What is a Labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce or increase the size of your labia. The surgery is done to improve the appearance of your labia, to reduce physical discomfort or as part of gender-affirming surgery.

What causes a labia to become oversized?

• Menopause or other hormonal changes can thin the tissue of the labia majora, allowing the labia minora to protrude beyond the labia majora.
• Pregnancy and childbirth.
• Changes in your weight.

What a labiaplasty involves?

It involves shortening or reshaping the vaginal lips. The unwanted tissue is cut away with a scalpel or laser. The loose edge may be stitched with fine, dissolvable stitches.

What type of anesthesia is used during labiaplasty surgery ?

You can have a labiaplasty under general anaesthesia or under local anaesthesia with sedation.

How many hours does a labiaplasty procedure take?

The whole procedure takes 1 to 2 hours.

When can I go home after my labiaplasty?

You can go home the same day.

What is done during the labiaplasty surgery?  

Labiaplasty is usually performed under local anaesthetic (awake with the area numbed) unless a general anaesthetic (asleep) is requested or other surgery is being done at the same time.  During the surgery, the size of the labia minora are reduced either by removing a thin strip of tissue along the edge or by removing a wedge shaped area of tissue.  Removing tissue in a wedge shaped manner leaves less scarring at the edge of reshaped labia although the scars usually heal very well and are very discrete. Any clitoral hood extra skin can be removed as part of either techniques if planned.  This is done in a way that will not damage or affect sexual sensation or stimulation of the clitoris.

Does labiaplasty make you tighter?

Labiaplasty is usually performed to reduce the size and improve the shape of labia minora as well as labia majora. In some cases, the labia minora alone may need improvement. The surgeon will trim the excess labial tissue to make it tighter

What are the risks and complications of labia surgery?

• Too much tissue or not enough tissue is removed.
• Bruising (hematoma).
• Wound breakdown.
• Ongoing pain, pain with sex or loss of sensitivity.

How long is the recovery period after  labiaplasty surgery ?

It will be necessary to gently shower the area daily to keep the surgical wounds clean and to wear a pad in the begining until the area heals.  Antiseptic cream is often applied in the early stages of recovery in addition.  Tampons should be avoided until the area is healed.  (In general, it is best to time the surgery for when you do not have your period and when it is not due immediately afterwards.)

Afterwards, most people can return to work between a few days and two weeks depending on the type of work and how they are recovering.  There will be some swelling and bruising of the area that gradually settles down over the couple of weeks after surgery. Strenuous sports and sexual intercourse should be avoided until the area is fully healed. This is usually about 4 to 6 weeks post surgery.

When will results be at their very best after Labiaplasty surgery ?

The initial swelling, soreness and temporary discoloration decrease over the first couple of weeks after surgery. Most swelling is gone after six weeks. However, it may take up to four to six months of healing time for swelling to completely go away before seeing the final results of your labiaplasty. There’s usually little to no scarring.

What are the different Labiaplasty techniques?

There are two techniques used in labiaplasties: the wedge technique and the edge technique.

The wedge technique involves removing a V-shaped “wedge” from both sides of the labia and stitching the edges together. This technique causes the least amount of scar tissue.

For the edge technique, surgeon will make an incision that removes the outer edge of the inner labia, making the inner labia even with or shorter than the outer labia. This technique creates a cylindrical scar and more scar tissue than the wedge technique.

What kind of scar will I have after Labiaplasty surgery ?

Due to the location of the incisions, scarring from a labiaplasty is barely noticeable.

How much does a Labiaplasty surgery surgery cost?

It can vary significantly depending on multiple factors, including:

Country

Experience of the surgeon

Location of the procedure (office, surgery center, hospital)

Type of anesthesia used

*A low-cost Labiaplasty surgery performed by an inexperienced surgeon who delivers poor results is not a good combination.