AESTHETIC MEDICINE IN GYNECOLOGY: REVIEW OF SELECTED METHODS
Abstract
Background: Aesthetic gynecology is a rapidly evolving branch of medicine that integrates aesthetic, functional, and psychosexual aspects of women’s intimate health. Procedures within this field aim not only to improve the appearance of the external genitalia but also to address symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and postpartum or oncological changes.
Aim: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of selected aesthetic procedures used in gynecology, with a focus on their indications, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety, as well as the psychological and ethical aspects surrounding their use.
Materials and Methods: This work was based on a narrative literature review. Sources included peer-reviewed medical journals, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and current clinical guidelines from both Polish and international databases. The selection criteria prioritized recency, clinical relevance, and scientific credibility.
Results: The review revealed a wide range of procedures available in aesthetic gynecology, including injectable treatments, energy-based therapies, surgical techniques, and supportive care. Most procedures were found to be safe and well tolerated, with high levels of patient satisfaction. They demonstrated benefits in improving both physical symptoms and psychosocial well-being, particularly in postmenopausal and postpartum women. However, limitations include the lack of standardized protocols and long-term outcome data for some methods.
Conclusions: Aesthetic gynecology holds significant therapeutic and psychological value, especially when applied within a multidisciplinary, individualized care model. Ethical practice requires proper patient qualification, informed consent, and education regarding both risks and realistic expectations. Further research and professional training are essential to ensure safe, evidence-based implementation of these procedures.
References
Garcia, B., Scheib, S., Hallner, B., Thompson, N., Schiavo, J., & Peacock, L. (2020). Cosmetic gynecology—a systematic review and call for standardized outcome measures. International Urogynecology Journal, 31(10), 1979–1995. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04294-5
O’Connell, H. E., Sanjeevan, K. V., & Hutson, J. M. (2005). Anatomy of the clitoris. Journal of Urology, 174(4 Part 1), 1189–1195. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000173639.38898.cd
Calleja-Agius, J. (2021). Surgical anatomy of the female pelvis. In The EBCOG postgraduate textbook of obstetrics & gynaecology (pp. 1–7).
Palacios, S., Castelo-Branco, C., Currie, H., et al. (2015). Update on management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: A practical guide. Maturitas, 82(3), 308–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.07.020
Nappi, R. E., & Palacios, S. (2014). Impact of vulvovaginal atrophy on sexual health and quality of life at postmenopause. Climacteric, 17(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2013.871696
Mac Bride, M. B., Rhodes, D. J., & Shuster, L. T. (2010). Vulvovaginal atrophy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 85(1), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2009.0413
Perino, A., Calligaro, A., Forlani, F., et al. (2015). Vulvo-vaginal atrophy: A new treatment modality using thermo-ablative fractional CO₂ laser. Maturitas, 80(3), 296–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.12.006
Sharp, G., & Tiggemann, M. (2016). Educating women about normal female genital appearance variation. Body Image, 16, 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.11.006
Sorice, S. C., Li, A. Y., Canales, F. L., & Furnas, H. J. (2017). Why women request labiaplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 139(4), 856–863. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000003181
Goodman, M. P. (2011). Female genital cosmetic and plastic surgery: A review. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8(6), 1813–1825. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02254.x
Agrawal, S., LaPier, Z., Nagpal, S., et al. (2024). A randomized, pilot trial comparing vaginal hyaluronic acid to vaginal estrogen for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Menopause, 31(9), 750–755. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002390
Dos Santos, C. C. M., Uggioni, M. L. R., Colonetti, T., Colonetti, L., Grande, A. J., & Da Rosa, M. I. (2021). Hyaluronic acid in postmenopause vaginal atrophy: A systematic review. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 18(1), 156–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.10.016
Thom, D. H., & Rortveit, G. (2010). Prevalence of postpartum urinary incontinence: A systematic review. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 89(12), 1511–1522. https://doi.org/10.3109/00016349.2010.526188
Milsom, I., & Gyhagen, M. (2025). What factors are predictive of urinary continence following pregnancy? Continence, 13, 101746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cont.2025.101746
Schick, V. R., Calabrese, S. K., Rima, B. N., & Zucker, A. N. (2010). Genital appearance dissatisfaction: Implications for women’s genital image self-consciousness, sexual esteem, sexual satisfaction, and sexual risk. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 394–404. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01584.x
Chappell, A. G., Sasson, D. C., Soriano, A. J., Jordan, S. W., & Percec, I. (2021). Influence of self-perceived vulvar appearance on female sexual function. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41(7), 794–802. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjab012
Ortega-Sánchez, I., Lucha-López, M. O., & Monti-Ballano, S. (2025). Motivational factors for labiaplasty: A systematic review of medical research. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(8), 2686. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14082686
Boucher, F., Eychenne, C., Gurriet, B., et al. (2025, March 3). Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid injection for volume restoration of the labia majora: ESOLANE study. International Urogynecology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-025-06094-1
Tarabini, F., Rozemberg, L., Zapata-Sudo, G., & Braz, A. (2023, September 21). A novel hyaluronic acid filling technique for restoring volume of the labia majora. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.45728
Karaosmanoglu, O., Cogendez, E., Sozen, H., Asoglu, M. R., Akdemir, Y., & Eren, S. (2011). Hyaluronic acid in the treatment of postmenopausal women with atrophic vaginitis. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 113(2), 156–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.12.007
Fidecicchi, T., & Gambacciani, M. (2025). Hyaluronic acid and erbium laser for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Climacteric, 28(1), 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2024.2418492
Gupta, A. K., & Taylor, D. (2024, October 22). Bibliometric analysis of platelet-rich plasma treatment for hair restoration, facial rejuvenation, dental procedures, and gynecological rejuvenation. Skin Appendage Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000541528
Mammoto, T., Jiang, A., Jiang, E., & Mammoto, A. (2013). Platelet rich plasma extract promotes angiogenesis through the angiopoietin1-Tie2 pathway. Microvascular Research, 89, 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2013.04.008
Gaber, M., & Shaltout, S. (2021). Assessment of autologous platelet-rich plasma as a local therapy for female sexual dysfunction. Menoufia Medical Journal, 34(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.4103/mmj.mmj_228_19
Dankova, I., Pyrgidis, N., Tishukov, M., et al. (2023). Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence: A systematic review. Biomedicines, 11(11), 2919. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11112919
Waghe, T., Acharya, N., Karnik, M., Mohammad, S., Patel, N. A., & Gemnani, R. (2024, January 31). Role of platelet-rich plasma in genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53316
Luo, F. Y., Nasr‐Esfahani, M., Jarrell, J., & Robert, M. (2020). Botulinum toxin injection for chronic pelvic pain: A systematic review. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 99(12), 1595–1602. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13946
Parenti, M., Degliuomini, R. S., Cosmi, E., et al. (2023). Botulinum toxin injection in vulva and vagina: Evidence from a literature systematic review. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 291, 178–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.10.028
Moga, M., Dimienescu, O., Bălan, A., Scârneciu, I., Barabaș, B., & Pleș, L. (2018). Therapeutic approaches of botulinum toxin in gynecology. Toxins, 10(4), 169. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10040169
Muhammad, T., & Gupta, V. (2023). Dyspareunia. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562159/
Gowda, A., Healey, B., Ezaldein, H., & Merati, M. (2021). A systematic review examining the potential adverse effects of microneedling. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 14(1), 45–54.
Maia, R. R., Sarmento, A. C., Silva, R. M. V. da, et al. (2022). Comparative effects of fractional radiofrequency and microneedling on the genitalia of postmenopausal women: Histological and clinical changes. Clinics, 77, 100117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100117
Karcher, C., & Sadick, N. (2016). Vaginal rejuvenation using energy-based devices. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 2(3), 85–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.05.003
Tadir, Y., Gaspar, A., Lev‐Sagie, A., et al. (2017). Light and energy based therapeutics for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: Consensus and controversies. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 49(2), 137–159. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22637
Gaspar, A., Maestri, S., Silva, J., et al. (2018). Intraurethral Erbium:YAG laser for the management of urinary symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: A pilot study. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 50(8), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22826
De La Fourniere, B., Basso, M., Dairien, M., et al. (2024). Current and future role of HIFU in obstetric gynaecology. IRBM, 45(1), 100819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irbm.2023.100819
González Isaza, P., Jaguszewska, K., Cardona, J. L., & Lukaszuk, M. (2018). Long-term effect of thermoablative fractional CO₂ laser treatment as a novel approach to urinary incontinence management in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause. International Urogynecology Journal, 29(2), 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-017-3352-1
Barbara, G., Facchin, F., Buggio, L., Alberico, D., Frattaruolo, M., & Kustermann, A. (2017). Vaginal rejuvenation: Current perspectives. International Journal of Women’s Health, 9, 513–519. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S99700
Willis, R. N., Szymanski, K. D., & Patel, B. C. (2025). Labiaplasty, minora reduction. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19825476
Géczi, A. M., Varga, T., Vajna, R., et al. (2024). Comprehensive assessment of labiaplasty techniques and tools, satisfaction rates, and risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44(11), NP798–NP808. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjae143
Aleem, S., & Adams, E. J. (2012). Labiaplasty. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine, 22(2), 50–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2011.11.006
Miklos, J. R., & Moore, R. D. (2008). Labiaplasty of the labia minora: Patients’ indications for pursuing surgery. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(6), 1492–1495. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00813.x
Author(s) unknown. (2012). Chapter 123 – Disorders of sexual development. In Pediatric Surgery (7th ed., pp. 1565–1590). Elsevier.
Ulrich, D., Ulrich, F., van Doorn, L., & Hovius, S. (2012). Lipofilling of perineal and vaginal scars. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 129(3), 593e–594e. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182419c2c
Silvestri, D. (2008). The vulva: Anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 58(2), 357–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.10.644
Dankova, I., Pyrgidis, N., Tishukov, M., et al. (2023). Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence: A systematic review. Biomedicines, 11(11), 2919. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11112919
Abdulcadir, J., Rodriguez, M. I., & Say, L. (2015). A systematic review of the evidence on clitoral reconstruction after female genital mutilation/cutting. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 129(2), 93–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.11.008
T., T., M., S., & M., T. (2022). The use of the minimally invasive APTOS thread method for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: 3-year follow-up results. Annals of Minimally Invasive Surgeries, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.36959/351/596
Tabakova, N. (2023). Treatment of pigmentation in the anogenital area with the use of trichloroacetic acid: A case report. Archiv Euromedica, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.35630/2023/13/2.417
Verma, M. (2023). Cosmetic gynecology: An emerging subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology. MGM Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(2), 346–351. https://doi.org/10.4103/mgmj.MGMJ_239_22
H., Z. (2017). Carboxytherapy – a non-invasive method in aesthetic medicine and dermatology, and the combined usage of carboxytherapy and PRP in the periorbital area. Global Dermatology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.15761/GOD.1000202
Elias, J., Carbone, A., Gaspar, A., et al. (2012). M514 local carboxytherapy: New technology for gynecologists and obstetricians to accelerate and improve the closure of dehiscent surgical wounds. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 119(S3). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(12)61702-0
Kamlesh, C., & Sravya, G. (n.d.). The pinnacle of feminine elegance: A comprehensive review of aesthetic gynaecology practices. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Forum.
Liao, L. M., & Creighton, S. M. (2007). Requests for cosmetic genitoplasty: How should healthcare providers respond? BMJ, 334(7603), 1090–1092. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39206.422269.BE
Braun, V. (2005). In search of (better) sexual pleasure: Female genital “cosmetic” surgery. Sexualities, 8(4), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460705056625
Shaw, D., Allen, L., Chan, C., et al. (2022). Guideline No. 423: Female genital cosmetic surgery and procedures. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 44(2), 204–214.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2021.11.001
Sarwer, D. B., & Crerand, C. E. (2004). Body image and cosmetic medical treatments. Body Image, 1(1), 99–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1740-1445(03)00003-2
Stangierska, I., & Horst-Sikorska, W. (2007). Ogólne zasady komunikacji między pacjentem i lekarzem. Forum Medycyny Rodzinnej, 1(1).
Robson, S. J. (2022, September 9). Why license non-medics to perform non-surgical cosmetic treatments at all? BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2191
Hery, D., Schwarte, B., Patel, K., Elliott, J. O., & Vasko, S. (2024). Plastic surgery tourism: Complications, costs, and unnecessary spending? Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 6. https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad113
Kamlesh, C., & Sravya, G. (n.d.). The pinnacle of feminine elegance: A comprehensive review of aesthetic gynaecology practices. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Forum.
Verma, M. (2023). Cosmetic gynecology: An emerging subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology. MGM Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(2), 346–351. https://doi.org/10.4103/mgmj.MGMJ_239_22
Marano, G., Anesini, M. B., Sfratta, G., et al. (2025). Aesthetic gynecology and mental health: What does it really mean for women? Cosmetics, 12(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics12010028
Sarwer, D. B., & Spitzer, J. C. (2012). Body image dysmorphic disorder in persons who undergo aesthetic medical treatments. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 32(8), 999–1009. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090820X12462715
Verma, M. (2023). Cosmetic gynecology: An emerging subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology. MGM Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(2), 346–351. https://doi.org/10.4103/mgmj.MGMJ_239_22
Mohammad, S., Joshi, K. S., Mohammad, S., & Acharya, N. (2023, August 28). Aesthetic gynaecology: What women want? Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.44251
Views:
5
Downloads:
0
Copyright (c) 2025 Patrycja Misiaszek, Szymon Rydzewski, Sylwia Boczek, Mikołaj Herba, Patrycja Kinga Marta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
