Dr. Patricia Ann Wallace, MD is a board-certified urogynecologist with 13 years of experience. The owner of the Center for Pelvic Health and Wellness in Mission Viejo, California, she is dedicated to supporting women in living their best life. Dr. Wallace provides a range of surgical and non-surgical treatments for gynecology and urogynecology conditions, including pelvic disorders and incontinence. She also has a special interest in sexual wellness treatments, such as bioidentical hormone balance therapies like BioTE pellet HRT, and non-surgical body contouring. Dr. Wallace received her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School. She later completed residencies in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and the University of California, San Diego Medical Center before finishing a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, Irvine. Today, Dr. Wallace serves as a key opinion leader for ThermiVa, a radiofrequency treatment for pelvic and sexual wellness. She is also the Director of Pelvic Health and Wellness at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.
A: ThermiVa is a radiofrequency treatment that gently heats the skin and initiates collagen healing cascaded that results in more collagen elastin, blood flow, and nervous tissue in the area. For RF to effective need the skin temperature to be at 41 degrees celsius for 5 mins- as long as the area is covered well and brought to correct temperature- the treatment will be effective. For internal treatment for tightening 15 mins is typically enough. If someone has urinary leakage, that time may be spent on the anterior wall. For orgasm and labial treatment- again 10-15 mins is often enough. Thats why ThermiVa should be done by someone who approaches the treatment individually for each patient and by an expert in pelvic health and sexual medicine.
A: ThermiVa is an excellent treatment for restoring the vagina canal, improving blood flow and sensitivity to clitoral area, and increasing elasticity and plumping of the canal. It will "tighten" the canal by restoring the tissue integrity.
Externally, ThermiVa can improve the appearance of the labia majora and perk those up.
The labia minora do not shrink significantly with ThermiVa.
So if you are concerned about the extra tissue in your labia minora- surgery is your best option.
I am a Urogynecologist who does ThermiVa and Labialplasty. You want to make sure your provider is an expert in the pelvic region.
A: First thing we must know is that Skin is Skin. The inside of the vagina has the same skin as the outside except for a keratinizing layer top layer. Laser uses light energy to bore tiny holes in the skin which stimulates new growth of collagen and new skin. It works well for atrophy but is limited by its applicator delivering energy to the canal. Burns are possible and need a topical anesthetic. Also it is not clear how many times you can laser the vagina without scarring. You also would not want to laser the clitoral area unless trying to ablate lesions. RF uses electrical energy to heat up the skin and can be individualized to body parts, vulva, clitoral area, perineum, and canal. There is no anesthesia required. RF penetrates a little deeper to break collagen bonds and start the collagen healing cascade. ThermiVa specifically had the first temperature controlled RF applicator. RF is very good for atrophy, but also can target the labia majora for deflation. clitoral area for increased blood flow and sensation, lateral to the urethra for stress incontinence, and vaginal opening for thinning and canal for restoring elasticity and plumping the walls.
I prefer RF and ThermiVa for those reasons.
A: First thing we must know is that Skin is Skin. The inside of the vagina has the same skin as the outside except for a keratinizing layer top layer.
Laser uses light energy to bore tiny holes in the skin which stimulates new growth of collagen and new skin. It works well for atrophy but is limited by its applicator delivering energy to the canal. Burns are possible and need a topical anesthetic. Also it is not clear how many times you can laser the vagina without scarring. You also would not want to laser the clitoral area unless trying to ablate lesions.
RF uses electrical energy to heat up the skin and can be individualized to body parts, vulva, clitoral area, perineum, and canal. There is no anesthesia required. RF penetrates a little deeper to break collagen bonds and start the collagen healing cascade. ThermiVa specifically had the first temperature controlled RF applicator. RF is very good for atrophy, but also can target the labia majora for deflation. clitoral area for increased blood flow and sensation, lateral to the urethra for stress incontinence, and vaginal opening for thinning.
I prefer RF and ThermiVa for those reasons.
As a Urogynecologist, I know when the urethral opening and near the urethra can be treated and not- most women will get transient swelling and may feel like a UTI, so I advise most non-urogyns to avoid this area.
A: I am a Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeon- on average most women still have sutures in the vaginal tissue at 8 weeks sometimes 12 weeks. I would advise waiting until sutures are gone.