Andreia Moraes Acuna, MD, is a board-certified Gynecologist and Obstetrician and fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Acuna obtained her medical degree at the University of Mogi das Cruzes, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She completed her medical residency at Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine-Marshall University in West Virginia. During her training, she participated in medical research as well as volunteer work.
She received additional training in the Da Vinci Surgical System, MonaLisa Touch CO2 laser therapy, weight loss, hormone replacement therapy, sclerotherapy, Botox injections and dermal fillers.
Acuna's special interests include minimal invasive surgery, menopausal management and hormonal replacement therapy, diagnostic hysteroscopy in office, Essure tubal sterilization, aesthetics and high- risk pregnancy. She is a member of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopist, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, the American Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
She's fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
In her time away from work, she enjoys empowering women, spending time with her family, and traveling.
In Other Words...with Andreia Moraes Acuna, MD
Blessings Women's Care & Medical Spa is a wellness-focused OB/GYN practice in Central Florida, providing health and wellness support for women of all ages, from obstetric care to general gynecology and menopausal conditions.
I want to discuss one of the conditions we see many patients for, which is change in a woman's optimum vaginal and sexual health and how it affects her overall well-being and quality of life.
Vaginal health can change as a woman goes through different stages of her life cycle, which can include childbirth and menopause. The drop in estrogen that comes with menopause or even during breastfeeding after delivery, causes a series of problems that have a severe impact on one's social life and personal relationships. Among the most bothersome problems is atrophic vaginitis, which is the lack of nourishment and hydration of the cells of the vaginal mucosa. This condition causes a progressive thinning of the vaginal and vulvar mucosa which then becomes more delicate, sensitive and more exposed to trauma.
Some of these hormone changes can contribute for what is known as pelvic relaxation.
Other factors that directly affect vaginal health are certain medical conditions and treatments that affect a woman's ability to produce hormones such as some cancer treatments.
Laser vaginal revitalization is a non-surgical solution available to correct these changes and enhance the vaginal muscle tone, strength, and control. I was trained on the MonaLisa Touch, which is a minimally invasive procedure that uses CO2 fractional laser technology to reverse vaginal atrophy and laxity due to various conditions discussed here. The laser is inserted into the vagina and laser pulses stimulate new collagen production in the vaginal wall. The outpatient procedure lasts less than 10 minutes. It is recommended that each patient undergo 3 separate treatments spaced 6 weeks apart for maximum results.
Laser vaginal revitalization is indicated for urinary incontinence, vaginal laxity (especially after childbirth), dyspareunia (painful sex), dryness, itching, and atrophic vaginitis (vaginal atrophy).
The advantages of laser vaginal tightening are the lack of downtime, the rapid return to sexual activity, and lower upfront cost. The tradeoff is a less intense effect and a temporary duration of effect versus surgery with vaginoplasty. This might be an ideal choice for women who suffer from vaginal laxity, but wish to have more children, have a busy schedule or can't afford surgery. Some effects of laser vaginal tightening such as increased lubrication can't be replicated by surgery.
Many women experience at some point in their life vaginal health changes and may not know that there are safe options available and that their optimum sexual health can be restored without surgery and with no down time.
There is also some confusion among some clinicians as to what laser resurfacing of the vaginal skin accomplishes. This is probably due to the fact that a company who sought FDA approval for vaginal atrophy is only allowed to market their product for that indication while a company sought FDA approval for skin tightening is only allowed to advertise that indication. In essence, all nonsurgical vaginal CO2 lasers drill a matrix of holes into the vaginal epithelium. That process stimulates the production of collagen as the body seeks to repair the holes. The production of new collagen tightens the skin, corrects vaginal atrophy and enhances vaginal lubrication.
Reach Dr. Andreia Moraes Acuna at Blessings Woman's Care & Medical Spa at 407-571-9185.
