# How Does 'Laser Vaginal Tightening' Work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094 "2004-08-23T15:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/1 "2004-08-23T15:27:46Z")
I’ve heard that there are cosmetic surgeons out there who specialize in restoring older women’s vaginas, making them feel just like they did when they were young. Apparently, most of these doctors say they use lasers to perform this surgical procedure. I can understand how a laser could be used to slice off body parts, but I can’t comprehend how a laser could actually _reduce_ the size of a woman’s vagina? How does this procedure work?? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/2 "2004-08-23T16:08:20Z")
I just want to say :eek:. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/3 "2004-08-23T16:16:25Z")
Well, just reading the term made _me_ clench up, and I don’t even _have_ one… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/4 "2004-08-23T17:44:51Z")
Only on the SDMB, could this be posted with a straight face… ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/5 "2004-08-23T17:53:41Z")
Maybe they can help: **Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Los Angeles. 9201 Sunset Blvd. Suite 406** No joke. It came up as the first link in a search for “laser valginal surgery” on yahoo. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/6 "2004-08-23T17:55:00Z")
I have heard of “doctors” (I use the term loosely, since apparently many of the folks performing this procedure are uncertified, barred from practice, and/or frauds) who would use a scalpel or other physical instrument to cause the growth of scar tissue. This did have the advertised effect of tightening the vagina, but also caused considerable discomfort for the patient. I would presume that the procedure about which the OP is asking is a modern varient of the same. And by the way, let me be the first to say “Band name”. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/7 "2004-08-23T18:19:04Z")
First you get a 1920’s style death ray, and change the settings from “Death” to… ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/8 "2004-08-23T20:40:24Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > First you get a 1920’s style death ray, and change the settings from “Death” to… Who’s going to be the first one to come up with a Star Trek joke relating to this containing the words “lazer”, “wormhole”, and “Jeffery’s Tube”? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/9 "2004-08-23T21:42:09Z")
Here’s a [Salon.com article](http://dir.salon.com/sex/feature/2000/11/14/vagina/index.html?pn=1) about the doctor that pioneered this procedure which has some good background. For some reason, the office’s address (already mentioned by **MrTuffPaws** ) conjures the image of Norma Desmond: “Alright, Mr. Flynt-- I’m ready for my close-up!” ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/10 "2004-08-23T22:01:54Z")
When lasers are used to tighten facial tissue, it’s basically as **Chronos** has described. The basically sear a //////// pattern with a laser over your crowsfeet or what-have you and the formation of scar tissue in response is supposedly asthetically pleasing. It’s kind of like sewing, in a way, putting in some stitching to keep the hem from stretching out. I sppose this could work to tighten up the tissues on the vaginal surface, but I don’t see how this would be terribly beneficial… as there’s a bit of deep tissue to be concerned about. Tight skin without anything underneath it for support would probably just be painful. I also can’t imagine that scarrification does much for the sensitivity, either. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/11 "2004-08-23T22:22:47Z")
The vagina is made of really stretchy tissue (think of the size of a baby’s head); scar tissue is less stretchy; I’d have thought that about covers it. ---
**Author:** ![Hooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@Hooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooch)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/12 "2004-08-23T22:34:52Z")
I knew a hooker that had hers tightened but from what I remember it wasn’t with lasers it was just from having a few stitches added. Or maybe it was more then just a few stitches. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/13 "2004-08-24T00:05:39Z")
[The Webside of the Master](http://www.drmatlock.com/faqs.htm) That Matlock, is there ANYTHING he can’t do? _'Cause she’s playing all night And the music’s all right Mama’s got a squeeze box Daddy never sleeps at night_ – The Who ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/14 "2004-08-24T01:38:41Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Here’s a [Salon.com article](http://dir.salon.com/sex/feature/2000/11/14/vagina/index.html?pn=1) about the doctor that pioneered this procedure which has some good background. > > For some reason, the office’s address (already mentioned by **MrTuffPaws** ) conjures the image of Norma Desmond: “Alright, Mr. Flynt-- I’m ready for my close-up!” OOOH… they _really_ should’ve avoided the phrase “cut-and-dried” ! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/15 "2004-08-24T11:40:15Z")
You know, there are any number of pervy cartoonists on the Web who would take one look at the thread title, & create a drawing of Cobra Commander & the Baroness that would get us _all_ caned in Singapore. You _do_ know that, doncha? Good. Go find one. 😛😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/16 "2004-08-24T11:53:19Z")
:billows of smoke:“AHHHHHH! DUCK AND RUN THERE IS A LASER IN HER COOTER!”:billows of smoke: Is _exactly_ what I first thought of… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/17 "2004-08-24T11:58:17Z")
[Dr. Evil] All I want are some vaginas with frikin’ laser tightening. Is that too much to ask? [/DE] ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/18 "2004-08-24T16:25:45Z")
> [@Boyo Jim](#): > > [The Webside of the Master](http://www.drmatlock.com/faqs.htm) > > That Matlock, is there ANYTHING he can’t do? > > _'Cause she’s playing all night > And the music’s all right > Mama’s got a squeeze box > Daddy never sleeps at night_ > – The Who WOOT=) Finally, a proceedure tat women can use a bag of frozen peas for post surgical pain 😃 Q. How much discomfort will I have after laser vaginal rejuvenation? A. With our technique of submucossal tumescence, pudendal block with long acting local anesthetic, you will be pain free for the first 18 to 24 hours. After this patients reprot mild to moderate discomfort which can be controlled by analgesics and cold packs to the area. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/19 "2004-08-24T16:49:45Z")
That’s one bit of elective surgery I won’t be saving my pennies for. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094/20 "2004-08-24T20:29:13Z")
Vaginal tightening is a common practice in many islamic countries, It is done by cutting the walls with a knife, and packing the vagina with salt (outch!). Obviously, this has the potential to cause a fatali infection. I read about this in T. E. Lawrence’s book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-laser-vaginal-tightening-work/261094.md?page=2)