Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that resculpts the labia, the folds of skin around the vulva. Labiaplasty can be performed on either the labia minora, commonly known as the inner labia, or the labia majora, commonly known as the outer labia. The labia have huge variation in shape, size, and color, different in each and every woman.
Mons pubis reduction can also be performed under the umbrella of this procedure. For many women, the size of the mons pubis is larger than desired, making it disproportionate to the surrounding areas. To reduce the volume of the mons pubis, liposuction can be performed.
Candidates for Labiaplasty
While any woman who wants to reshape her labia and vulvar region can come in for labiaplasty, most women undergo this particular surgical procedure due to two reasons:
- Functional Impairment – The human vulvar region can have a variety of functional impairments, such as vaginal atresia, the absence of a vaginal passage; malformed uterus and fallopian tubes; intersex conditions, including the presence of both masculine and feminine sexual characteristics; and lastly, damage to the labia minora caused by accident, age, or most commonly childbirth. Labiaplasty reduces pain and discomfort in many situations, including while wearing tight clothing, during sexual intercourse, and during childbirth.
- Aesthetic Improvement – A large number of women prefer to have their labia changed to reflect a more natural and rejuvenated appearance. The procedure can have psychological and emotional benefits to those who are extremely self-conscious about their genitalia.
Common Types of Labiaplasty
While labiaplasty is a recent form of plastic surgery, it has gained a lot of ground since first being documented in a medical paper in the early 1980s. Labia minora reductions are the most common type of labiaplasty. The growth of this surgical procedure can be attributed the increase in cultural acceptance and awareness, availability of genital exposure on the internet, and hair-removal procedures that show body regions which were previously obscured.
Common techniques used for labiaplasty are as follows:
- Edge resection technique, or the trim method
- Central resection technique, or the wedge method
- De-epithelialization technique, or skin removal
- Clitoral unhooding
- Mons pubis reduction
Should I Consider Labiaplasty?
If you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your labia minora, labia majora, or mons pubis, this may be the right procedure for you. For cases where the extended labia cause discomfort or physical pain, labiaplasty should be strongly considered.
Consultation for Labiaplasty
To learn more information about labiaplasty surgery and whether it’s the right choice for achieving your aesthetic needs and goals, it’s best to speak with an experienced medical professional.
When it comes to aesthetic and functional procedures, well-respected board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Hughes has experience you can trust. Set up a consultation with Dr. Hughes today – contact our office to make an appointment.