Difference Between Vaginal Rejuvenation with Laser and Without Laser?

Dear Andy2143,
Thank you for your excellent question.
It is the patient's symptoms and anatomic damage that determines whether or not one is a better candidate for surgery or for a non-surgical approach.  Surgery is best for women with moderate to severe pelvic relaxation affecting bladder, bowel and sexual function and can be done with a scalpel, laser or electrocautery.  Vaginal Rejuvenation is an umbrella term for a number of surgical techniques published in the scientific literature that restore the support to the vaginal canal (anterior, lateral and posterior walls), vaginal opening, and perineum.  Feeling wide or loose after childbirth, not being able to feel one's partner or partner fall-out during sex because of damaged muscles at the vaginal opening, air that moves in and out causing embarrassing gas-like noises are improved with these surgeries.
Women with mild to moderate pelvic relaxation may benefit from a combination of things including hormones, weight loss, radiofrequency(RF) or laser treatments, and pelvic floor therapy.  Both lasers and RF address dryness causing painful sex, stress urinary incontinence and over-active bladder, and vaginal tightness.
The main difference between lasers and RF is that lasers destroy the cells to regenerate them while radiofrequency stimulates the cells to regenerate them.  RF penetrates a little deeper into the tissues, causes no discomfort or discharge and has no downtime after treatments. The cells are stimulated to make more proteins and collagen, with an increased number of cell layers noted microscopically. RF uses the same disposable hand piece for internal and external treatments while many of the lasers have reusable  interchangeable hand pieces.
The main thing to recognize is that both RF and lasers have the same end results, which vary depending on how a woman's body responds to it and are not permanent, lasting a year to year-and-a-half for many women.  Long-term studies have not been published but are in progress.
You can read more about radiofrequency at the link below.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Troy R. Hailparn, M.D, FACOG
Cosmetic Gynecology Center of San Antonio

A laser is a device which emits energy at a particular wavelength and, in the case of vaginal rejuvenation, delivers energy to vaginal tissues causing shrinkage and tightening. The ThermiVa uses radiofrequency to heat the tissues to allow for shrinkage. While we don't do laser vaginal rejuvenation, I can tell you that an overwhelming number of ThermiVa patients are thrilled with their results.

It used to be that laser vaginal rejuvenation referred to using lasers to cut skin and tissues during vaginal surgery.  They (lasers) were not a necessary part of the procedure and were only part of the hype because the how the rest of the surgery was designed and performed was more important.Now - some companies have created lasers to place into the vaginal canal and produce tightening.  I dislike this procedure because you are using a laser to create little pin hole damage or burns throughout the tissue that will cause constriction for the resulting scar that is formed.  I PREFER more non invasive ways of producing identical results with ThermiVA.  It uses radiofrequency applied topically (ontop) of the tissue without creating holes, burns, or other damage.  It encourages tightening of the tissues with gentle heating and produces collagen formation that tightens tissue, improves bladder leakage, can tighten and shrink external labia minora and majora.  All this without any direct damage to the tissues.  Thats my 2 cents!