Labiaplasty can make a big difference in the lives of many patients. If you deal with physical or psychological discomfort from the shape or length of your labia, you may want to consider this procedure.

Labiaplasty is often chosen by women with elongated labia after pregnancy and childbirth. When the tissue is longer than it should be, the labia minora can hang below the labia majora, which can cause substantial discomfort.

If you are considering this procedure by itself or as part of a mommy makeover, learn below how to tell if you are a good candidate for Labiaplasty.

Signs That You May Need Labiaplasty

You can tell that you may need labiaplasty if you have one or more of these signs:

Labia Is ‘Long’

It’s important to note that the labia come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, and what is ‘normal’ can vary widely.

However, people with a longer labia may find they don’t like how it looks or moves with the body. This can happen with the labia minora or majora, and can cause chaffing, rubbing, and irritation during many physical activities.

Having a long labia also can interfere with intercourse and make it uncomfortable.

Uneven Labia

It’s normal for women to have labias of many lengths and shapes, but you may feel insecure about how your labia looks. If how your labia looks makes you self-conscious, the surgeon can examine you and help you decide if labiaplasty is something you want.

The surgeon can show you several photos and give you an idea of what surgery may make your labia look like. If the labia is uneven and makes you feel insecure or physically uncomfortable, labiaplasty may help.

Physical Discomfort

It’s common for a woman to feel physically uncomfortable if their labia majora or minora is uneven or too long. This condition can make it physically uncomfortable when you run, walk, sit, or ride a bike.

Fortunately, labiaplasty can trim the extra tissue and make physical activity enjoyable again.

Ideal Candidate For Labiaplasty

The ideal candidate for labiaplasty is someone who has experienced substantial labia changes after having children. Or, the woman has always had large or irregular labia. While there is no precise definition of what a ‘normal’ labia is, many patients are dissatisfied with the appearance or shape of their labia.

Some of the requirements for candidacy for labiaplasty are:

Being at least 18 years old
Being uncomfortable when you sit, exercise, ride a bike, or have sex
Being self-conscious about the size or appearance of your labia
Having tears in the labia from childbirth

Ideally, you should be finished having children before having labiaplasty. There are some cases where a patient under 18 may seek labiaplasty, as well.

Also, you should want this procedure for yourself and not because someone wants you to have it. And you need to have reasonable expectations about what the procedure can and can’t do. If you are overly critical of your body, no plastic surgery will likely satisfy you.

The best way to find out if you are a candidate for this procedure is to meet with your plastic surgeon. The surgeon will check your condition and let you know if you can benefit from labiaplasty. Learn more about the purpose of Labiaplasty.

How To Prepare For Labiaplasty

Once you have decided you want labiaplasty, there are several things you should do to prepare for the procedure.

First, you should plan to take at least a week off of work as you will need plenty of time to rest and recover. If your job is strenuous, you may need two or three weeks off.

In the weeks before your labiaplasty, be sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water. Get plenty of sleep, too, so you are well rested going into the procedure.

What To Expect During Labiaplasty

Labiaplasty is usually an outpatient procedure, so you can probably go home that day. How long the labiaplasty takes depends on the method the surgeon uses.

There are two major kinds of labiaplasty. A reduction in the size of the labia majora reduces the shape and size of the outer lips of the vagina. A reduction in the size of the labia minora reduces the shape and size of the vagina’s inner lips.

These changes are made with the wedge or trim method during labiaplasty. The trim method removes extra skin from the labia majora or minora, while the wedge method removes a wedge from the labia.

What To Expect During Recovery

After your labiaplasty, you will be sore and tired. The surgeon will give you prescription pain medication to manage the pain. It’s critical to keep the incisions clean, and your surgeon will provide detailed cleaning instructions.

How long the recovery takes varies, but most patients can return to their customary routine after two weeks. However, you should not have sexual intercourse for six weeks after labiaplasty.

If that is a problem and you can’t wait that long to have sex, you aren’t a candidate for labiaplasty at this time.

All women heal differently, and you will need time to rest and recover from labiaplasty. Most patients begin to see the results after a month as scars and swelling fade.

Labiaplasty can make a huge difference in a woman’s anatomy, comfort, and self-esteem, so talk to your surgeon about this procedure today.

Also, talk to your surgeon if you are interested in other procedures with your labiaplasty, such as breast augmentation or liposuction.

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 labiaplasty.

References

What To Expect At Every Stage Of Your Labiaplasty. (2020). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-to-expect-at-every-stage-of-your-labiaplasty

What Is A Labiaplasty And What Does It Involve? (2020). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-is-a-labiaplasty-and-what-does-it-involve

Everything You Need To Know About Labiaplasty. (2021). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/labiaplasty