What makes a woman feel confident? To be honest, the answer to this question is one that varies from woman to woman. But while every woman places a different level of importance on her health and physical appearance, most women feel a little less confident when they are suffering the effects of aging on their most intimate places. The experts at Your Skin RN in Kitchener, ON know one solution for these issues, is Viveve, a revolutionary energy-based treatment ideal for addressing feminine health concerns.
Are You a Candidate for Viveve?
There are many women who make good candidates for this treatment. Generally speaking, any woman who has identified concerns with vaginal looseness, sexual dysfunction, or incontinence is likely a good candidate for treatment. Adult women who are facing one or more of these concerns are ideal patients for Viveve treatment, particularly if they are not currently pregnant.
What Can Viveve Treat?
Viveve is a unique energy-based treatment that can address a variety of feminine health concerns at one time. For example, in addition to troubles such as urinary or stress incontinence, this treatment can also help women correct:
- Vaginal laxity
- Vaginal dryness
- Loss of sensation
- Lack of natural lubrication
- Low sexual interest
- Weak vaginal muscles
Sexual Dysfunction
Many women suffer from female sexual dysfunction, which is any physical issue that prevents a full expression of sexual desire and activity, either alone or with a partner. While sexual dysfunction is common in women of all ages, mature women are more likely to face pervasive difficulties in this area.
This is particularly true for women who have lost vaginal sensation and who struggle to produce their own lubrication, as both of these symptoms can be caused by hormones and the natural aging process.
Why Hormones Might Not Be Enough
If you’re already on hormone therapy to correct sexual dysfunction, you may be dismayed to learn that the hormone itself is usually not enough to correct pronounced dysfunction.
This is largely due to the fact that correcting sexual dysfunction is a two-pronged issue; while hormones may be able to help you feel more sexual interest, the physical component of sexual activity relies on increased blood flow to the vagina, which is something hormone treatments may not help with.
Age-Related Laxity
As a point of fact, skin tissues all over the body become thinner and weaker as a result of aging. This is because the collagen produced by the body decreases, which in turn makes skin tissues dryer and thinner.
This is true for all skin, including internal vaginal tissues. Many women begin to notice “looseness” of the vagina in response to aging, typically sometime after the onset of menopause.
What Else Causes Vaginal Laxity?
While age is certainly the leading cause of vaginal laxity, it’s far from the only cause. In fact, vaginal laxity is more common in women who have had vaginal births, as this is a process that weakens the muscles in the vagina.
And if you’ve had more than one vaginal birth, you are even more likely to contend with laxity. Childbirth can also weaken your pelvic floor, which is one of the primary causes of incontinence issues.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is another common issue all women face, regardless of their age. While incontinence issues are more common in mature women, there are plenty of young women who experience both stress and urinary incontinence.
Incontinence is more likely for women who have had vaginal births as well as women who are taking certain medications or who have had frequent bladder troubles in the past.
Stress vs Urinary Incontinence
Although incontinence involves losing control of your bladder, there is actually a huge difference between stress and urinary incontinence. Stress, for example, refers to physical stress, not emotional stress: stress incontinence happens when there is pressure placed on the bladder, either by the internal organs, from constipation, from bladder infections, or from movements that squeeze the bladder.
Urinary incontinence, on the other hand, is primarily caused by a delayed response to chemical signals that tell you to empty your bladder. Urinary incontinence usually happens without warning and can constitute anything from a leak during laughter to a full-on flood.
How Does Treatment Work?
Viveve uses a patented technology combination called CMRF, which stands for cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency. CMRF is a uniquely powerful and versatile combination of technologies that allows radiofrequency thermal energy to be used without any risk of tissue discomfort from the treatment. This is because this CMRF system cools the skin even as the deeper layers of tissues are stimulated by radiofrequency.
Scientifically, this treatment works because it stimulates the natural production of collagen and elastin in the deeper tissues of the vagina, as well as helps gently stimulate muscle contractions and increase blood flow to the vagina. Performing all of these tasks at once with an insertable probe that allows for customized depth to be used is one of the main reasons why this treatment is so wildly effective for women in the treatment of such a variety of feminine health concerns.
Consultation
Before your treatment, you will need to attend a consultation appointment so we can confirm your candidacy for the treatment. We will discuss the treatment steps, your goals for the treatment, and the reasonable expectations you should have about your treatment outcome.
We may need to gather certain medical advice about you, such as the date of your last period, your childbearing plans, and any previous treatments you have tried in the past for your feminine health concerns. It’s important that we know about your current treatments for sexual dysfunction and incontinence, as well.
Pre-Treatment Instructions
Preparing for this treatment is very simple – in fact, there isn’t much you need to do at all. The most important task you will have to do to prepare for treatment is thoroughly washing the vagina and vulva area.
It is not necessary to douche before your appointment, and you do not need to shave the vaginal area unless that is your preference. You also will not need to arrange for transportation after your treatment.
Treatment Appointment
Your treatment with this unique system will only take about 45 minutes to complete. During your treatment, you may feel a tingling sensation as the treatment device is inserted into the vagina and turned on; the treatment device will also emit several beeping sounds. You should not feel any pain during your treatment.
Post-Treatment Instructions
After your treatment, there is not much you will have to do in the way of aftercare. Again, please avoid douching after this treatment, as it will upset the natural balance of the vagina and your vaginal tissues will already be somewhat sensitive due to the treatment. Please only wash with warm water and soap for the first 24 hours after your treatment.
Recovery
There is zero downtime associated with this treatment – as soon as your treatment is complete, you are able to return to all of your normal activities, including work. However, we suggest patients abstain from any sexual activity for at least 24 hours after the treatment. Aside from that single restriction, you are free to resume all daily obligations, including exercise.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
This treatment is specifically designed to produce results in one treatment, so most patients only require a single treatment to achieve their desired results. This is one important way this treatment stands out from similar treatments, which sometimes require three or four treatment sessions before any results can be detected.
When Will You See Results?
You will begin to notice the results from this treatment within four to six weeks for symptoms associated with vaginal laxity and sexual dysfunction. For urinary incontinence, it may take six to twelve weeks to experience any significant results. It’s important that patients be patient about results, as every woman’s body responds a bit differently to the treatment.
For example, if you had mild symptoms, you are more likely to see your results in time for your one-month follow-up appointment. If you had more severe concerns, it may take a few more weeks to detect your results.
How Long Do Results Last?
The results of this treatment should last for one year at a time, although some women notice that their results last for a longer time, sometimes as long as 18 months. The results of this treatment last for so long due to the way your skin tissues will continue to produce collagen at a higher rate for several months in response to the stimulation from the radiofrequency energy.
Will You Need Maintenence Treatments?
Yes. You should have this treatment annually if you wish to continue enjoying the results of this treatment. Having a maintenance treatment once a year will encourage higher rates of collagen production, as well as continually stimulating the nerves in the vagina and strengthening the vaginal muscles.
Is This Treatment Safe?
Yes, this treatment is safe and has been approved by the FDA for the stimulation of collagen, nerves, and muscles in the vagina. This treatment is only as invasive as a regular pap smear and is performed with sterilized equipment. And because this treatment does not involve the use of any chemicals or hormones, there is no risk of negative side effects.
What About Pregnant Women?
However, if you are pregnant, you should not use this treatment. This treatment is not recommended for women who are currently pregnant or planning to be. This is because the radiofrequency treatment could cause premature labor. Please verify that you are not pregnant before seeking this treatment.
Is There a Best Age for This Treatment?
There is no set age for this treatment as any adult woman is a potential candidate, particularly if she is enduring one or more symptoms of sexual dysfunction, vaginal laxity, or urinary incontinence. Some women prefer to have this treatment between the ages of 40 and 50, or near the onset of menopause.
Is There a Best Time for This Treatment?
Yes and no. While you can certainly have this treatment during any time of the year, it’s recommended that women who have given birth recently wait at least six months before seeking this treatment. Waiting this long gives your body adequate time to heal from childbirth.
Why Do Women Consider This Treatment?
Women consider this treatment for several reasons, but the most persuasive is the idea of winning back their feminine confidence. Many women suffer from low self-esteem due to perceived vaginal laxity and urinary incontinence. This treatment is one of the ways women can boost their self-confidence.
Revitalize Your Feminine Confidence With Viveve
You don’t have to live with the frustrating symptoms of feminine sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence. With the right treatment, you can easily reclaim your feminine confidence for the long-term. If you think this treatment is right for you, please contact Your Skin RN in Kitchener, ON to schedule your consultation appointment today!