by GrossmanMed | Feb 23, 2020 | Articles
The vulva, which consists of the labia majora and labia minor and vagina, changes over time. When a young woman is in her teens, she is undergoing puberty and all sorts of changes start to occur. She will notice the growth of hair on the labia majora, the outer set of skin flaps on the vagina and a thickening of the skin tissue.
The labia minora will not get hair but can start to thicken as subcutaneous fat fills the inner set of skin flaps on the vagina. While these changes are going on, other changes are also occurring elsewhere in the body like the development of breasts.
Labia Changes in Her 20s
Puberty will be over, and most of your female parts will have matured into their adult sizes. However, the labia majora is still developing. It is not uncommon for there to be some labia shrinking and slimming as subcutaneous fat levels continue to decrease after puberty.
Labia Changes in Her 30s
Once a woman starts to have children or reaches her 30s, she will notice there is a darkening to the skin flaps of the labia minora. This is normal and nothing to worry about. If you dislike the grayness of the skin, this is a good time to talk to a board-certified cosmetic surgeon to see if there are any options to make the skin flaps look more natural and youthful.
Labia Changes in Her 40s
Women will start to notice that their menstrual cycles are becoming shorter and shorter. This is because the egg supply in the ovaries is declining. If you haven’t had children yet, and still want one of your own, you need to act quickly, when in your early 40s, before your eggs and fertility clock run out.
Weight fluctuations from the time you were a teen to now can also start to become more noticeable in the labia majora and labia minora. The skin flaps can start to look like they are different sizes and shapes. One side can appear elongated and loose while the other side can look normal.
Labia Changes in Her 50s
The 50s are normally when most women start to enter menopause. The body is producing less estrogen. As a result, the tissues in the vagina become less elastic and thinner. The clitoris, vagina, and labia shrinkage are all common. The color of the labia majora and labia minor can also change. Due to these changes, women feel self-conscious about their vagina’s look.
Labia Changes in Her 60s
Post-menopausal years can continue to cause labia shrinkage and color changes. Hair loss from the labia majora is also common, as it turns gray, then white, and eventually falls out. Women can find their vaginas are dry and itchy, due to a lack of lubrication being made by the body. Yet, maintaining regular intercourse can help avoid dryness and itchiness, as the body will increase lubrication production.
Changes over Time
Throughout a woman’s lifetime, her vagina, vulva, labia, and body will undergo many different changes. Understanding how your body can change and when can help put you at ease and help you decide when cosmetic procedures, like a labiaplasty, are beneficial for restoring a youthful appearance.
Labiaplasty can be performed at any time, from the 20s on, if a woman notices her labia majora or labia minora has excess skin, skin that sags, or other issues that make her feel uncomfortable or experience pain.
For further information about labia reduction labiaplasty surgery and other cosmetic procedures to enhance your appearance, please feel free to contact Grossman Plastic Surgery at (818) 981-2050 to schedule an initial consultation today!
by GrossmanMed | Feb 16, 2020 | Articles
Some women are not happy with the look and appearance of the labia. It can have excess skin on one side of the labia minora—the inner skin folds around labia—that looks longer than the other. In other cases, the skin can be hanging and look enlarged around the labia majora, the outer sink folds around the labia.
Having either type of excess skin and uneven skin folds can also cause discomfort and pain during intercourse, exercise, riding a bike, and other such activities. Some women will also not wear bathing suits or tight-fitting pants because they are uncomfortable and worried about their problem being visible through their clothing to others.
A simple outpatient surgical procedure called a labiaplasty can be performed to correct the problem. Some cosmetic surgeons also refer to this procedure as vagina rejuvenation surgery. Labiaplasty surgery is sometimes listed as a nonsurgical procedure because it does not require anesthesia.
Rather, a local numbing agent and local anesthesia are applied to the skin folds around the labia. Once the area is numb, the procedure is performed.
How Is Labiaplasty Surgery Performed?
The procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure by a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. It can be performed in-office or at an outpatient surgical center. The surgeon will first apply a numbing agent to the labia and skin folds. Once the area is numb, several local numbing anesthesia injections are made to make the area fully numb, so no pain is felt during the procedure.
Next, the cosmetic surgeon makes the necessary incisions to reshape and/or remove excess skin from the labia minora and labia majora. Once the labia minora and labia majora have been reshaped, sutures are used to hold the skin folds in the new, desired shape. Most sutures used will dissolve on their own over the next several weeks as the labia heals.
How Long Is the Recovery Time After a Labiaplasty?
Most women are surprised to learn that the recovery time is between one to two weeks. Initially, some swelling and mild soreness is common. Mild soreness tends to subside over the next few days.
Your cosmetic surgeon can prescribe a mild pain medication. However, most women find they do not need it or only need to take it for a few days.
Swelling can take a little longer to subside but normally goes away within two weeks. You will want to take extra care to avoid normal activities and intercourse for at least two weeks. You can resume light duties typically within a few days following the procedure.
Can a Labiaplasty Be Combined with Other Cosmetic Procedures?
Yes, some women have their labiaplasty performed at the same time as other cosmetic procedures like a breast lift, breast enlargement, tummy tuck, and so on. When labiaplasty surgery is combined with other procedures, you will typically have the procedures performed under anesthesia at a surgical center or hospital.
To learn more about labiaplasty surgery and other cosmetic procedures that can enhance your appearance, please feel free to contact Grossman Plastic Surgery at (818) 981-2050 to schedule an initial consultation today!
by GrossmanMed | Nov 23, 2019 | Articles
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.
