Why is Vaginal Cosmetic Surgery so Popular?

 

According to surveys conducted by plastic surgery societies, vaginal cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest growing procedures. Also, the traffic volume of the Internet search on the topic of vaginal cosmetic surgery has increased tremendously, reflecting the great interest in and the demand for vaginal cosmetic surgery. Why?

I think there are several reasons, but the main reason is the awareness of the aesthetics of the vagina and that something can actually be done to address the concerns regarding the look and function of the vaginal area.

I have been performing vaginal cosmetic surgery for over 25 years. Until about 10 years ago, very few women were aware of cosmetic surgery to correct the look and function of the vagina. Before then, if a woman was courageous enough to ask about her larger hanging vaginal lips, her physician most likely would have said that it was just a normal variant and not to worry about it. The woman, of course, remained wondering whether or not she was normal, and was still embarrassed by her large, hanging labia.

About 10 years ago, nude images became widely available on the Internet, and through this medium, the “normal look” and “beauty” of the female genital area has been defined, rightly and wrongly. Women now can compare themselves to the “stars” and want cosmetic improvement to the genital areas. Many plastic and cosmetic surgeons started to address the increasing demands for labioplasty, and the media has been fueling that trend. Even the plastic surgery TV shows have covered this once sensitive area of intimate aesthetics.

This is a good trend. Aesthetics of the intimate area is no different than that of the face. Large, hanging lips of the vagina have the same negative aesthetic effect as a larger than average nose, both causing self-consciousness and insecurity. Years ago, I had a young nursing student from Oregon come to see me about her large labia. Her boyfriend made some insensitive comments about them, and she was devastated. Her local gynecologist could not help her, and she was greatly distressed. When I explained how I could help her with a simple labioplasty, her tearful gratitude was touching. Her extreme joy after seeing the surgical result was one of my most gratifying moments in my professional life. Yes, I am happy that vaginal cosmetic surgery is becoming well known and popular. It brings joy and confidence to so many women.

Michael Lau, MD

 

Michael Lau, MD, FACS, FACOG - Faculty at the AMWC World Congress in Monte-Carlo, March 26-28, 2015

Michael Lau, MD, FACS, FACOG, has been invited to be a faculty at the upcoming AMWC World Congress (Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress) in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, March 26-28.

Recognized for his expertise in vaginal cosmetic surgery, Dr. Lau is invited to give a presentation to an audience of cosmetic and plastic surgeons from all over the world. Dr. Lau will be speaking on the topic of Applying anatomical and physiological considerations to optimize sexual function in vaginal cosmetic surgeries.

"The vaginal area is richly supplied by nerves and consists of erectile tissues that contribute to the sexual response of women. While vaginal cosmetic surgery has a primary objective to improve the appearance of the area, it is of great importance to preserve the nerves and erectile tissues that are functional in sexual response."

"With a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the vaginal structures, a cosmetic surgeon can employ proper plastic surgery techniques, leveraging the anatomical and physiological factors, not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of the vagina, but also optimize the sexual function of women."

Dr. Lau will also discuss with the surgeons some of the potential pitfalls that should be avoided while performing vaginal cosmetic surgery, such as labioplasty and vaginal rejuvenation. Dr. Lau was trained in vaginal plastic and reconstructive surgery, under the tutorage of Professor C. Paul Hodgkinson, a recognized pioneer in the field. Further training in cosmetic surgery under Dr. Robert Alexander, a cosmetic surgeon pioneering fat stem cell transfer, has enabled Dr. Lau to further develop his expertise in vaginal cosmetic surgery, incorporating both pelvic and plastic surgery principles and experience.

Dr. Michael Lau is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He practices at Radiant Rejuvenation and Cosmetic Surgery, located in a suburb of Seattle, USA, but receives patients coming from all around the world.

Get Ready for Summer! Improve the signs of aging on your chest and neck – your décolletage!

With summer coming soon, be confident in your sun dresses and tank tops. Picture yourself in a lovely cut dress, accented with a simple pearl or diamond pendant.

At Radiant Rejuvenation and Cosmetic Surgery, we can help you improve the look of your décolletage, neck and upper chest area, using non-invasive procedures.

To improve the contour of your neck, we use VelaShape III to reduce any area of undesirable fat deposits. We can also use Thermage to tighten the skin of the neck area and along the jowl line. If you have neck muscle bands that seem too prominent, we can use Botox to soften the look.

For skin color and texture, we have Fraxel or Clear & Brilliant lasers to clear color spots and even the skin tone and appearance of the neck and upper chest. For deeper creases on the upper chest, we can use dermal fillers to soften the lines.

There is so much that we can do to maximize the beauty of the neck and chest. Call us at 425.712.7546 to schedule a complimentary initial consultation, and feel beautiful this summer!

For more detailed information on improving your décolletage and on the individual procedures, please refer to the Radiant Rejuvenation website.

Turning 40 - do I need Botox or dermal fillers?

Botox and dermal fillers both can help with wrinkles and lines on your face and help you look younger or “fresh.” Each has a different mechanism of action, though.

There are two different kinds of wrinkles and lines on your face. Dynamic lines are caused by the movement of muscles on your face – crow’s feet around the eyes when you smile, the “11” lines at the brow when you frown. These lines disappear when the causing facial expressions go away. Static lines, on the other hand, are permanent. These lines are caused by repeated facial muscle action, such as chronic squinting of your eyes from sun exposure that causes permanent crow's feet around the eyes. These static wrinkles and lines also can be caused by sun damage, aging, and gravity over time.

We use Botox Cosmetic, which is an agent to be injected into the small facial muscle bundles to block them from contracting temporarily. By using strategically placed Botox Cosmetic injections into muscles that cause dynamic lines, such as crow's feet around the eyes, those lines won’t show when you smile or frown, and the skin in that area will look smooth and fresh. As you can imagine, eliminating the dynamic lines helps to prevent the permanent static lines from forming. The action of Botox Cosmetic usually lasts for three months.

Once the static lines are formed, Botox Cosmetic will not work to erase those lines anymore. That is when dermal fillers are helpful to soften those lines. Dermal fillers, commonly made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin and tissue below, can be strategically injected with a fine needle into and beneath the skin to “fill the valley” and lift the skin up to erase the lines. The dermal fillers are absorbed by the body eventually. The effect of the fillers generally lasts from 6 months to a year.

It is beneficial at times to combine both Botox and dermal fillers to take care of lines and wrinkles, since they might be both dynamic and static in nature. The strategic placement is the key.

For more information about Botox Cosmetic and dermal fillers or to schedule an appointment, call us at 425.712.7546. Or you can visit our website!

Dr. Michael Lau

Radiant Rejuvenation and Cosmetic Surgery Acquires the New Fraxel 1927 Laser

In March of 2011, Solta Medical introduced its Fraxel 1927 Skin Resurfacing Laser (standalone version) to the physician market, and Radiant Rejuvenation and Cosmetic Surgery is the first clinic in the Seattle area and Washington State to have this new laser. This new version of the Fraxel Laser has many advantages over Solta Medical’s previous versions:

• The treatment is more comfortable for the patient. The Faxel 1927 Laser has a built in cooling system that keeps the patient comfortable. With a topical anesthetic and this cooling system, most patients say the procedure is painless.
• The treatment time is improved by 25% because of the optimized scanner design. This allows for multiple body areas to be treated at the same time, if desired.
• The Fraxel 1927 Laser offers an accelerated removal of pigment because the Thulium wavelength (1927 nm) targets superficial skin layers.

What does the Fraxel 1927 Laser do to improve the skin?
The common skin problems that appear as people age are sagging and wrinkled skin along with poor skin texture and uneven pigmentation. The diminished formation of new collagen and elastin underneath the outer layer of the skin is one of the main reasons for the sagging and wrinkling. Also, as we age, the pigmentation of the skin often becomes uneven, frequently caused by exposure to the sun. The Fraxel 1927 Laser can address all of these concerns in a simple and safe non-ablative treatment.

The Fraxel 1927 Laser treatment delivers tiny, microscopic columns of laser light that go into the dermis, the layer that contains the collagen and elastin. The laser columns create tiny wounds that heal by stimulating the body's natural formation of collagen and elastin, which creates tighter, fresher, more youthful-looking skin. The laser light only targets a fraction of the skin at a time so that the surrounding tissue is left untouched. This fractional process allows the skin to heal more quickly. The new Fraxel 1927 Laser also does an amazing job of removing the uneven pigmentation of the skin because it targets the superficial layers of the skin. The main uses of the Fraxel 1927 Laser are for treating:

• Wrinkles around the eyes
• Acne scars
• Surgical scars
• Age spots/suns
• Melasma
• Actinic Keratoses

How long will the results last and how many treatments are needed?
Patients can see results soon after treatment with the Fraxel 1927 Laser, and the skin will continue to improve over the next 3 to 6 months. Some of the first things that patients notice are that the surface of the skin feels softer and smoother, looks brighter, and shows a more even tone. Then the next 3 to 6 months will bring more improvement as the skin continues to create new collagen. Results are long lasting depending on the patient’s lifestyle, age, skin condition and skin care regimen. The Fraxel 1927 Laser treatments are often done in a series of about three or four, depending on the patient’s skin condition before treatment, in order to achieve the desired results.

For more information about the Fraxel 1927 Laser treatments, please visit the Radiant Rejuvenation website page about Fraxel, or call 425.712.7546 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Dr. Michael Lau

Finally an Effective Treatment for Cellulite!

Cellulite is a problem that affects many women, even younger women in their twenties and women who are thin.  We want you to know that finally Radiant Rejuvenation has an effective solution for cellulite.

Radiant Rejuvenation has the first unit of CelluPulse in the State of Washington to effectively treat cellulite.  Using the EPAT Pulsewave technology, the appearance of cellulite can be improved by:

• The stimulation of collagen production of the skin
• Improved local circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Decreasing the fibrous septa that are causing the dimpling of the skin
• Helping to decrease the size of fat pockets

The effect of improvement can be seen with just a few sessions of treatment, lasting about half an hour each.

Please feel free to contact Radiant Rejuvenation to schedule a complimentary consultation at 425.712.7546. Also for more information, please learn about cellulite treatment on our Radiant Rejuvenation website or search our detailed information on EPAT treatment for cellulite on our website devoted to cellulite.

Dr. Michael Lau

Testimonial About the New Thermage CPT System

Our patients are loving the new Comfort Pulse Technology system for Thermage.  Here is one patient's experience:

I was nervous about having a Thermage procedure since I have a very low tolerance for pain. Susan reassured me that the new CPT system (the new hand piece) would not hurt, and she was RIGHT! While I was lying down during the procedure, we chatted and laughed while she worked on my tummy. After having had two pregnancies with C-section births, I was very self conscious about my 'tummy ledge', the excess skin hanging over my scar. I saw immediate results from the Thermage treatment, just 60 minutes after Susan started the procedure. I am four weeks out now and continue to see my tummy 'shrinking'. I love the smooth flatness that I see and love how I look in jeans and pants. I don't see the bulge as I used to. I would HIGHLY recommend Thermage. T.W. from Seattle