Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation. A surgeon's 8 year journey from ridicule to acceptance.

Dec. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Eight years have passed since Dr. Joseph Berenholz, a practicing board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist first introduced vaginal tightening surgery to Michigan and the Midwest. The Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Michigan was founded in the fall of 2004 and has successfully treated nearly 700 women.

Unbeknownst to Dr. Berenholz at the time, the journey to mainstream acceptance would be long and arduous. He was already an established and respected gynecologic surgeon and Obstetrician and had delivered over 2000 babies. The resulting deliveries left many women with vaginal relaxation and sagging labia minora and majora.

As more and more women complained about their vaginal looseness and the loss of sensation during sexual relations following their child's birth, Dr. Berenholz , like so many other doctors, immediately gave the usual perfunctory response and recommended Kegel exercises. It was after observing no improvement that Dr. Berenholz started researching other methodologies to enhance women's sensation and sculpt and reduce the size of the vulvar structures, ie. the labia minora and labia majora. His research brought him to Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. David Matlock of "Beverly Hills 90210" TV fame, spoke at length with Dr. Berenholz and convinced him to travel to Los Angeles. It was there that Dr. Berenholz learned the use of the diode laser in Cosmetic Gynecology.Dr Berenholz spoke to patients who had the surgery and was amazed by the level of satisfaction they experienced.

Excited with his new training, and armed with his new diode laser, Dr. Berenholz returned to the greater Detroit area. He founded the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Michigan and began to advertise his new procedures.Slowly, patients quietly and very discreetly began to email him at his website, http://www.drberenholz.com.  The emails were surprisingly desperate and sad. Many women reported no longer enjoying sex because of loose structure and vaginal relaxation. Many young women, some as young as 16 years of age, complained of enlarged labia that they acquired by mere fate of genetics and through no fault of their own. They were mortified by the appearance of their labia. The enlarged labia caused pain with everything from bike riding, to tight blue jeans and sometimes sheer embarrassment to having sex with the light on. The self esteem issues were profound.

Each of these patients ended their stories nearly the same way. After consulting their gynecologist, each was told that their dilemma was the "natural result" of child birth and to simply Kegel everyday. The enlarged labia patients were told similar explanations and told to accept labial enlargement as just a fact of life. Not surprisingly, these comments were unsatisfactory to women looking for answers. Each dismissive response made these patients more determined than ever to find a surgical remedy.

Dr. Berenholz's practice grew quickly.Unfortunately the anonymous phone calls began as well. This was 2004 after all. "How dare anyone agree to alter the appearance of their genitalia." As more and more shows appeared on television, the acceptance for such surgeries became more mainstream. Suddenly plastic surgeons and gynecologist began calling for training. His colleagues, who once teased him began to refer patients to him and he even appeared on several local ABC and NBC news affiliates for interviews.

Dr. Berenholz has performed over 700 Vaginal Rejuvenations and Laser Labiaplasty or labia reduction surgeries of the labia minora and labia majora.He has most recently founded The Michigan Institute of Ob/Gyn with Dr. Joseph Prezzato at http://www.michobgyn.com. Not one to just settle for vaginal tightening surgeries, Dr. Berenholz is one of only four gynecologic surgeons in North America to perform the Herzog L.A.V.A. surgery. This procedure treats menopausal women who have painful intercourse and have failed everything from lubricants to estrogen creams and topical preparations. With the advent of Viagra and Cialis, more and more "mature" couples are attempting sexual relations. The LAVA procedure widens the introitus (opening) of the vagina and allows for comfortable sex. Millions of elderly women in the United States have long complained of dyspareunia and now finally have a unique surgical solution. When asked how he felt about doing both vaginal tightening and loosening, Dr. Berenholz merely smiled and said,"there's a certain symmetry to all of this." We agree.