Some plastic surgeons say labiaplasty is one of the fastest-growing plastic surgeries in the world. This is because labiaplasty experienced the biggest increase in procedures from 2016 to 2017. As a result, more women want surgical help to address some of the common issues with their genitalia.
If you are having difficulty with your labia due to age, weight loss, genetics, or childbirth, below is helpful information about Houston labiaplasty (vaginal rejuvenation).
Labiaplasty Overview
To better understand how labiaplasty can improve your life, it’s essential to understand what the surgery entails.
When you have labiaplasty, the procedure involves making changes to the labia or vaginal folds. The procedure is usually performed to reduce the size of the labia minora or labia majora. Some surgeons also perform labiaplasty to reduce the size of both vaginal folds.
There are many reasons why patients have this procedure. Some women have labiaplasty to reduce pain and discomfort that can occur from having an enlarged labia.
For example, your labia may get caught in clothing or become compressed or pulled from sitting on a bike seat.
Other women have labiaplasty for cosmetic and aesthetic reasons. They may not like how their vagina and labia look and are concerned about how they may look to their partner.
The labiaplasty procedure involves trimming away some labia to make it more comfortable or aesthetically pleasing. There are several procedures your surgeon can perform, depending on your anatomy and personal goals. These include:
- Trim procedure: The surgeon cuts away extra tissue from the labia minora edges, so it’s even with the labia majora.
- Wedge procedure: The surgeon takes out a wedge-shaped piece of tissue from the labia minora. The submucosa is left in place, so when they stitch the labia, the wrinkled edges are still there. This makes the labia minora look more natural.
If you are considering this procedure, below are some of the problems it can solve and how it may improve your life.
See Also: What Is Involved with Labiaplasty?
Improve Physical Health
One of the biggest complaints that these patients have is that an elongated labia causes physical pain and health problems. For instance, you could have pain in the genitalia when trying to ride a horse or bike.
Other women may feel the pulling and tugging of the elongated labia when they wear a bathing suit or snug clothing.
Also, the area may become inflamed and irritated because of the enlarged labia, and it can become difficult to keep clean.
A successful labiaplasty can make it more comfortable to engage in common activities and wear the clothing you want. It also can reduce problems with irritation and infection by removing some of the vaginal folds that may contain bacteria.
Boosts Sexual Well-Being
Labiaplasty can solve problems involving your sexual well-being. This is definitely true for women who are dissatisfied with how their labia and vagina look, particularly after childbirth or weight loss.
Having concerns about how your genitalia look to your partner is a big issue for many women. They may feel insecure or have discomfort and pain when having intercourse. Some women report that they cannot have normal sexual relations with their partners anymore because of issues with their labia.
But when labiaplasty is performed by a skilled surgeon, you can usually make these issues go away. Most patient say they feel more confidence and less discomfort in the bedroom, which improves their ability to enjoy sexual activity.
Improves Workouts
One of the biggest problems with elongated labia is the tissue can get caught in clothing and twisted during physical activity.
This problem can make it more difficult to work out comfortably, and may make you reluctant to engage in exercise.
After labiaplasty and your body has healed, you will be able to enjoy exercise again without concerns about your labia being pulled or caught by clothing or body movements.
Enhances Self-Esteem
Labiaplasty may eliminate discomfort and irritation, but it also can improve feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth.
Even though we might know better, there is little doubt that how you feel about your body can affect how you feel about yourself. Having issues with body image can affect your self-esteem, and this can occur when you have issues with the appearance or function of your genitalia.
When you have labiaplasty, the function and appearance of your privates will be improved, and this may boost your self-confidence. After surgery, you know that you have overcome a challenging personal issue.
Also, many women like this procedure because they can have other surgeries that enhance how they look. Popular choices include breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, and liposuction.
Recovering From Labiaplasty
Most patients recover in a few weeks from this procedure. You will probably have some minor swelling and discomfort for one or two weeks, but this can be managed with prescription medication or Tylenol.
Some patients use ice packs on and off for 20 minutes for the first three or four days, and that usually solves most of these issues.
Also, you should wear loose-fitting pants and underwear for a few weeks so your incisions can heal. Some patients may have minor bleeding for a few days, but try wearing a mini-pad to address this issue.
Remember there will be swelling and discoloration for two or three weeks, so you won’t see the results right away. Most of the swelling is usually gone after six weeks, but you could have minor swelling for up to six months after the labiaplasty.
When this procedure is done by a skilled surgeon, most patients have impressive results with labiaplasty, so talk to your surgeon today.
Request a Houston Labiaplasty Consultation
Interested in labiaplasty in Houston? Please set up a consultation with Dr. Ashley Steinberg today. She’ll talk to you about the benefits and risks of this popular procedure.
References
Not All Labia Are Created Equal. (2021). Accessed at https://www.healthcaredive.com/press-release/20190527-not-all-labia-are-created-equal-how-labiaplasty-can-change-your-life/
Labiaplasty Overview. (2021). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/labiaplasty
About Labiaplasty. (n.d.). Accessed at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21953-labiaplasty
