Hyderabad: The use of energy-based lasers and radiofrequency waves to tighten the walls of the vagina or vaginal rejuvenation have been found to be unsafe and these procedures when carried out in unregistered or non-licensed clinics could be very dangerous, according to experts.
The US FDA has stated that the cosmetic use of energy-based devices for vaginal tightening is not approved and has cautioned women to be careful about these. These non-surgical procedures carried out in women’s salons, spas and skin clinics are risky and can also cause damage.
Senior gynecologist Dr Manjula Anagani explained, “The surgical procedures of vaginal tightening were approved in the case of severe urinary incontinence, genital warts, and pre-cancerous vaginal and cervical tissues. There are now cosmetic gynecologists also who are carrying out procedures of vaginal tightening as there are women who have a hectic lifestyle and in the post-menopausal stage require it. It needs to be understood that with a registered hospital and doctor the procedure is carried out with medical protocols.”
The imminent danger that is noticed in these procedures is the quantity of pixels which are used for tightening and when the dose is higher than required it leads to burning and inflammation of the skin. There can also be pain and scarring in the area. Senior consultant cosmetic and plastic surgeon at Apollo Hospitals Dr M Shridharan explained, “There are many women who are scared of surgery and do not want to opt for it. They opt for non-surgical procedures as they think that if taking a laser can give the same benefit, then why not? But often they fail to understand that these procedures by non-licensed and non-trained people can be harmful. There are women who come with chronic pain in the vagina as the radiofrequency used was very high. We have been doing only surgical interventions for tightening and these are mostly for women who feel that they require it for a better quality of life.”
The non-surgical methods are also a day procedure but there has to be multiple sittings and the effect lasts only for two years. In the surgical procedure it is a day treatment but is done under general anesthesia. Women, who have had multiple pregnancies and miscarriages, often find that their vaginal muscles are loose. Exercises like Kegel exercises, yoga can also be opted for to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
