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Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty
The appearance of the vagina and external genitalia varies by person, and skin can naturally stretch with time, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and injury. It is essential to understand that each woman is unique, and the size and shape of the labia is no exception. There is no “normal.” However, specific characteristics of labia can make everyday activities uncomfortable or challenging.
A labiaplasty procedure is an excellent option if you have any of the below concerns:
- You aren’t happy with the external appearance of your vagina.
- Your labia have changed or stretched due to aging, weight loss, or pregnancies.
- You feel that your labia are too big or don’t like how your genitals look in bathing suits or tight clothing.
- You experience physical discomfort exercising, playing sports, or during sex due to the size or shape of your labia.
We understand that, for many women, the desire to pursue labiaplasty is rooted in insecurity or discomfort. You can rest assured that we will maintain the utmost standards of privacy and dignity when it comes to treating this concern.
Questions & Answers
Labiaplasty is vaginal plastic surgery focused on reshaping the labia minora (inner vaginal lips). Some patients combine this procedure with vulvaplasty, which focuses on reshaping the labia majora (outer vaginal lips).
You may find that you are uncomfortable in specific clothing or a swimsuit because of the appearance of your labia. Exercise or intimate activities may also be a source of both physical and emotional discomfort. The benefits of labiaplasty are unique to each individual. Below are some of the benefits of labiaplasty:
- Reduce the size and protrusion of your labia
- Create symmetry for uneven labia
- Feel more confident wearing clothing, such as bikini bottoms, panties, and tight workout pants.
- Decrease or eliminate physical discomfort
- Increase your sexual satisfaction
- Restore aging labia or tissue that has changed with pregnancy and weight loss.
- Improve your self-image and self-confidence.
Many women pursue labiaplasty for functional or practical reasons, but many also seek it purely for aesthetic reasons.
In addition to deciding whether labiaplasty can meet your personal goals, several factors must be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for this procedure. Some general guidelines for those considering labiaplasty include those who:
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- Want to improve labia asymmetry
- Want to reduce the size of labia
- What to enhance physical discomfort
- Are in good general health
- Are nonsmokers, or are willing to stop smoking before surgery
- Can devote adequate time to recovery. The recovery time can be lengthy, and you may not be able to engage in physical activities or sexual intercourse for several months.
- Have realistic expectations from labiaplasty surgery
While labiaplasty can address a variety of concerns, it does have limitations. Knowing these limitations and understanding when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery is essential. A labiaplasty cannot:
- Change the tone or tightness of the vaginal canal
- Address urinary incontinence
Labiaplasty can be performed in the office or as an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia in an operating room, depending on the specifics of your procedure. After your surgery, you will be placed in dressings and a compression garment. If performed in the operating room, you will spend a short time in the recovery room after your procedure before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.
It would help if you planned to take it easy following your surgery. You may experience some discomfort and swelling after your surgery. It would help if you were up and walking the day following surgery, although you will be sore for several days. After your labiaplasty surgery, you can return to work within 7 to 10 days. You should wait two weeks after your surgery to use a tampon. No strenuous activities, heavy lifting (over 20 pounds), aerobic exercises, swimming, contact sports, tennis, or golf should be planned for the first six weeks. As we monitor your recovery, we will advise you when it is safe to resume specific activities. You should be able to resume all of your physical activities within six weeks of surgery, depending on the particular needs of your procedure. It would help if you planned to wear the compression garment for about six weeks following surgery.
You may notice less sensation in the labia area. This is usually temporary. Incisions will initially be red or pink, but for most patients, the scarring is virtually undetectable after healing is complete. Final results are usually seen 6 to 10 weeks after surgery.
Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.
If you think that you may want to become pregnant in the future, you should mention this to your surgeon. Pregnancy can change body size and shape in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term results of your surgery.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, be sure to tell your surgeon. She may recommend that you stabilize your weight prior to undergoing surgery.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Smoking causes significant and serious wound healing problems after labiaplasty and can lead to very poor scarring. Poor scarring can be revised after 9-12 weeks, but you can minimize your risk by not smoking.
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