What is the Purpose of a Labiaplasty?6 min read
Caroline Hedges
Caroline Hedges is a critically acclaimed researcher, writer and serial entrepreneur.
With a knack for making the obscure plain, she is able to distill her research
in writing both fun and engaging posts.
Netflix are producing some amazing shows and one that I have enjoyed recently is The Goop Lab. Goop is the brain child of Gwyneth Paltrow and is a website dedicated to curiosity and nonjudgement. The Goop Lab takes their curiosity of subjects such as psychodelic drugs for therapy purposes, female pleasure, and dietary changes to reduce inner ages; then sends their staff off on workshops to learn more.
So what does this have to do with labiaplasty? I will get to that soon. Episode 3 was about the female body and sexual pleasure, and it included a conversation about female genitalia and how women view themselves. It got me thinking about the vulva area and why so many women are uncomfortable looking at themselves and seeing the beauty of the female form.
My upbringing was normal and loving and my mom was open minded and fun around most subjects but she was very uptight about the subject of pleasure and the female body. I had some fantastic friends during high school, and we were fairly open with each other, But one subject that seemed off limits was talking about our personal lady parts. Whatever fears and questions we had about how they looked were kept hidden. Back then, we didn’t have the internet to browse: we had Agony Aunt columns in teen magazines. The questions and answers never quite helped.
What Causes the Need for Labioplasty?
I learnt from episode 3 that what I have been calling my vagina for 40 odd years is in fact called the vulva. The vagina is the interior areas – where a baby comes out and where other things go in! The vulva is the external areas – the clitoris, the labia majora (outer lips) and the labia minora (inner lips).
Vulva’s are as individual as their owners. They can have long lips, fat lips, dark lips, lips can be different lengths, the hood of the clitoris can be short or long. The list goes on. They don’t change much over the years so you should have plenty of time to get to know them and love them. And then the menopause hits and the lower estrogen levels can change things like fullness and the lips can begin to sag (like so many other parts of us!).
Changes in culture have also put the vulva into the spotlight. The rise of laser hair removal and the Brazilian Bikini wax has helped us feel cleaner down there, but it has also exposed all the parts that may have been hidden by hair. Ladies of the 70s probably wouldn’t have seen much of their vulva (if they cared to look at it). Now, everything is there to view, in plain sight. Not being happy with what you see can lead to a lack of confidence and embarrassment in your body and avoidance of intimate situations.
What is Labiaplasty?
A labiaplasty is a procedure performed by a plastic surgeon on the vulva areas particularly the lips. If you are truly unhappy with the way your vulva looks, a surgeon can help reduce the size of your lips and also change the appearance of your clitoris area.
It isn’t just about aesthetics. Having longer labia lips can lead to pain during intercourse and make tighter clothing uncomfortable. They can also increase infections such as thrush. By reducing the length of your labia you can gain confidence in yourself again and enjoy being intimate with a partner.
It is IMPORTANT to be realistic about the changes that will be made. You should have honest and open conversations with your surgeon and listen to their experienced advice.
What is Involved During a Labiaplasty?
It can be performed in the office using local anesthesia and sedation or as an outpatient at a hospital. Choosing the first option reduces costs and helps speed up recovery time. You would be given a sedation to help relax you and your vaginal area would be injected with anesthetic. The excess lips would be cut away and the area reshaped to ensure minimal scarring. A long lasting pain medication will be injected into the area. The whole procedure should take around an hour.
You can watch a live Labiaplasty surgery in the video below. However, please be advised that it is a live surgery, so you may find the content graphic.
What Other Procedures Complement Labiaplasty?
Many women choose to have a Clitoroplasty at the same time. This procedure can help improve the appearance of the clitoris which includes the hood – many women chose to have this reduced. It can also help with sexual orientation and sexual trauma.
The other treatment that compliments a labiaplasty is the diVa laser treatment which helps with vaginal tightening, dryness and incontinence issues.
What is the Labiaplasty Recovery Time?
The pain medication administered during the surgery will help with discomfort for the first few hours. Many patients can drive themselves home after the surgery. There will be some pain and discomfort, and pain medication is prescribed for the first few days. Sitting may be uncomfortable, so a medical cushion to help take pressure off the vulva would be an important purchase. You should ice the area and keep it clean (particularly after using the toilet). Sutures should dissolve around 14 days after surgery. Wear a compression garment to help with swelling for around 3 weeks. The following activities should be avoided for a month:
- Intercourse
- Using tampons
- Swimming in oceans, lakes and pools
- Wearing tight clothing
- Aerobic exercise
Like any surgery, you should take time to care for yourself, avoid driving while taking prescribed pain medication and don’t rush the recovery process!
When Will I See Labiaplasty Results?
Surgery is traumatic to the body and there will be swelling and bruising. This could last a few months. The area will be very sensitive during the healing and may become desensitized for up to 6 months. Expect to see final results after 6 months. Your surgeon will arrange follow up appointments to ensure the area is healing well and there is no infection or pain.
This is a procedure that requires patience but has a very high satisfaction rate from previous patients. Keep remembering that during the healing process.
Is Labiaplasty Covered by Insurance?
Many women choose to have a labiaplasty because of discomfort and medical issues like constant infections. It is viewed as a cosmetic surgery by most health insurance companies, therefore they will not cover it.
Many surgeon offices provide payment plans to help spread the cost of surgeries that aren’t covered by insurance.
How Much Does Labiaplasty Cost
Costs are dependent on where the surgery is performed, the surgeon’s costs, and your geographical area. The average cost for this type of procedure is $ 4,000. Always choose an experienced surgeon and ask to see before and after photos and check reviews from previous patients.
Invitation
If you are struggling with discomfort or unhappy with the appearance of your vulva, we invite you to simply come in for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chang or one of the cosmetic laser and injection nurses to explore whether you would make a good candidate. To find out more whether Aesthetica can help you, contact us online or at 703-729-5553 to arrange an appointment. Dr. Phillip Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern Virginia near Leesburg, Virginia and an expert in a wide variety of cosmetic treatments.
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