Labiaplasty

Is a cosmetic procedure on the female genital tract designed to improve the function or the appearance of the labia of the woman. The surgery may involve the small lips or labia minora or the larger lips outside the vagina called labia majora or both. It can be a separate procedure or combined with other female genital tract procedures such as vaginoplasty or perineoplasty.

Who are the candidates?

Some women may have inborn deformities to be corrected and some others aquire changes in the labia after pregnancy that may require surgical correction.

Aging or changes of the body causing enlargement or uneven asymmetry of the labia can be distressing beyond reassurance and surgery to restore the original size or shape may be desired. Surgical correction for all cases is controversial and not endorsed by some medical authorities. Women are advised to seek expert opinion regarding their body image and whether the labia are truly out of proportion or fall within the normal anatomical variation for the woman body. At times loss of self-confidence is present when the woman perceives herself outside the norm, and restoration of this feeling is achieved after successful restoration of her anatomy.

Who performs the operation?

Board certified cosmetic surgeons and Board certified Gynecological surgeons with training in cosmetic gynecology are usually the one to perform these procedures.

What kind of anesthesia used?

Local, intravenous sedation, conscious sedation, spinal or epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia can be used. Tumescent anesthesia has been used successfully as it reduces blood loss with the epinephrine content.

Complications:

May include infection, bleeding or hematoma, scarring, acute or chronic pain, dyspareunia or pain with intercourse, dissatisfaction with result or poor scar healing. Overaggressive dissection may remove more tissues as well as under dissection may leave unsatisfactory result.

Recovery is dependent on the extent of the surgical procedure and may range from few days to one week. Surgery is done as outpatient. Swelling is present for few days and increase with early activity. Modified rest for one week helps to reduce the swelling and associated pain. Pain and swelling tend to subside after one week on average, however full return to exercise and all activities take about 4 to 6 weeks. Intercourse can resume after healing in 4 to 6 weeks.