Vaginal Bleaching/Lightening
Some women can become very self-conscious about the colour of the skin in their genital area. Discolouration of the genitals can affect intimacy and confidence in relationships.
Some women can become very self-conscious about the colour of the skin in their genital area. Discolouration of the genitals can affect intimacy and confidence in relationships.
Vaginal bleaching, whitening or lightening can be achieved using either chemical skin peels or laser resurfacing. Both will seek to remove the pigmented skin cells and encourage the body to repair itself by creating fresh, lighter, naturally-pigmented skin cells as a replacement.
Darker skin or pigmentation of the labia majora (the outer lips of the vagina), the groin (the area between the vagina and the inner thighs), and the perianal area around the anus and inner buttocks can all be a concern for women. This is medically called hyperpigmentation.
Ethnicity and genetics can play a part in the darkness of the skin in this area, but age, hormones and pregnancy can all increase pigmentation formation and lead to discolouration.
All these areas of hyperpigmentation can be treated to lighten the skin with a variety of vaginal bleaching or whitening techniques including lasers and chemical peels as part of The O Concept™ treatment programme.
The O Concept™ is a specialised combination of sexual aesthetic treatments brought together to treat female sexual dysfunction. It offers a unique treatment combination tailored to suit you and your vaginal concerns.
Anal bleaching with the same techniques is also suitable for male patients. Please also see our information page on penis whitening options.
Treatment cost
Price From* After consultation the doctor will confirm the cost.
Treatment Summary at a glance
30 mins to 1 hour depending on chemical peel or laser.
Chemical peel: Course of 4, 2 weeks apart.
Laser: Course of 3-5, 4 weeks apart.
None required for chemical peel.
Local (numbing cream) for laser.
Redness, swelling and skin tightness. Sensation of warmth with laser.
Immediate skin lightening, improving over time with both methods.
Maintenance treatments recommended, especially after chemical peel.
Chemical peel: immediately return to normal. Minor downtime with laser.
1-2 days for chemical peel, 2-7 days for laser.
How does it work?
We use specially formulated chemical skin peels, which use lightening ingredients including mandelic acid. The peel is applied to the skin in the vaginal area to cause a chemical exfoliation of the pigmented skin cells to reveal a fresher layer of skin and stimulate the production of the new skin cells.
A course of 4 chemical peel treatments will be recommend, spaced approximately 2 weeks apart each time. Each session and application of the skin peel will encourage the turnover of new skin cells until the labia and all other areas treated look fresher and lighter.
For laser treatments, where pigmentation is more extensive, we use a thulium laser which is a fractional, non-ablative laser treatment, meaning that it creates thousands of tiny, microscopic damage zones which are surrounded by healthy skin cells. This controlled damage sets off a healing response in the body, so it repairs itself, again producing fresh, lighter skin cells.
Thulium lasers are commonly used in dermatology to treat other pigmentation concerns including melasma which causes brown patches to appear on the face. They are also commonly used in other aspects of gynaecological treatment.
Achieving a good result and how many laser sessions are required for vaginal bleaching will depend on the extent of the pigmentation concern. You will be recommended a programme of 3 to 5 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart.
We offer interest FREE finance plans to patients. Please contact our experienced team to learn more.
FAQ's
You will require a full consultation with our doctor prior to any vaginal lightening to determine if you are suitable for treatment, and whether the use of lasers or chemical skin peels would be most appropriate for you. A full medical history will also be taken. Each person’s sexual and genital wellness needs are different, so during your consultation, our doctor will be able to recommend the safest and most effective O Concept™ treatment options to rebuild your sexual well-being.
Prior to vaginal bleaching, you should be in general good health without any active skin infections or diseases in the area which could make you unsuitable for treatment, including, for example, sexually transmitted diseases or thrush (herpes virus).
Pregnant women will not be suitable for this treatment.
Suitable candidates will be required to completely shave the area 48 hours prior to either chemical peel or laser treatment.
Chemical peeling is a well-tolerated treatment, although the intimate areas of the female vagina and perianal area can be sensitive to any treatments. During the procedure you should expect to experience a feeling of tickling or a prickly sensation; sometimes people also feel warmth.
This sensation of heat may last for a short time after treatment has finished.
Laser treatment is performed following the application of a topical anaesthetic or numbing cream designed to aid comfort and minimise any pain from the delivery of the laser energy. We can also apply cold air fans during treatment and the device used, the Fraxel Dual laser, also includes integrated cooling in the handpiece of the device which adds to your comfort during treatment. You may experience a sensation of heat during the procedure.
The application and neutralisation of a chemical skin peel for vaginal bleaching takes up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the total area being treated.
Laser treatment can take 15- 30minutes, plus the application of the topical anaesthetic, depending on the size of the area being treated in one session.
The downtime experienced from vaginal bleaching will depend on the treatment used. In all cases you should avoid having any waxing or laser hair removal treatments in the area whilst you are undergoing lightening of the vaginal area.
Downtime from chemical skin peeling of the area will be minimal; you can return to your normal activities immediately. You may experience some minor redness and swelling, or a feeling of tightness of the skin, which will resolve quickly. You will be advised to wear loose fitting clothes and underwear to help the area to ‘breathe’ and assist with healing, as well as avoiding exercising after your treatment for 24-48 hours, and the use of swimming pools, jacuzzi or hot tubs.
After laser treatment you can expect the sensation of warmth to continue for a few hours, and for the area to feel akin to having a sun burn. Immediately after treatment, ideally you should rest, although you can return to your normal activities, but walking may be a little uncomfortable once the topical anaesthesia has worn off. The skin will appear to have lots of tiny dots all over it and you can expect redness, swelling and some discomfort for up to 48 hours. Any pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol. You must not scratch the area or pick at the minute scabs on the treated spots as this can cause infection, scarring and further pigmentation formation. You should avoid sexual intercourse and strenuous exercise for a week after the procedure.
Both chemical peels and laser act to remove skin cells and encourage the formation of new ones, during this time the skin is compromised and more sensitive than usual to UV exposure from sunlight or sun beds. It is important that you avoid exposing the treated area to sunshine or artificial ultraviolet light for up to six months after treatment, as this could cause a reoccurrence of the pigmentation.
A course of 4 chemical peels is always recommended to achieve the best result, but you should start to notice changes in the amount of pigmentation in the vaginal area after the first session. Over time the lightening will increase until you are happy with the new skin colour. Regular maintenance treatments will be recommended to keep results optimal.
Results from fractional laser treatment for vaginal lightening are progressive, improving more and more over time as the body heals and repairs the skin to replace the damaged, pigmented tissue. You will notice immediate improvements following the first treatment session. Optimal results, after your final session will be seen after 2 to 3 months, when you can return for a review and follow-up appointment.
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