I. Why Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® (DLV®)?
The anatomy of your vulvar structures
To understand Designer Laser Vaginoplasty®, it's important to first understand your vulvar structures. Let's quickly walk through the anatomy of your sexual organs.
Your external genital organs have three (3) primary biological functions:
- Enabling sperm to enter the body
- Protecting the internal genital organs from infectious organisms
- Providing sexual pleasure
Walking through the following diagram can help you better understand your vulvar anatomy (starting at the top left and working clockwise):
Pubis
The mons pubis is a rounded mound of fatty tissue that covers your pubic bone. Your mons pubis contains sebaceous glands that release pheromones, which are involved in sexual attraction.
Vestibule
The vestibule is the clinical term for the area surrounding the opening of your vagina (introitus) and the opening of your urethra (urethral meatus).
Vulva
The vulva is the "external" portion of female genitalia. It protects your sexual organs, urinary opening, vestibule and vagina. It is the center of much of your sexual response.
Introitus
This is the technical term for the opening of your vagina.
Anus
Your anus is the opening where the GI tract ends and exits the body.
Perineum
The perineum is the area between your vulva and your anus.
Labia minora
The labia minora are the inner "lips" surrounding your vagina. These can vary in size from very small to up to 2” wide or more. The labia minora are just inside the labia majora and surround the openings to your vagina and urethra.
A significant number of blood vessels give your labia minora a pink color. During sexual stimulation, these blood vessels become engorged with blood, causing the labia minora to swell and become more sensitive to stimulation.
Labia majora
The labia majora are the outer "lips" surrounding the vaginal opening (introitus). These are relatively large, fleshy folds of tissue that enclose and protect the other external genital organs. You could compare the labia majora to the scrotum in males. This area grows hair during puberty and contains sweat and sebaceous glands that produce lubricating secretions.
Urethral meatus
The urethral meatus is the opening of your urethra. This is where urine leaves your body.
Clitoris
Your clitoris is located between the labia minora near their upper ends. It is a small protrusion that is very sensitive to sexual stimulation.
III. Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® Procedures
Designer Laser Vaginoplasty®, or DLV®, is not a single procedure but a series of cosmetic surgical solutions that address specific aesthetic vulvar concerns. Each of these procedures was created by Dr. Matlock as a direct result of listening to patients describe unwanted changes to their vulvar structures, whether natural or brought on by child-bearing, aging and so on.
Dr. Matlock believes women should be empowered with knowledge and choices to be able to aesthetically alter or enhance the vulvar structures according to their desires. The aesthetic improvements that can be accomplished through DLV® procedures are ideal accompaniments to his pioneering Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® surgery, which restores sexual gratification by dramatically improving muscle tone, tightness, and control within and surrounding the vagina.
Rejuvenated sexual gratification is a life-changing opportunity, however patients told Dr. Matlock they also wanted the eternal features of their vagina to look sleek and youthful -- the labia minora, skin along the sides of the clitoris, labia majora, mons pubis and perineum.
While all women have the same basic anatomy, our bodies respond somewhat differently as we age and live our lives. That is why the DLV® category includes multiple surgical options. There is a procedure designed to fulfill your goals. These procedures are not spa treatments that produce temporary improvement, they are true surgical solutions with bona fide long-term results. Just ask any of the women from across the US and in 70- countries around the world who are already enjoying the benefits of Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® performed by the cosmetic surgeon who pioneered DLV®!
Although each DLV® surgical procedure is different, they do have some key features in common:
- All are relatively short procedures that can provide impressive results.
- All are performed as outpatient surgery, so you walk in and walk out to go home the same day.
- All offer your choice of anesthesia, in consultation with Dr. Matlock – local, local with IV sedation, epidural, twilight, or general. Nearly all of our patients request general anesthesia. All patients also receive a pudendal block, a local anesthetic that will provide 18-24 hours of post-procedure pain control.
- All surgical procedures have some risks, however DLV® risks are minimal. Because of Dr. Matlock’s pioneering laser techniques, the procedures are pinpoint and precise, with rare complications of bleeding and infection.
- Patients repeatedly tell us they love their new look.
During your personal consultation with Dr. Matlock, you will discuss your specific aesthetic concerns and goals as well as your medical history. Then Dr. Matlock will develop a Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® surgical plan tailored precisely for you.
1. Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Minora, with Reduction of Excess Prepuce
This is our most popular DLV® procedure. Patients told Dr. Matlock they didn’t like having sagging, wrinkles or thin labia minor. They also didn’t like the excess skin on the sides of the clitoris. Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL) of the Labia Minora, with Reduction of Excess Prepuce corrects both of these concerns.
During the procedure, Dr. Matlock uses a precise contact tip laser to sculpt down the labia minora and take up the slack. This eliminates any sagging, wavy, or wrinkly appearance, leaving the labia minora looking neat and perky instead. He also removes excess skin (the prepuce) around the clitoris, so that remaining skin hugs the clitoris closely.
This procedure takes about an hour.
Learn more about this procedure here.
2. Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Minora, with Reduction of Thickness and Reduction of Excess Prepuce
Laser Reduction Labiaplasty with Reduction of Excess Prepuce focuses on shortening the length of the labia minora. But during consultations, Dr. Matlock also noted that many patients made comments such as, "look how thick they are," or "things look fat." Clearly, women wanted their labia minora to be slimmer and perkier, not just shorter.
So Dr. Matlock developed this expanded DLV® procedure, during which he reduces labia minora thickness along with reducing their length and reducing excess prepuce alongside the clitoris. The result is a nice, clean, sleek look.
Reducing thickness of the labia minora adds just a few minutes to the overall surgical procedure.
Learn more about this procedure here.
3. Liposculpting of the Fatty Mons Pubis and the Labia Majora
Wearing snug pants and swimwear makes a woman feel attractive when she is proud of her figure. But no woman wants her form-fitting clothes to display a "camel toe," those bulges that reveal the outline of your vaginal lips. Weight gain, genetics, aging, and simply being endowed with a naturally curvy shape can all cause fatty deposits to accumulate in the mons pubis and labia majora.
To help women eliminate this problem, Dr. Matlock created a specialized surgical procedure that uses liposculpturing to restore a smooth, youthful shape to the mons pubis and superior aspects of the labia majora. He makes a tiny, pinpoint incision in each of the labia, then uses a very thin cannula to reach in and remove excess fat. As he works, he uses a small "pinch test" to check for optimal results. The procedure takes 15 minutes or less, but the results can do wonders for your self-esteem and physical comfort.
Learn more about this procedure here.
4. Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Majora via Vertical Elliptical Excision
This procedure is for women whose outer vaginal lips are enlarged, thick, asymmetrical, or severely relaxed and wrinkly. It is our most popular technique for addressing these issues, because it enables Dr. Matlock to completely restructure the labia majora, restoring a more youthful appearance.
For this procedure, Dr. Matlock uses the laser to precisely resect a narrow elliptical pattern on each of the labia. He then removes the skin within the elliptical shape, removes excess fatty tissue, and then stitches the edges back together using absorbable sutures. This innovative technique allows Dr. Matlock to successfully remove any amount of relaxed skin required to produce a youthful look. The result is nice and sleek looking, and because the surgical site heals well, scarring is almost undetectable once healing is complete.
This procedure takes about 20 minutes.
Learn more about this procedure here.
5. Labia Majora Augmentation via Fat Transfer
For some women, the problem with their labia majora is not puffiness or sagging skin, it is flatness. The upper part of the labia majora is made up of fat, but weight loss can cause flattening that results in a wrinkled appearance. And some women just naturally have flatter labia majora. Because we associate wrinkled skin with aging, patients come to Dr. Matlock seeking Labia Majora Augmentation to achieve a fuller, more rounded and youthful appearance.
Dr. Matlock sometimes uses a synthetic filler called Sculptra to plump the labia, but he prefers to use fat as a filler. This provides a more natural look and feel, and the results are long-lasting compared to other options. The upper part of the labia are fatty, so there is nothing “foreign” about fat as a filler.
As with liposuction, fat is harvested from another area of the patient’s body (usually the waist or lower abdomen) and then processed for purification before being re-inserted. Dr. Matlock makes a tiny incision at the bottom of each of the labia majora, then strategically injects the fat cells to produce a pleasing contour.
Only very small amounts of fat are required for this. However, there will always be a percentage of fat cells that do not survive transplantation. While average survival rate is around 70%, Dr. Matlock has developed a new processing technique that significantly increases survival rate. Nonetheless, patients who want further augmentation may undergo a new procedure at some point in the future.
Labia Majora Augmentation using fat transfer is a quick procedure -- only 10 minutes. With Sculptra injections, the procedure is even faster.
Learn more about this procedure here.
6. Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Majora via Extension of the Perineoplasty
This procedure is ideal for patients who require only a little tightening of the labia majora. Instead of removing skin and fatty tissue from the labia majora themselves, Dr. Matlock removes excess skin in the perineum – the area outside the vagina and above the anus. He also tightens the perineal muscles. The result is a nice, neat appearance with both the labia majora and the labia minora brought together in the midline. This procedure also results in a tighter introitus.
This procedure takes 10 minutes.
Learn more about this procedure here.
7. Suprapubic Lift of the Vulvar Structures
Aging, childbirth, and significant weight loss can cause the vulvar structures to relax and sag. That calls for a rejuvenating lift, so Dr. Matlock developed what he calls his "lip-tuck" procedure. He makes a small transverse incision, about 2" long, across the mons pubis. Then he lifts the fascia (the skin and underlying connective tissue) upward, which lifts the labia (majora and minora and mons pubis) and clitoral area. The procedure takes just 20-25 minutes, and provides nice, natural results that look perky and youthful.
Learn more about this procedure here.
8. Combining Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® with Designer Laser Vaginoplasty®
In addition to developing the series of aesthetic vulvar surgical procedures that comprise Designer Laser Vaginoplasty®, Dr. David Matlock also pioneered Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® (LVR®). This groundbreaking surgical procedure restores vaginal function and sexual gratification by increasing muscle strength, tone, contractile force and control. It is the most frequently-requested of Dr. Matlock’s Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery procedures.
While LVR® does help to refresh the appearance of vulvar structures, its primary purpose is functional. So, many patients elect to combine LVR® surgery with one or more DLV® procedures. The most commonly-requested option is Laser Reduction Labiaplasty with Reduction of the Labia Minora.
However, each Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® procedure addresses specific concerns that women have described to Dr. Matlock. And every woman’s personal concerns and intimate preferences are different. Using the list of DLV® alternatives, Dr. Matlock can partner with each patient to create an entirely individualized combination of procedures based on her ultimate goals.
Learn more about this procedure here.
9. Combining Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® and/or Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® with other Cosmetic Surgical Procedures
Not only can patients combine Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® with Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® procedures in a single custom-tailored surgery, these procedures can also be combined with other popular cosmetic surgical options. So if there is some other part of your body you would like to rejuvenate or enhance, Dr. Matlock can do that at the same time.
Other cosmetic surgeries that combine nicely with LVR® and/or DLV® include:
- Brazilian Butt Lift – a highly popular surgical procedure that uses fat transfer and liposculpturing to enlarge, re-contour and aesthetically enhance the buttocks.
- Liposculpturing – another exceptionally popular procedure that permanently removes unwanted fat cells from the abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, and back. In fact, liposculpturing is the most popular companion procedure with LVR®, with or without DLV®. Liposculpturing is also a natural companion to Brazilian Butt Augmentation since patients can literally transfer fat from an area they want to reduce for use in enhancing the buttocks.
- Vaser Hi-Def Liposculpturing – not just for men, this advanced ultrasound technology procedure enhances muscle definition and firms skin on all treated areas.
- Mommy Makeover – a series of optional surgical procedures that enable women to regain their pre-pregnancy appearance following by repairing childbirth-related damage to muscles and skin. Because childbearing also stretches vulvovaginal structures, LVR® and/or DLV® are especially popular companion procedures.
- Tummy Tuck – a procedure that may be included in a Mommy Makeover, tummy tuck also repairs and rejuvenates weakened muscles and stretched skin associated with significant weight loss.
- Breast Lift or Augmentation
Dr. David Matlock specializes in all of these surgeries and is internationally renowned when it comes to Brazilian Butt Augmentation and Liposculpturing finesse.
It should be noted that, if you elect to combine both vulvar and non-vaginal cosmetic surgical procedures, the requirements for preparation and recovery will be somewhat more complex. Nonetheless, the details of every patient’s surgery – including preparation, the procedure itself, and post-surgical recovery – are always individually determined. The length of time needed for the surgery and to see initial and ultimate results will also differ depending on the combination of procedures you choose.
Learn more about this procedure here.
IV. What happens before and after Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® procedures?
For any surgery, the surgeon you choose is your most important decision. You are literally putting yourself in this person’s hands, trusting them to help you achieve the outcome you hope for. Having chosen Dr. David Matlock, you can enjoy the ultimate in confidence and peace of mind. However, you as the patient also play an important role in determining how your procedure will go.
There are specific things you can do before and after your surgery to reduce the risk of complications, speed healing and ensure you see and feel the best possible results. The most important, thing you can do is ask yourself if you are undergoing Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® under your own volition. Cosmetic enhancements are all about you, and they should be purely a personal choice. It is not up to someone else – husband, partner, etc. – to pressure you into making any change to your body or make you feel as if you should.
So, first, confirm to yourself that Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® is something you want and deserve, just for you.
Preparing to get the fastest healing and maximum results
No matter which DLV® procedure(s) you choose, you will prepare for surgery in the same way. Dr. Matlock will review your comprehensive history, ask pertinent questions about your history and discuss in detail your aesthetic concerns. He will perform a comprehensive physical exam and focus in on the aesthetic issues of concern. He will also provide a mirror to see exactly what is going to be done. You will also have comprehensive laboratory work.
Dr. Matlock will also want to know all medications you are currently taking, including any herbal supplements or vitamins. Over-the-counter products can cause chemical reactions, just like prescription meds.
As your surgery gets close, you will be asked to:
- Stop taking any products that act as blood thinners, because they can increase chances of bruising and bleeding. These include pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and Naprosyn but also herbals such as St. John’s Wort and vitamin E. A member of Dr. Matlock’s team will give you a complete list.
- Stop smoking, if you are a smoker. You should quit at least two weeks before surgery so your body has time to adjust. Smoking impairs your circulation, reducing blood flow that is critical for healing. You’ll have to avoid smoking during your recovery period, too.
- Reduce alcohol consumption during the two weeks before your surgery and for a week afterward. Alcohol also impedes circulation.
How much recovery time should you allow for?
Recovery, like surgery itself, is an individual process. Nonetheless, as with preparation, there are certain things all our DLV® patients can expect:
- During surgery, you will be given a pudendal block -- a local nerve block that will control post-operative pain for the first 18-24 hours. You will receive a narcotic medication and a lidocaine rectal suppository to help manage your pain after the pudendal block wears off. The medications you receive will effectively control any discomfort.
- You may also apply ice to the vulvar areas and perineum for the first 48 hours to minimize swelling, 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off.
- If you have had Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® that includes treatment for incontinence, you will have a urinary catheter for the first four days. The catheter will attach to a small bag worn on your leg where it will fit under a skirt or dress or loose pants.
- You will have to abstain from sexual activity for six weeks. No exercise -- stretching, spinning/cycling, Pilates, yoga or weightlifting.
After six weeks, you will be able to resume all physical and sexual activities. Naturally, if your operation includes additional cosmetic surgical procedures, the details of your post-operative care instructions will reflect that.
What about results?
Every woman is different, so every patient’s results are uniquely her own. It is extremely important to us that all our patients are 100% informed on the risks and complications of the procedure(s) being considered. The DLV® risks are extremely low. The primary risks are bleeding and infection and the likelihood is less than 1%.
Our DLV® procedures ultimately provide what our patients desire, more youthful and aesthetically pleasing vulvar structures whether it is the labia minora, excess prepuce, labia majora, perineum, or mons pubis. Our Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® techniques are the gold standard in the female genital cosmetic surgery industry.
If Dr. Matlock will be performing non-surgical as well as surgical procedures, your ultimate results will depend on the full range of work done.
We invite you to review our gallery of before and after patient pictures, to see results of Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® procedures. Do keep in mind that every patient is different, so your results may vary.
