Sex Laser

A CBS 2 News Special Assignment

Special Assignment: Sex Laser aired Wednesday, May 13, 1998 at 11 p.m.

It's a subject some people find a little difficult to talk about. But according to CBS 2 News' Thelma Gutierrez, when it comes to the issue of improving sexual gratification for women, there's definitely interest.

The I-Team decided to look into a controversial procedure called "vaginal rejuvination."

"The goal is to bring the woman back to a point post-virginal and pre-child bearing," Beverly Hills gynecologist Dr. David Matlock told CBS 2 News.

That's exactly what 34-year-old Alicia Valdez was looking for, reported Gutierrez. "I'm a mother of four, and after having so many kids it wasn't the same," Valdez said.

"I felt larger," said Dina, a mother of two who decided to have the procedure. "It took longer to get any pleasure."

Dr. Matlock said he can help alleviate that problem.

"Laser vaginal rejuvination is a laser surgical procedure designed to enhance sexual gratification," Dr. Matlock told CBS 2 News.

The doctor said the idea is to use the laser to cut and then tighten muscles that have relaxed with age or childbirth. CBS 2 News followed Dina as she underwent the procedure.

After Dina is given anesthetic, the Dr. Matlock begins. According to Gutierrez, the entire procedure should take less than an hour.

According to Gutierrez, it's a standard procedure -- used since the 1920s -- to repair bladder leakage. Dr. Matlock said his procedure has been modified through the use of a laser.

"We ask that the patients obstain from sexual intercourse for six weeks," Dr. Matlock told CBS 2 News.

If all goes well, Dina will be able to go home two hours after surgery. According to Dr. Matlock, the response has been overwhelming. He told Gutierrez he receives between 15 and 40 calls each day.

Even so, some doctors say the only thing new he's doing is the marketing. The procedure is being advertised in newspapers and on the Internet.

"I think advertising it as sexual enhancement is bad," Dr. Sheldon Haas told CBS 2 News.

Dr. Haas has performed the surgery for 30 years, and said it's not a sex cure-all.

"If the male who's making love to the female doesn't do what he's supposed to do in the first place, she can have the tightest vagina in the world and it's not going to help her sexual enhancement," Dr. Haas said.

"Women know what I'm talking about. Women understand what I'm talking about," Dr. Matlock told CBS 2 News. "And women want to have these things available to them."

"It's invasive surgery, and there are potential complications," Dr. Haas argued. "It's not just simple come on in and lets fix this, go on home and you're going to be terrific."

It did take time to heal, but Valdez said she has no complaints -- and neither does her husband, William.

"Sex was always good, but it got better," Alicia Valez said. "Yeah, I recommend it."

"I think husbands are going to pay for it once they hear about it," William jokingly added.

Dina is still healing after her surgery, and must wait two more weeks before having sex, said Gutierrez.

"I'm afraid that maybe it's going to hurt," Dina told CBS 2 News. "I'm anticipating what it's going to feel like now. I'm looking forward to it."

Gutierrez said the cost for this procedure runs between $4,000 and $8,000.