The term labiaplasty commonly refers to a procedure that reduces the length of the labia minora. It is the most commonly performed aesthetic genital plastic surgery and it can relieve symptoms women experience from twisting and tugging of the labia. Your labia are the folds of skin around your vagina opening. You have two folds of skin. The outer folds are called the labia majora, which means large lips. These folds are the larger fleshy folds that protect your external genital organs and are covered with pubic hair after puberty. The inner folds are called the labia minora, which means small lips. These skin folds to protect the opening of your urethra (where your pee leaves your body) and vagina.
Specifically, labiaplasty usually involves the surgical trimming, reduction, or re-sculpting of the inner smaller lips. However, it can also refer to the surgical procedure to reduce the saggy skin of the larger outer lips. Together, the inner and outer lips are called the labia, hence labiaplasty.
One more thing, if you have a flap of excess skin on the sides of your clitoris that is large and floppy, pulls, or is constantly irritated then a clitoral hood reduction (also called prepuce reduction) is often done as part of the labiaplasty surgery.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE?
The goal of the procedure is to reduce the labia minora so that they don’t hang below the hair-bearing labia majora. A labiaplasty may be performed to reduce asymmetry when one is longer than the other, or, more commonly, to reduce the length of both labia so that the labia no longer twist, tug or fall out of a bathing suit.
The most common type of labiaplasty is the trim procedure, in which the extra tissue is removed and sewn up directly.
Next in popularity is the wedge procedure, which maintains a natural border after a pie-shaped piece of tissue has been removed.
Extra folds of the clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.
ANESTHESIA FOR LABIAPLASTY
Labiaplasty is a procedure that can be done under either local anesthesia with oral sedation or under general anesthesia.
PREPARING FOR LABIAPLASTY
Clients are asked to do a bowel prep prior to surgery. Local area is to be washed clean with antiseptic wash and hair trimmed. She needs to feel good about her decision and be herself.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS FOR LABIAPLASTY?
The risks associated with labiaplasty include those of most surgical procedures, including bleeding, hematoma and infection. The most common complication is over-resection. While some women desire an aggressive reduction, this can result in chronic dryness, scarring at or near the vaginal opening and pain with intercourse. Healing problems are more likely to occur with a wedge procedure, particularly if the patient is exposed to substances that cause blood vessels to shrink.
RECOVERING FROM LABIAPLASTY?
Most patients take a week off from work, during which they can reduce swelling and pain by icing with a cold pack sandwiched between the patient’s underpants and an elastic garment, like Spanx. This can be done “twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off.” The patient can also lie with her bottom elevated to reduce swelling.
Patients can resume wearing tampons or having intercourse after four to six weeks. Trim labiaplasty generally allows for a quicker recovery.
While the most distorting swelling is gone by 6 weeks, residual swelling may take six months to disappear
