Gold standard: Who applies for vaginoplasty
In the emerging market of aesthetic gynecology while a lot of new and incomprehensible: vaginoplasty, labioplasty, different methods for "rejuvenating the vagina" (whatever that means), whitening of the genitals and anus. In addition to the highly controversial motivation of clients, reputable medical organizations are in no hurry to approve some of these manipulations and remind them that for half of them efficiency and harmlessness have not yet been proven. We understand what procedures may be hazardous to health, and in which cases the end justifies the means.
Gold standard
In the forums, surviving girls divide life into “before” and “after”; They tell how they could not relax in a relationship, were afraid to show their intimate partner or husband, and regain confidence in themselves only by getting rid of "ugliness." "Dangling crimson pieces of flesh, now nothing dangles and does not have such a terrible color. I feel peace, harmony with myself, the long-awaited peace. I went to this, devoured from the inside by worms - merciless complexes. And then so quickly: FALC - and everything was decided. This is a miracle - plastic surgery. I am still amazed and delighted! " - Writes one of the girls who made the labioplasty (changing the shape of the labia).
"It's just awful: you want to like a guy, to be a queen for him, but inside there is a vile feeling of his ugliness. And you understand that this is not some pimple that will disappear in two days. You understand that THIS is your body You start a terribly complex. Every time you have sex, you don’t surrender to emotions, but return to your lack of thoughts in your thoughts. Your complex is like a monster, toothy and ruthless, stands in the way of knowing the fullness of intimate life sensations. Caress causes irritation, touches to little sexual lips us, during intercourse, they are wrapped inside Where here to relax and completely surrender your loved one "-. According to this review, this anatomy can deliver real discomfort, although in the photo attached to the description, labia seem quite ordinary.
Knowledge of the "standard" of plastic surgery clinics clients is found in discussions in male and female forums and in porn films
According to Aigul Azizova, a doctor at the Gineko Clinic, there are more and more people who want to change the shape of the genitals; usually girls are asked to shorten the labia minora and shorten the hood of the clitoris. In general, women want to have neat miniature genitalia - "to please men." Knowledge of the "standard" of plastic surgery clinics clients is found in discussions in male and female forums and in porn films. If before their appearance about aesthetic gynecology, few had heard (this nose should have been “small and even”, the breast was “big and round”, and for the vulva there seemed to be no single standard). Now more and more girls evaluate their labia and clitoris critically, and the inconsistency with the standard presented by the porn industry becomes a source of complexes and suffering.
"Gray mice"
Doctor Azizova, in the specialty she is a gynecological oncologist, says that, having got into the field of intimate plastic surgery, at first she thought: “What kind of nonsense are these operations, everyone has different sexual organs - what is wrong with that?” But "looking at happy patients," changed her mind. “I remember how one of the patients, a woman of fifty-two years old, having come to the clinic with a“ gray mouse ”, left her bright proud woman - after the plasticity of the labia, the sense of self changed so much that it was not recognizable. Apparently, internal clamp, and she could get rid of it only by this method, "- says the surgeon.
Psychologist Sasha Serov reminds that it is important to visit a psychologist before such an operation, if only because the specialist will help to understand what exactly the girl does not suit - the part of the body she wants to change, or the image of herself in general. “Plastic surgeries that are not for medical reasons are based on strong anxiety,” explains psychotherapist Yekaterina Sigitova. “The standard thought in such cases is this: something very, very wrong with me, I will not rest until I finish it. To reduce anxiety, people take risks for life and health - the result temporarily reduces discomfort from their own incompatibility with the “ideal.” The key word here is “temporarily.” It is anxiety that comes first, it doesn’t go away after an operation or procedure, and after a while it crawls up finding another "object" in the body. For it was not so, it makes sense to start with psychotherapy and not directly with the operations. "
And in any case, it is important to adhere to the principle: "medicine" and the risks associated with it should not be more difficult than the "disease" and the expected improvement, recalls the psychotherapist.
Vaginal rejuvenation
Yekaterina Dubovik, PR director of the Gineko Clinic, says that when talking to the patient, the doctors understand that the operation is not needed, then she is directly told about it at the reception - the doctors and quite good psychologists themselves. In the commercial sector, few people are trying to discourage patients from surgical interventions, Aigul Azizova admits.
In addition to the dubious ideology that lies in the very name of the procedure unit, the term "vaginal rejuvenation" stands for a "gray zone": the procedures for "rejuvenation" of the vulva and vagina include surgical methods, and the introduction of fillers, and exposure to lasers. At women's forums, you can find a lot of enthusiastic reviews about new sensations: for a couple of procedures, women had a feeling of a narrower vagina, and sex became more pleasant both for them and for their partners.
According to recent data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the safety of laser technology has not yet been confirmed, and gynecologists warn of possible side effects.
It is worth noting that the task of making sensations during sex more acute (if such is voluntarily put) is quite possible to cope with training the muscles of the pelvic floor - besides this is an excellent prevention of urinary incontinence, which many women face, especially in the first time after childbirth. But it's not only that. According to recent data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the safety of laser technology has not yet been confirmed, and gynecologists warn of possible side effects - including scars that affect the quality of orgasm, mucosal burns and not only.
Techniques that promise narrowing of the vagina in one degree or another, stimulate the production of collagen in the tissues of its walls. And this process starts just microdamages that occur when exposed to a laser, further increases blood circulation, activates fibroblasts and begins production of collagen, resulting in a layer of fiber between the mucous membrane and muscles becomes thicker and denser.
Deep warm
Obstetrician-gynecologist of the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Kulakova, MD, Inna Apolikhina, conducting intimate rejuvenation procedures, says that there are different types of lasers: erbium is more suitable for young women, and a CO2-based laser is better for menopausal women. As the doctor explains, burns, scars and other troubles are associated with improperly built settings, and the main problem is the lack of uniform standards and the need to adjust the device for each patient. Today, the procedure with the same name can be performed on different equipment that doctors treat differently - therefore, one cannot speak about uniform performance and safety.
Dr. Apolikhina recommends the "world standard" in laser intimate "rejuvenation" - the SmartXide 2 system, FDA certified in 2015: it performs procedures with the lyrical name MonaLisaTouch. However, the study of the FDA documents leads to the conclusion that the organization only resolves the use of the device itself (it can be used to solve not only gynecological, but also dermatological, dental and other problems), but it does not provide its use for the purpose of intimate rejuvenation. is contained in a special document from 2018).
Laser therapy is sometimes used in oncological and gynecological patients for treating the effects of chemotherapy such as vulvovaginal atrophy or recurrent vaginitis.
Natalya Alekhina, a gynecologist at the Novosibirsk Women's Clinic of Health, examines the principle of operation of another device with an erbium laser: “The FOTONA manufacturer website says that“ heating of the surface layers of the mucous membrane ensures smooth heating of the wall to a depth of 10 mm. ”10 millimeters! My knowledge of anatomy with the histology of the genital organs, in particular the vagina, reminds me of three to four millimeters of wall thickness. What kind of technique is this, heating not only the wall of the vagina, but everything behind it? " The doctor is ironic and above the promise of manufacturers "to achieve heating of the vaginal wall to a temperature of 60-63 ° C without damage to the mucous membrane." "I hope all doctors remember that the temperature of 60-63 degrees causes protein coagulation, and this is necrosis, that is, irreversible changes in the tissue. A connective tissue scar (fibrosis) develops at the site of necrosis."
Are there any serious risks
To laser "rejuvenation" of anything at all should be approached seriously - this is a medical rather than a beauty procedure, and it is too risky to do it in a dubious salon or clinic. As an oncologist, Aigul Azizova believes that any stimulating effect can activate malignant processes if they have already begun. “I had a patient with vaginal cancer. A tumor formed on the front wall, next to the bladder. I don’t think the cancer was triggered by a rejuvenation procedure that a woman underwent recently, but in theory she could speed up this malignant process. The patient felt that that was wrong but
blamed everything on the side effects of the procedure and did not immediately see a doctor. Before resorting to such manipulations, you need to be sure that there is no hint of an oncological process in the area being treated - and for this little cytological smear from the cervix, the gynecologist should examine all the walls of the vagina, "explains the doctor.
Doctor of the Center. Kulakova Anastasia Bychkova recalls that before the procedure you need to undergo a wide range of tests - including oncocytological examination of the pelvic smears and ultrasound of the pelvic organs (to exclude any neoplasms on the ovaries and in the uterus). However, Inna Apolikhina says that laser therapy is sometimes used in gynecological patients for treating the effects of chemotherapy such as vulvovaginal atrophy or recurrent vaginitis; but the procedure can be carried out only after the conclusion of the oncologist about the absence of contraindications.
Fillers and plasma
Intimate cosmetology also uses injections, including hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). With PRP, the patient takes blood from a vein, is placed in a test tube, sent to a centrifuge, where plasma and platelets are released, which are then injected into the right place depending on the indications (for example, in the subcutaneous or submucosal layer). Again, if the medical results of the method are not bad - according to research, it contributes to the restoration of tissues after surgery - then you can’t say whether the ptosis can be cured this way or the walls of the vagina can be significantly strengthened. Observations of nine patients did not allow an increase in collagen levels to be detected - although no definite conclusions could be drawn from the results of such a small study.
As for fillers, they are also injected into the tissues of the pubis and the labia majora - for example, when they are heavily sagging due to weight loss - and into the walls of the vagina, making it narrower. Hyaluronic acid injections are also made in the so-called “G-spot area” - according to the plan, this should reinforce the sensations. True, it is possible, there is a placebo effect. “I jokingly call it stabbing in the head,” says Aygul Azizova.
Anus whitening
The demand for whitening, which is created by the owners of pink and white anus, has several promising proposals: from excision of the pigmented skin area to creams and, again, laser. While some girls on the forums are seriously discussing skin lightening with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and peroxide, others are buying special creams, the use of which also carries certain risks.
Sometimes the composition uses potentially hazardous substances. For example, hydroquinone - it blocks the production of melanin, causing the skin to become lighter. In addition to suspicion of carcinogenicity, hydroquinone has a side effect - it causes chronosis, in which the skin gets an unhealthy bluish-gray tint. Also undesirable components include arbutin, kojic or azelaic acid - these ingredients can cause allergic reactions, irritation, and are also likely to be carcinogenic.
Laser whitening can be fraught with burns, scars, pain and uneven pigmentation. Anastasia Bychkova explains (laser brightening is also carried out in the department where she works) that for such a procedure, the patient should not have inflammations and anal fissures, and other side effects depend on the doctor and his ability to handle the equipment.
To whom it all shows
“Rejuvenation” is often viewed not as an aesthetic correction, but as the elimination of discomfort-related changes — they can be age-related, appear as a result of childbirth, or some kind of disease. This is the prolapse of the walls of the vagina, uterus, urinary incontinence. But the opinions of doctors and at this angle diverge. According to available research, a CO2 laser can actually have a healing effect on women with urinary incontinence and improve sexual sensations. But the oncogynecologist Aigul Azizova believes that these problems cannot be eliminated by strengthening the muscles.
In the center of them. The Kulakov operation is called an extreme measure and they say that they successfully treat such problems conservatively - it is only important to choose an integrated approach. After examination, the center doctors prescribe a course of procedures, which may include training the muscles of the pelvic floor, wearing urogynecological pessary, laser exposure, the introduction of hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), lipofilling, carboxytherapy and so on. However, in case of severe omission, women are still being prepared for the operation.
"Rejuvenation" is often viewed not as an aesthetic correction, but as the elimination of discomfort-related changes — they can be age-related, appear as a result of childbirth, or any diseases
TO plastic surgery of the genital organs (labioplasty) there are also objective indications: these are congenital malformations of the genital organs, underdevelopment of the vagina, fusion of the labia minora lingerie rubs small labia.
In the medical journal of aesthetic surgery, there are studies devoted to observations of patients who have gone through labioplasty using two main methods: marginal or wedge resection. According to the authors, both methods are safe, however, judging by the reports, not many women participated in the observation and some of them still had undesirable effects - according to the researchers, insignificant. Judging by the messages on the forums, the main risk is a decrease in sensitivity. Aigul Azizova explains that a normally performed operation does not lead to a loss of sensitivity, and recommends choosing a wedge-shaped method rather than marginal resection - this method eliminates the risk of affecting the pedicle of the clitoris.
Photo: tina bits - stock.adobe.com, Marie Maerz - stock.adobe.com, mgdrachal - stock.adobe.com