- Avoid the Hammer. There is an old saying that “If your only tool is a hammer, everything you see is a nail”. Do not believe that one wavelength (one laser type) can fix everything. If a surgeon only has one laser, he is more likely to suggest that it is the magic laser and can do everything. Lasers that are good for the vagina are not typically the best for the labia.
Avoid the Jack-Of-All-Trades. We like to say, “If you want a great donut, you go directly to Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts, not the supermarket. The supermarket does not specialize in anything, they dabble in everything. When you want to get the best of a certain item, you go straight to the expert. When shopping for a great vaginal or labial rejuvenation surgeon, look for a specialist.
Watch your purse. Do not let any surgeon talk you into a vaginal rejuvenation procedure unless they can assure you that you do not have significant pelvic organ prolapse. This disorder is not treated by vaginal rejuvenation surgery but is treated by special surgeries covered by insurance.
Make sure your vaginal rejuvenation surgeon is a skilled surgeon. The risks of a bad vaginal rejuvenation surgery include deformity, disfigurement, painful intercourse and inability to have intercourse. However, in the hands of a well-trained surgeon, these risks are quite small. Look for surgeons board certified in gynecology, urogynecology and urology and certified in vaginal rejuvenation surgery. Make sure that the requirements for their training were more than simply writing a check. Make sure that their requirements for certification in vaginal rejuvention were more than taking simply a course.
Watch out for surgeons who claim that vaginal rejuvenation surgery will result in better sex. Although better sex is quite common following this type of surgery, many women will also require comprehensive hormonal evaluation and correction.
Be critical of before and after photos. Make sure that they are of the same patient, in the same lighting, and have not been altered.
