Labiaplasty
What is a labiaplasty?
A labiaplasty can change the shape, size, and appearance of the labia minora, as well as the volume of the labia majora. The type of labiaplasty we are discussing here is for cisgender women. The labia minora can change due to childbirth, aging, sexual activity, or simply due to the way the body develops. People who have larger labia minora may experience pain, discomfort, or difficulty wearing tight-fitting clothes like leggings, bathing suits, or underwear. The labia minora may become bruised during exercise like cycling, horseback riding, etc., where there is pressure and weight on the pelvic area. It is important to note that labiaplasty is not the same as a “vaginal rejuvenation.”
Cisgender women who experience vulva-related dysphoria and physical symptoms like pain or discomfort are eligible for this procedure.
During a labiaplasty, your surgeon will reduce the size of your labia minora. You and your surgeon will discuss the specific way the reduction will be done during your consultation. If you also would like a reduction of your labia majora, your surgeon can perform liposuction or remove fatty tissue through an incision. If you would like to increase the size of your labia majora, this can be done through fat grafting, which takes fat from one part of the body and moves it to another.
Labiaplasty Preparation
Prior to surgery, you will shower and clean your genital and pelvic area with Hibiclens, which is an antiseptic soap our office will give you. You should wear comfortable clothes to the hospital that are easy to put on and take off. Do not wear makeup or fake eyelashes to the hospital. We also request you not wear any jewelry to the hospital on the day of surgery. If you wear nail polish, we may need to remove the polish from one nail to allow an oxygen monitoring device to work properly.
Avoid shaving your genital area within a week of surgery. This is to avoid any infections.
Being at a body weight that is healthy for your body is important to have a safe surgical recovery as well. If you or your surgeon has any concerns about your weight, you can discuss them together.
We also require you not use any nicotine products for a month prior to surgery. Any nicotine products, including cigarettes and vapes, can cause issues with healing. You should discuss with your surgeon any other substances you are using to ensure they will not negatively affect your surgical healing. This includes vitamins and supplements as these can also negatively affect healing, blood clotting, or bleeding, or may interact with medications you may receive during or after surgery.
