A considerable number of women may have large or irregular labia minora (those small lips outside the vagina), either from birth, after childbirth or aging.
The enlarged appearance of the female intimate part can embarrass or even lower a woman’s self-esteem. In addition, many women with these conditions may also experience irritation when having intercourse, wearing tight clothing or exercising. To remedy this discomfort and help restore self-esteem, there is a cosmetic surgery treatment called reduction labiaplasty, which aims to reduce or change the shape of the labia minora.
To which patients is labiaplasty recommended?
This surgery is recommended for women who have one or more of these conditions:
- Sexual dysfunction
- Labia minora asymmetrical or too thick
- Vaginal lips hanging or too long
- Discomfort or embarrassment when having intercourse because you are unhappy with your labia minora.
Although there is no age requirement to undergo labiaplasty, it is recommended to wait until after giving birth, as childbirth can stretch the labia.
This surgery can be performed alone or together with other surgical techniques, such as liposculpture or lipoabdominoplasty. In this case, the ideal patient profile are those women with aesthetic or morphological alterations who want to improve their appearance. It must be taken into account that these interventions can improve the appearance of the intimate part and improve self-esteem, but not necessarily improve sexual relations or achieve perfection.
On the other hand, a patient must also meet certain requirements to undergo labiaplasty: an acceptable level of health and psychological stability.
What does labiaplasty surgery consist of?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and sedation, lasts about 45 minutes and does not require hospitalization. The surgical technique consists of removing the excess of labia minora and then closing with stitches, either in a zigzag or crescent shape.
Taking into account that not all labia minora are the same, the surgeon must choose one technique or another depending on the conditions of the patient to obtain the best result.
What is the postoperative period after labiaplasty?
During the three or four days after surgery, the patient has swelling and some bruising, but disappear after two weeks. To have a more bearable postoperative period, the advice to follow are:
- Take antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for at least three weeks.
- Avoid any type of sexual activity for at least six weeks.
- Do not use tampons until 10 days after surgery.
After a short time, the scars usually fade completely.
Are there any risks associated with labiaplasty?
As in all Plastic Surgery treatments, complications are very rare but they can happen. The main risks in labiaplasty can be:
- Temporary loss of sensation
- Infections
- Keloids (excessive scarring)
- Hematomas
- Skin formations
- Permanent loss of sensation
Even so, it should be noted that the area treated in this surgery is not affected when it comes to having sex. In addition, if the above advice is followed, there will be less chance of complications.