Experimental study of the use of biodegradable threads with poly-L-lactic acid and permanent (polypropylene) threads in cosmetic surgery of the external genitalia

• Marlen A. Sulamanudze
• Dmitriy V. Nikishin

Abstract

The skin in the external genital area, as well as the skin on the face, is subject to typical age-related changes. With age, the skin loses its tightness and elasticity in the intimate area. It becomes drier and the woman is itching. The outer labia lose subcutaneous fat and look sunken and empty. The inner labia appear longer, and the entrance to the vagina is stretched. To solve these problems, the use of threads with fixing elements has recently been actively proposed. However, the effectiveness is confirmed only by the visual effect. However, more accurate confirmation of the effectiveness of the use of thread technologies is required. In this regard, we conducted an experimental study followed by histological examination, which fully described the processes occurring in the implantation area.

Keywords:external genitalia; aesthetic gynecology; thread lifting

References

1. Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. 2016. URL: www.plasticsurgery.org (date of access August 22, 2022).

2. Dixit V.V. Audit of female genital aesthetic surgery: changing trends in India. J Obstet Gynecol India. 2018; 68: 214–20.

3. Brotto L.A., Bryce M., Todd N. Female genital cosmetic surgery. Pscyhological aspects and approaches. In: S.M. Creighton, L.-M. Liao (eds). Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery: Solution to What Problem? Cambridge University Press, 2019: 118–28.

4. Placik O.J., Matlock D.L., et al. Evaluation of body image and sexual satisfaction in women undergoing female genital plastic/cosmetic surgery. Aesthet Surg J. 2016; 36 (9): 1048–57.

5. Vaginal hyperlaxity syndrome: a new concept and challenge. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2018; 34 (5): 360–2.

6. Duong V., Furuya R., et al. Description of vaginal laxity and prolapse and correlation with sexual function (DeVeLoPS). Sex Med. 2021; 9 (6): 100443.

7. Panay N.; International Menopause Society Writing Group. Recommendations for the management of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. Climacteric. 2010; 13 (6): 509–22.

8. Vieira-Baptista P., Digesu G.A., et al. The clinical role of LASER for vulvar and vaginal treatments in gynecology and female urology: an ICS/ISSVD best practice consensus document. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2019; 23 (2): 151–60.

9. Mihai D., Khurana N., Jabbar M Cosmetic gynecology: present and future perspectives. Int J Innov Res Med Sci. 2021; 6 (11): 845–53.

10. Geletta S. Vaginismus treatment: clinical trials follow up 241 patients. Sex Med. 2017; 5 (2): e114–23.

11. Chung W.S., Shim B.S. Botulinum toxin a for the management of vulvodynia. Int J Impot Res . 2007; 19 (1): 84–7.

12. Elective Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery. ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 795. Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 135 (1): e36–42.

All articles in our journal are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0 license)