Skin laxity from loss of collagen is systemic as women age. Loose skin on the labia is exacerbated by vulvovaginal atrophy or loss of fat pads. A desirable ‘normal’ look of the female external genitalia is a plump labia majora and a small labia minora.

Some patients with skin laxity of the labia majora and minora feel damaged, old and wrinkly and are embarrassed to be naked in front of a new partner. This can affect intimacy and their ability to move forward in a potentially happy and fulfilling relationship. Others feel that the excess skin is visible when wearing yoga tights and become so self-conscious that it affects their personality and daily routine.

How does the EmpowerRF platform better enable you to deliver women’s wellness therapies?

InMode recognised there was a gap in the market for treatments that address women’s health issues (sexual dysfunction, menopause and genitourinary symptoms). EmpowerRF, developed as a forward-thinking platform just for women’s health, raises awareness about now being able to effectively treat issues women around the world battle every single day. Some women believe that little ‘accidents’ are normal because every other woman suffers from urinary incontinence. Suffering in silence about menopause or incontinence is never okay since there are many options now. Women should be starting these intimate treatments much earlier than menopause.

Why did you choose to invest in EmpowerRF?

Safety and efficacy are paramount. The technologies in EmpowerRF have been used in treating women’s health issues by gynaecologists overseas for several years now with great results and patient satisfaction rates. All EmpowerRF procedures are performed in-office, under local anaesthesia, with no scarring and downtime.

This is the only platform with an RF microneedling intravaginal probe in the market (Morpheus8 V hand piece). It has a great safety profile and effectivity, and is a relatively painless procedure.

The feedback from patients in my practice and from from my colleagues in North America (who have been using EmpowerRF for years) have been consistently the same: great outcomes with no serious side effects. I am amazed at how quickly we have improved patients’ incontinence.

On one platform, I have the option of RF thermal therapy, RF ablative microneedling of the face and vagina, the ability to treat the abdominal and intravaginal muscles, and Radiofrequency Assisted Liposculpture (RFAL).

With EmpowerRF, I have one space-saving device with multiple technologies, without the need for several separate devices.

What are the unique properties of EmpowerRF that sets it apart? Morpheus8 – This deep fractional RF microneedling treatment is a minimally invasive skin and tissue remodelling technology for face and body contouring through subdermal adipose remodelling (SARDS).

Morpheus8 V – This delivers RF microneedling delivered via a specialised handpiece that can be used intravaginally. It can also be used on the external genitals to a depth of 3mm. This is the only one of its kind (intravaginal RF microneedling) in the market worldwide. It provides the collagen boost for incontinence, vulvovaginal atrophy, and vaginal muscle relaxation symptoms.

V Tone – This applicator uses EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) for pelvic floor muscle strengthening intravaginally. It focusses on strengthening the levator ani muscles (major pelvic floor muscles).

Tone – This external, hands-free EMS applicators used on the abdomen to treat diastasis recti or purely for muscle toning of the buttocks, arms or thighs.

Aviva – This minimally invasive radiofrequency assisted liposculpture (RFAL) using a special handpiece suited for the external genitalia. There is no technology like this anywhere else – it is an in-office procedure, performed under local anaesthesia, with minimal downtime, less pain and scarring post- procedure compared with surgery.

Thermal RF Forma V – the FormaV handpiece uses deep tissue heating to improve moisture, muscle relaxation and improve the pH environment of the vagina. It helps with sexual dysfunction, vaginal dryness, poor circulation and urinary incontinence.

Combining treatments to address different areas results in better outcomes. EmpowerRF treats the skin, muscles and fat layer, offering a mix and match combination of external

RF energy, microneedling, EMS and internal RF energy. It offers a 4D treatment for contouring the face, body and external genitalia.

I like to combine FormaV (deep tissue heating to improve circulation and tissue relaxation) with Morpheus8V (microneedling for collagen stimulation) on the vaginal tissues, followed by VTone treatment of the muscles two weeks later. Each treatment works on S several levels to improve intravaginal health, and they complement each other for greater improvement to sexual health and genitalurinary symptoms.

For ‘mummy makeovers’, I typically combine RFAL and Morpheus8 treatment of the abdomen ‘apron’ Lu post-partum, followed by Tone treatment of the abdomen for diastasis recti or abdominal muscle separation after two weeks.

Most treatments are lunchtime procedures with low downtime. Treatments are quick and easy for practitioners and well-tolerated by patients. The platform itself is sleek, easy to use and I can move it from one location to another.

Why would you recommend it?

I recommend EmpowerRF because of its great results and high patient satisfaction. This is a chance to make a difference in women’s health and improve your patients’ quality of life.

If the average age of menopause is 51 years old, and life expectancy is 80+ years old, most women will be spending one-third of their lives in the menopause stage. Effects of ageing and oestrogen/ collagen loss on the genitourinary area is not just laxity and volume loss (as on the face), but it has functional consequences such as dryness, incontinence and prolapse. These could profoundly affect quality of life. By starting treatments early, EmpowerRF can play a preventative role in intimate health and help prevent playing catch up on the effects of menopause later down the track. Prevention is better than cure any day.