Whether childbirth has affected your labia or you simply want to improve their look, labiaplasty may be a good solution for you. If you’re curious about the procedure, take a moment to learn how it works and what you need to know to help you make a decision.
What Is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is a procedure that improves the appearance of the labia by reshaping, reducing, or otherwise altering the tissue. It may also be used to correct damage or other non-aesthetic concerns. Labiaplasty can be performed on either the outer labia (labia majora) or the inner labia (labia minora), or both.
Some procedures use traditional surgical tools or lasers to make incisions and shape the tissue, and the edges are closed with appropriate sutures. However, there are also “scarless” labiaplasty procedures that do not require any incisions or sutures. Instead, the labia are shaped and reduced using methods like radio-frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL).
Things to Consider Before Pursuing a Labiaplasty
Depending on the type and intensity of the procedure you plan to have done, make sure you’re aware of any relevant risks and discuss them with your doctor. Surgical labiaplasty patients, for example, may have complications like infection and scarring. With an expert surgeon and good post-operative care, these risks can be minimized.
It’s also important to remember that bodies have variety! Is your vulva really abnormal, or are you seeking perfection? Think about why you want a labiaplasty. If you’re having it done because a partner made a negative comment, for example, it may not be the right time.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Procedure?
A good candidate is one whose inner and/or outer labia are misshapen, uneven, or causing other problems in a way that is safe and appropriate to correct. Ideally, a candidate will also be free of complications that pose excessive risks.
If the doctor determines that your labia are already well shaped and there is no good reason to proceed, you may not be considered a candidate. If you’ve previously had work done, it’s also possible that further work could pose unnecessary risks (though revision of a bad labiaplasty may still be appropriate).
Beautiful, Natural-Looking Results
After a traditional or laser-performed labiaplasty, you can expect to spend several weeks healing. After a scarless labiaplasty, recovery may only take a couple of days. Once you are fully healed and recovered from the procedure, you can expect to find beautiful, normally functioning labia that look like they’ve always been your natural shape. With a truly scarless procedure, even your partners and doctors won’t be able to tell you’ve had a labiaplasty!
Schedule a Labiaplasty Consultation with Dr. Grossman
For more than 20 years, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Peter H. Grossman has been helping patients throughout the West Hills, CA area through expert reconstructive and cosmetic techniques. To discuss whether labiaplasty may be right for you, contact us online or call Grossman Plastic Surgery clinic at (818) 514-7726.