Does FemiLift Work for Vaginal Tightening?

This is a great question because many new procedures are being marketed as nonsurgical alternatives. Here's the lowdown:Femilift, the Mona Lisa Touch, and the IntimaLaser procedures are nonsurgical laser procedures that treat the skin of the vaginal canal. They use the same technology of fractional laser skin peeling used for the face. These procedures are examples of laser vaginal tightening (LVT) - actually laser vaginal skin tightening.When the vagina loosens after childbirth, it's the muscles that have loosened. The skin stretches too, but the distances between the levator muscles (Kegel muscles) and the muscles of perineum is commonly permanently widened. In addition, the attachments of pelvic floor muscles, the bladder, and the rectum can become damaged. Procedures generally known as vaginoplasty and pelvic floor reconstruction are designed to fix the damage, tighten the muscles, and tighten the skin to create a long lasting and effect solution. LVT, cures none of these things. It's designed to provide a mild superficial and temporary shrink to the vaginal skin only, not the muscles and not to damage to the pelvic floor. It's a trade-off. If you want something that works well and lasts a long time, consider vaginoplasty. If you want something nonsurgical with no downtime that's less expensive, that yields milder, temporary results, then LVT might be your thing. For my patients, the decision process is similar to choosing between Botox and a facelift. They both improve wrinkles, but one requires a much larger commitment of time, courage and dollars. I offer both options in my center and my patients appreciate the opportunity to explore all of their alternatives.

Patients typically note improvements after their first treatment.  Once they complete their series of 3 treatments, patient are amazed at the changes.  Including improvement in laxity, dryness, sexual response, and stress incontinence.

The important thing to realize is that industry is aware of the growing attention to vaginal condition and it's connection to women's confidence and sexual pleasure in modern times.  There are many companies that are trying to capitalize on these concerns.  These "new technologies" exist not because they are efficacious or offer something beneficial but rather because there is an extremely profitable market.  These lasers claim to promote "vaginal health" without even qualifying what that statement means.  The most common draw is the concept of "vaginal tightening."  The thought is that coagulative contraction would cause shrinkage of the vaginal walls making a tighter vagina.  This simply doesn't work and if it did would cause big problems.  The important thing to understand is that the vagina does not naturally get tightness from its lining.  During climax the vagina can open up significantly and there is enough surface area of lining in a young and tight vagina to allow a baby through.  Vaginal tightness comes from muscular sling and soft tissue.  Laxity can be attributed to both less tone and less soft tissue from atrophy.  Attempts to directly tighten the vagina like excisional vaginoplasty almost invariably lead the to pain with intercourse.  If we were able to tighten the vagina with a laser the result would be similar.  Many techniques toughted to tighten the vagina are simply caustic agents that irritate and inflame the vagina which leads to dryness that can feel like tightening but a dry vagina is not a good thing.  I recommend staying away from these technologies.  I perform vaginoplasty in my practice by directly addressing the problem-soft tissue atrophy.  I use a special technique of fat grafting to pad, soften and tighten the vaginal walls.  I also use this technique to lower the g-spot so it is more engaged in penetrative intercourse dramatically increasing pleasure and orgasmic potential.  Patients report much more pleasurable sex for both partners, increased intensity and frequency of orgasms and improved lubrication.  The procedure is commonly combined with a MACIE-labiaplasty.  Stay away from lasers and incisions in your vagina!  I hope this helps!
All the best,
Rian A. Maercks M.D.

With the availability of recent technology, there are few nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation options available for our patients. CO2 fractionated lasers include the FemiLift, MonaLisa Touch and IntimaLase. The ThermiVa is radiofrequency energy that can also treat the outer Labia to reduce and tighten this area. It can increase blood flow, sensitivity, and orgasm. It can increase moisture and decrease urinary incontinence for many women.PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma ) can be added to these procedures which may make a difference in the outcome. It can be injected into the vaginal mucosa to increase circulation and vaginal health, O-shot. PRP can also be used for a “G” Shot which is injected into the G-spot.Such non-surgical laser vaginal rejuvenation require approximately 3 sessions. Once or twice yearly follow up treatments are recommended to maintain vaginal health. Also, if PRP is being added there is an additional fee per treatment session.However, surgery is the most common treatment. Each procedure is customized to the physical findings as well as the desired goals of the patient. There is no one right solution for all patients, but there is a solution for every woman.

#Femilift, and the #MonaLisaTouch are nonsurgical laser procedures that treat the mucosa ( internal pink skin) of the vaginal canal. #ThermiVa uses radiofrequency, RF, energy to do the asme. These procedures cause contraction of the vaginal lining as well as stimulate moisture. After the initial treatment  maintenance a few times a year is usually recommended. A vaginoplasty surgically makes the canal tighter on a more permanent basis.#VaginalTightening

The FemiLift is a CO2 laser which works by creating intentional thermal and ablative injury to portions of the vaginal epithelium while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. This allows for quick healing and collagen regeneration. I treated the first patient in the U.S. in November of 2013. She experienced excellent improvement in her vaginal sensation. She returned last week (January 2016) for a touch up laser treatment and an O-Shot, a Laser Enhanced O-Shot. She's still pleased with her results, but wanted to maintain them and improve her orgasmic response as well. Since 2013, I've treated 100s of women with complaints of vaginal looseness who also complained of stress urinary incontinence and/or vaginal dryness. The results have been amazing.  Women with orgasmic dysfunction often choose to add the O-Shot at the time of their Laser Vaginal Tightening treatments.Not all women experience similar improvement because every women presents with different degrees of relaxation and symptoms. Some women require Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation, LVR, or Vaginoplasty. The trick is patient selection, which is why consulting with a pelvic surgeon experienced in reconstructive and cosmetic vaginal surgery is critical so he/she could recommend the best option for each patient.See link below to read the results from another patient in her own words.

As a Gynecologist who has performed FemiLift for over 30 patients, I can share with you, what my patients are stating in their questionnaire after each treatment.Usually after first treatment they notice better bladder control , after 2nd and 3rd they do state feeling tightness between 50- 75 %.Recently I have started to add PRP ( Platelet Rich Plasma ) to my Femilift and preliminary result are fantastic.

    Vaginoplasty usually addresses issues very well.  Vaginoplasty also creates a repair and a tightening with multiple tissues. Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Lasers such as FemiLift and MonaLisa are a wonderful option for patients not interested in undergoing surgery, but they will not work as well as surgical intervention.
For patients with mild-moderate laxity and no significant pelvic organ prolapse, we have seen significant improvement and feedback from patients seeking laser therapy.
Most patients require 3 sessions for maximum benefit, followed by ~ one additional treatment annually.
For pelvic prolapse with signficant laxity, rectocele and/or anterior vaginal prolapse, surgery is often the better choice.
Dr R

Yes! The femilift procedure tightens the vaginal canal. The procedure involves using a fractionated co2 laser which stimulates collagen production, tightens the tissues, and improves the quality of the tissues which in turn tightens the vaginal canal.