Intimate Care

Dryness, irritation or pain during intercourse are complaints that are rarely spoken about aloud. They usually develop gradually, as the mucous membrane and tissue in your intimate area become thinner and less elastic. At Bloy Institute, we treat these complaints with cross-linked hyaluronic acid: the same substance we use on the face to restore hydration and volume, in a formulation specifically developed for this area.

What is an Intimate Care treatment?

During the treatment, plastic surgeon dr. Esther Mesters injects cross-linked hyaluronic acid into the tissue of the intimate area. Hyaluronic acid binds water. As a result, the mucous membrane becomes better hydrated and more supple. At the same time, the filler restores volume to tissue that has become thinner, reducing friction and the discomfort that comes with it.

We use Mesoestetic's mesofiller® sensitive for this, a product with high tissue affinity and good tolerability in this area. The treatment is minimally invasive: it is injected, not cut.

One 45-minute treatment is sufficient.

Why does the intimate area change?

The main cause is a drop in estrogen levels. This happens especially around and after menopause, and it is the reason many women recognize these complaints for the first time during that period.

Other factors also play a role:

-       pregnancy and childbirth

-       weight changes

-       treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy

-       tight clothing

-       sports involving a lot of friction, such as horse riding and cycling

-       laser or wax hair removal

Who is it suitable for?

The treatment is intended for women with one or more of these complaints:

 ✓ dryness, itching or a burning sensation

✓ discomfort or pain during intercourse

✓ recurring irritation due to friction

✓ loss of volume and firmness of the outer labia

✓ complaints that have arisen after menopause, after pregnancy or after oncological treatment

✓ chronic fissure wound at the vulvar opening

 Recurring infections, bleeding or persistent pain should first be discussed with your GP or gynecologist. We treat the consequences of thinner and drier tissue, not the underlying medical cause of it.

When do we not treat?

There are situations in which we do not perform this treatment, or first consult with your doctor. During your consultation, dr. Mesters will go through your medical history and medication use with you, so that you can assess this together.

We do not treat in cases of:

-       pregnancy and breastfeeding

-       an active infection or inflammation in the area to be treated, such as a fungal infection or a herpes outbreak

-       a known hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine

-       an active autoimmune disorder or a severely weakened immune system

-       a clotting disorder

-       ongoing oncological treatment

-       unexplained complaints such as bleeding or persistent pain, which must first be assessed by your GP or gynecologist

How does the treatment proceed?

1. Free consultation. We will take the time to go through your complaint: when it started, what you have already tried and what you would like to achieve. We will also go through your medical history. This conversation takes place in a separate treatment room, behind a closed door.

2. Personal treatment plan. You will hear which area we are treating, how much product is needed for this and what you can expect from the result. We will also discuss beforehand what you will feel during the treatment.

3. The treatment. The treatment lasts 45 minutes and is performed by dr. Esther Mesters. Before the treatment, she applies a local anesthetic to the back wall of the vulva and the side so that the treatment is well tolerated. One treatment is sufficient.

4. Aftercare. You can immediately resume your daily activities. Due to the local anesthetic, the area may feel somewhat swollen for the first few hours; this is normal and you can cool it with an ice pack. Wait a week before having intercourse or exercising. Avoid the sauna, swimming pool, other heat sources and excessive exposure to the sun or tanning bed for the first 48 to 72 hours.

Result

Many women already notice a difference in comfort and hydration shortly after the treatment. The tissue gradually becomes firmer in the following weeks, because the hyaluronic acid binds moisture and stimulates tissue repair.

The effect lasts an average of nine to twelve months, depending on the treated area and the amount of product used. How your skin and tissue react varies from person to person; during your consultation we will discuss what is realistic in your situation.