Ultra Femme 360 Non-Surgical Alternative to Labiaplasty and Vaginoplasty
Vaginal Rejuvenation, Labial Tightening, Female Intimate Health and Stress Urinary Incontinence in the San Diego Area
Art of Skin MD is a female-centric, nationally-recognized dermatology clinic specializing in women’s intimate well-being. Our clinic was founded and is led by women. We have a comfortable and understanding environment when discussing women’s health issues. Ultra Femme 360 is a non-invasive, nonsurgical radiofrequency device used by Dr. Palm and her staff to help improve a variety of female health issues including vaginal dryness, vaginal rejuvenation, labial laxity and mild cases of stress urinary incontinence. Dr. Palm serves as a clinical investigator, advisory board member, speaker and consultant for BTL, the company that makes Ultra Femme 360.
What is Ultra Femme 360?
BTL Ultra Femme 360 is a radiofrquency device that delivers gentle heat to tissues promoting rejuvenation, increased blood flow, tissue tightening and remodeling to the vagina and external female genitalia (labia and perineum). Ultra Femme 360 is considered a quick, effective, safe, non-surgical, no-pain, no-downtime alternative to surgical procedures used in restoring intimate feminine health such as vaginoplasty and labiaplasty. Ultra Femme 360 may also be helpful in improving stress urinary incontinence and improving sexual function through mucosal tissue thickening and improved natural lubrication.
How Does Ultra Femme 360 Work?
The BTL Ultra Femme 360 device is related to Exilis, another radiofrequency skin-tightening device used on the face and body. Ultra Femme 360 uses two different hand pieces to treat the unique anatomy of women. The first hand piece treats the external genitalia, including the entire vulva (labia majora and labia minora) and perineum. The second hand piece treats the vagina, or internal tissues of the female genitalia. It’s gently inserted into the vagina, using a water-based gel lubricant, to heat the vaginal introitus and canal. This stimulates the vaginal mucosa and local circulation, stimulating a youthful transformation to the tissues.
Gentle, yet effective, tissue heating with Ultra Femme 360 leads to new collagen formation. As a result, women achieve tightening of the labia, a decrease in the size of the vaginal opening and a healthier and more hydrated vaginal mucosa. Additional benefits include improvement in urinary incontinence, improved sensitivity and increased vaginal lubrication.
What Areas & Conditions Can be Treated with Ultra Femme 360?
Just like the face and body, the female anatomy ages and changes over time. Childbirth, hormonal changes and the aging process lead to changes in the internal and external female genitalia. Alterations in the female intimate region may include increased size of the labia, laxity and increased size of the vaginal opening, looseness of the vagina, vaginal dryness, stress urinary incontinence and diminished sexual sensitivity.
The areas suitable for treatment with Ultra Femme 360 include the following:
- Vulva (labia majora and minora)
- Perineum (skin between vaginal opening and anus)
- Vaginal introitus (entrance of vagina)
- Vaginal mucosa (inner lining of vaginal wall)
Conditions that may be addressed with Ultra Femme 360 include the following:
- Excess labial tissue
- Dilated vaginal opening
- Vaginal canal laxity
- Vaginal dryness
- Stress urinary incontinence (typically mild to moderate cases)
What Results are Typical Following Ultra Femme 360?
Ultra Femme 360 delivers physical and sensory results with only a few short treatments. According to published clinical data, the following scientifically-proven results were achieved in healthy patients:
- 80% of patients report moderate to excellent improvement in appearance of vulva
- 89% of patients report improved or greatly improved stress urinary incontinence
- 90% of patients reported improvement in sexual dysfunction
- 60% of patients report significant (moderate to excellent) improvement in sexual function
Ultra Femme treatment does not hurt – instead, the procedure is quick and pain-free. Patients report a gentle and comfortable heat sensation, and most say they feel quite relaxed during treatment.
An Ultra Femme 360 treatment session lasts about 20-30 minutes if both the internal and external genitalia are treated. If only one area of treatment is desired, treatment time is about 8 minutes.
The treated area may be mildly pink for a few minutes to a few hours. It’s possible to have mild swelling in the treatment area for a day or two.
No, patients may resume normal activities following treatment.
Some patients notice an improvement in the appearance of their anatomy after one treatment. Improvement in stress urinary incontinence, sexual satisfaction and natural lubrication often occur after a couple of treatments, but improve further with several treatments.
Clinical studies with Ultra Femme 360 were completed as 4 weekly treatments. Typically, around 3 treatments are recommended, with each treatment spaced 7-10 days apart. To maintain results, Dr. Palm recommends one maintenance treatment every 6-12 months.
Females with appropriate expectations who desire a non-surgical alternative to labiaplasty and vaginoplasty, bladder Botox or sling surgery may be good candidates for Ultra Femme 360. Patients with mild to moderate severity vaginal dryness, vaginal laxity, labial enlargement or stress urinary incontinence are more likely to see improvement or complete resolution of symptoms than those women experiencing severe changes to tissues.
Sexual dysfunction is a more complex issue. Physical improvement of tissues is achieved with Ultra Femme 360, but the psychological factors that may impact sexual dysfunction are not addressed with Ultra Femme 360. This underlying cause would not be improved with Ultra Femme 360 treatment.
Women desiring treatment with Ultra Femme 360 must have medical gynecological clearance prior to vaginal (internal) treatment. This means a normal Pap smear and physical exam by a board-certified OB/Gyn within the past 12 months.
Other than proper medical clearance, no preparation is required prior to Ultra Femme 360 treatment. If patients have a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the genital area, they may require preventative oral therapy with an appropriate anti-viral medication.
Patients with unrealistic expectations and severe or extreme laxity or stress incontinence may not be ideal candidates for Ultra Femme 360 and may be better served by surgical treatment.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should not undergo treatment with Ultra Femme 360.
Possible contraindications to treatment include the following:
- Metal or electronic implants in the treatment area
- Cardiac pacemakers
- Implanted defibrillators
- Implanted neurostimulators
- Drug pumps
- Malignant tumor
- Hemorrhagic conditions
- Epilepsy
- Recent surgical procedures
Ultra Femme 360 has an outstanding safety record. The non-invasive and 360 degree delivery of heat with radiofrequency is unlikely to injure tissues or cause pain or discharge following treatment. Side effects are few to none; some patients may note mild pinkness for a few minutes following treatment and mild swelling for one to several days.
All devices used to deliver no downtime feminine intimate rejuvenation work by heating tissues and causing new collagen formation. This results in tightening tissues and improving function and physical appearance of the vulva, labia and vagina.
There are two major categories of devices that non-invasively tighten vaginal tissues and improve the appearance of the female vulva – ablative and non-ablative technologies. Ablative laser technologies, usually a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, emits energy that selectively injures, destroys and heats skin tissue. Although extremely safe, in a very small portion of patients, there may be a potential for discomfort, heat injury, scarring or discharge following treatment.
Non-ablative technologies used in restoring feminine health do not physically injure the skin but warm the targeted tissue to induce new collagen growth. Ultra Femme 360 is a non-ablative device that uses radiofrequency to selectively heat the skin or vaginal mucosa to above 40 degrees Celsius, a critical temperature threshold necessary to stimulate new collagen growth and subsequent tissue tightening. Unlike other devices, the Ultra Femme 360 emits energy in 360 degrees and does not require operator expertise to rotate the device during vaginal treatment. This makes Ultra Femme 360 treatment quick, effective, uniform and predictable.
Yes, Ultra Femme 360 can be combined with other procedures for an enhanced effect. Laser hair removal may be completed in the female intimate area if desired.
Ultra Femme 360 is sold as a package of three treatments. Periodic maintenance with a single treatment every 6-12 months is encouraged. A single treatment of Ultra Femme 360 ranges nationally from $750-$1500 per treatment.
Dr. Palm is a BTL luminary and is nationally and internationally recognized as a board-certified dermatologist and laser and device expert. As a female physician with an all-female staff, she creates an environment that allows comfort, discretion and understanding regarding intimate feminine health and vaginal rejuvenation. She understands that issues of female health are important and life-altering and can be a sensitive subject to be handled with thoughtfulness and care. At Art of Skin MD, we believe in treating the whole patient, and offering Ultra Femme 360 allows us to help improve the well-being and function of our beloved patients.
If you are looking for an Ultra Femme 360 expert in the San Diego area for non-invasive, non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation and labiaplasty, call Dr. Melanie Palm at 858.792.SKIN (7546) to schedule your appointment
