Labiaplasty

AKA Designer Vagina Surgery, Labial Reduction

What is a Labiaplasty?
It might seem extreme to some, but cosmetic surgery of the labia has been on the rise in the UK over the past few years.
The procedure is usually aimed at reducing the shape and/or size of the labia, and although it can be done for purely cosmetic reasons, some women find that overly large labia minora (inner labia) can cause pain and irritation.
While it is more usual to have the procedure on the inner labia, it can also be performed on the outer labia, although this is not common practice in the UK.
Often, women have been unhappy with the size of their labia from puberty, however bulky or distended labia can occur as a result of childbirth or even just the natural ageing process.

Who’s suitable for Labiaplasty?
As this is a surgical procedure, you would need to have a thorough consultation with a plastic surgeon before making a decision.
A big problem is that women don’t really know what constitutes ‘normal’ as far as labia are concerned – we don’t tend to see each others’ very often! – so your surgeon should be able to tell you whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure or if, in fact, your labia are not unusually large.

What’s a Labiaplasty  like?
Labiaplasty is usually performed  as a day case and can be done using either a local or a general anaesthetic. The surgeon then basically cuts the labia down to the requisite size, using either a scalpel, a laser or specialised scissors, depending on his/her preference.Using a laser cauterises the blood vessels, minimising the amount of bleeding, so some surgeons prefer that, however opinion is divided and many feel that scissors or a scalpel are more suited to the very small, precise cuts needed in a procedure like labiaplasty. Whatever your surgeon prefers, it shouldn’t make much difference to the end result.If a scalpel or scissors have been used, the incision will be closed using dissolvable stitches. The whole process shouldn’t take longer than one or two hours.

What happens after Labiaplasty?
If you’ve had a general anaesthetic, you will need to allow time for the effects to wear off, and you may be quite sore for the next week or two.
Usually, you should be able to return to work after about a week, although any vigorous activity – including sexual intercourse – should be avoided for at least four weeks.

Will I have a scar following Labiaplasty?
There may be some minor scarring, but labial incisions tend to heal well and are rarely noticeable.

Plastic Surgeon