening and better elasticity of the vaginal tissue, as well as increased moisture. Peri- and postmenopausal dryness can cause sex to be painful even with the use of purchased lubricant. Dr. Burroughs has noted his patients report significant improvement in their vaginal lubrication, which besides lessening the pain that can occur with intercourse, many patients that struggle with dysorgasmia have noted increased sensitivity and ability to achieve orgasm with intercourse.
ThermiVa treatments are mostly performed by his trained aesthetic RN. This allows for female privacy during an intimate area treatment. The treatments feel like warmth and generally completely painless. No anesthesia or sedation is required, so clients can come in on their own and safely drive home following the 20-30 minute treatment. Benefits occur even after just one treatment, and reach their maximum improvement after the third treatment. They are performed 3-4 weeks apart, and the results last about a year at which time a single “touch-up” treatment is usually all that is needed to maintain the benefits. Consults with Mychelle, the Springs Aesthetics lead RN and manager, are complimentary where she can go over the benefits and help patients decide when to schedule. These treatments almost sounded to “magical” to be true, but since the summer of 2016 we have had a tremendous response and satisfaction rate. It is rare that a non-surgical treatment can have so many benefits not only physically but emotionally and in this case towards sexual well-being. Because women are living longer, fuller lives they need to know that they don’t need to put up with stress urinary incontinence or lack of sexual satisfaction, much less painful intercourse. It’s time to take back your feminine health from age, medical issues, and/or childbirths. Call us for an appointment at 719-473-8801.