The term labiaplasty (labiaplasty) refers to aesthetic surgical corrections to a woman’s labia majora and minora. This procedure has both cosmetic and functional indications. Unsightly genitals, which can be caused by aging with slackening of the tissue, by multiple pregnancies or by a congenital weakness of the connective tissue, often represent a strong psychological burden for the patients. Impairments in everyday life, pain and stigmatization can considerably reduce the women’s quality of life. The following text briefly describes the surgical options available to treat the problem.
Indications (areas of application)
- In women who are under severe psychological distress.
- In women who suffer from pain, due to anatomical changes in the labia.
Before surgery
Before surgery, an intensive medical history discussion should be conducted that includes the patient’s medical history and motivation for the procedure. The procedure, any side effects and the consequences of the operation should be discussed in detail.The patient should also be informed that men are much less critical of the genital region and actually find almost any vulva erotic. Note: The requirements of the explanation are stricter than usual, since courts demand a “relentless” explanation in the field of aesthetic surgery. Furthermore, you should not take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), sleeping pills or alcohol for a period of seven to ten days prior to surgery. Both acetylsalicylic acid and other painkillers delay blood clotting and can lead to unwanted bleeding.Smokers should severely limit their nicotine consumption as early as four weeks before the procedure so as not to jeopardize wound healing.
The procedure
The function of a woman’s labia is to protect the vaginal entrance and prevent both dehydration and the entry of foreign bodies with subsequent infections. Naturally, the outer, labia majora overhang the inner, labia minora to perform their protective function. When the labia minora overhang the labia majora or the labia majora are flaccid or too small to in turn protect the labia minora, this presents problems. Recurrent (reoccurring) infections and pain during both sexual intercourse and activities such as cycling, horseback riding or jogging are possible. In this case, the following surgical procedures are possible:
- Labiareduction (labia reduction) – This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, but also under general anesthesia. The labia minora and labia majora can be reduced; however, usually only the labia minora are reduced. This is done after exact measurement of the surgical area by surgical removal of excess tissue and skin. Depending on the extent of the procedure, a time frame of 1.5-2.5 hours can be expected.
- Augmentation of the labia (labia augmentation) – If the labia minora are sagging or too small, augmentation of the labia minora may be necessary. The labia are filled with the patient’s own fatty tissue (e.g., from the buttock region) or with fillers such as hyaluronic acid. The operation takes about 60-90 minutes.
The procedures are performed gently and with great precision, so that a scar will hardly be visible and there will be no impairment of sexual sensations.
After surgery
Swelling, redness and mild pain can be expected after surgery and will subside after a few days. Sexual intercourse and sports activities such as horseback riding or similar should be avoided.
Possible complications
- Post-bleeding (rare)
- Infections (rare)
- Scarring
Benefit
Labiaplasty can be a viable option and a very useful procedure for the problem discussed above. Patients whose self-esteem is affected by the unsightly shape of their labia can benefit significantly from labiaplasty.
