Body Procedures: Labiaplasty

Labiaplasty refers to a process that decreases the length of the labia minora. It is one of several vaginal rejuvenation procedures available for women who want to improve the comfort level or aesthetics of the vaginal area. The goal of a labiaplasty is to make it so the labia minora doesn't hang far below the labia minora, or hair-bearing labia.

Women may decide a labiaplasty is needed if they feel pain, itching or other irritation during activities like bike riding or intercourse. Some women seek out a labiaplasty to improve confidence in their appearance, including when wearing a bathing suit. Studies show that 90 percent of women who seek out a labiaplasty report high satisfaction with the results.

What happens during a labiaplasty?

Women can opt for oral sedation under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. There are a few different approaches to labiaplasty, with the most popular being the trim procedure that removes the extra tissue. Another choice is the wedge procedure, which removes a pie-shaped portion of tissue and retains the natural border. During a labiaplasty, some women may opt to reduce extra hoods in the clitoral hood.

What happens during labiaplasty recovery?

In most cases, women take one week off work and regular activities to recover from a labiaplasty. Ice to reduce pain and swelling is often recommended, along with lying with the buttocks elevated. Most swelling will disappear by six weeks, with some residual swelling possible for six months.