Clitoroplasty and Labiaplasty: Understanding the Difference9 min read
Aesthetica Editorial Team
Imagine a world where you could replace discomfort with confidence. That would be an ideal exchange!
In the world of women’s health, this exchange seems even better. Many women struggle with pain daily, but this can all be changed and made into confidence. If you struggle with discomfort and embarrassment about your genital region, Aesthetica is here to help. We can replace your discomfort with confidence.
Labiaplasty and clitoroplasty may sound like scary terms, but we’ll de-mistyfy these terms and show you how Dr. Change makes them simple procedures that effectively boost your confidence. So, if you’re ready to ditch discomfort and become your best, confident self, let’s dive in!
What is a Clitoroplasty?
One of many plastic surgeries which fall under the umbrella term “vaginal rejuvenation”, a clitoroplasty reduces excess skin on the clitoral foreskin. By making a V-shaped incision in this superficial skin, your plastic surgeon can remove what is not necessary and leave only what is.
Dr.Chang and his expert team carefully and seamlessly preserve all of the nerves and sensors which are normal in the female body. This makes it an ideal procedure to enhance limited sensory abilities and reduce discomfort.
Who is the Ideal Candidate for Clitoroplasty
Because a clitoroplasty is a cosmetic procedure, many different women may be candidates for it. Women who are looking to fix the appearance of their clitoris due to abnormalities like birth defects or excess skin are both excellent candidates.
Others include women who suffer from the clitoris showing through their clothing, from a clitoris that is too long, or that reduces sensation during sexual intercourse. If you fall into any of these categories, you are likely a good candidate for a clitoroplasty.
What Does a Clitoroplasty Procedure Involve?
A clitoroplasty is a relatively minor procedure, but it’s good to prepare and set aside adequate time for it. Your clitoroplasty can be performed either at a hospital or in the office, although it is more commonly done in the office. You will receive a local anesthetic and pain medication if it’s done at the office, or general anesthesia if it’s done at the hospital.
Either way, you can expect your clitoroplasty to take one hour or less. During the surgery, your plastic surgeon will make a V-shaped incision and remove superficial excess skin. Your clitoris will not be removed, only the skin around it that is inhibiting its natural function.
What Can You Expect During Clitoroplasty Recovery?
A clitoroplasty is a quick procedure with less downtime than many other vaginal rejuvenation surgeries. Once you go home the same day, you’ll rest for a few days before returning to normal life.
For 2 to 3 days, you should rest and skip strenuous activities. After this, you’ll easily be able to return to normal life, except that you should refrain from sexual intercourse until the wound is fully healed, typically 4-6 weeks. Other post-operative guidelines include
- Sitting on a cushion for 2-4 weeks so that no unnecessary pressure is put on your clitoris
- Taking medication for the first 3-5 days to reduce any pain you may experience
- Having your sutures removed 10-14 days after surgery
- Avoiding strenuous exercise for 2-4 weeks after surgery to promote maximum healing
- Staying home from work for 3-7 days to ensure full rest
If you follow these steps, you’ll find that your clitoroplasty recovery is easy to manage and minimally invasive. After 6 weeks, you won’t have any more post-operative care steps to take, and in 3-6 months, you’ll see your full results. As a minimally invasive vaginal rejuvenation procedure, you can be sure your clitoroplasty will be low recovery time but high results!
What is Labiaplasty?
On the other hand, you may find that a clitoroplasty is not the right answer for your vaginal rejuvenation treatment. Instead, a labiaplasty could be the solution for you. So what is a labiaplasty?
A labiaplasty is a plastic surgery designed to equalize the size of the labia majora and labia minora. For some women, their labia minora are longer or larger than their labia majora, and this can cause discomfort. Pain like this often appears during activities such as biking, hiking, or sexual intercourse. In addition, having labia that are larger than average can be embarrassing for some women, and a labiaplasty can fix this.
Labiaplasties are also excellent solutions for women hoping to correct signs of aging in their vulva region. This can include correcting tears or stretching from childbirth or plumping labia that have been thinned with age.
While labiaplasties are generally cosmetic surgeries, there are some instances in which they are medically necessary, including repairing tears after childbirth, correcting oddly shaped labia, and removing cancer in the region.
Who Should Consider Labiaplasty?
That being said, women should consider getting a labiaplasty for several reasons. For example, if your labia are causing pain during sexual intercourse or there is the risk of a tear, then a labiaplasty is medically necessary.
Women who have discomfort during daily activities due to the larger size of their labia minora may also want to investigate receiving a labiaplasty. For many women, this surgery remedies their vulval discomforts. 91% of women say that their situation has improved after receiving a labiaplasty.
How Does a Labiaplasty Procedure Work?
The Types of Labiaplasties
Depending on your labiaplasty needs, there are two surgical labiaplasties as well as a non-surgical option. The surgical labiaplasties are for reducing the size of your labia, whereas the non-surgical labiaplasty corrects thinning and drooping from aging.
For surgical labiaplasties, there are two types. In the first method, also called the edge or trim method, excess tissue or skin is trimmed away from the edges of the labia minora. This surgery is best for reshaping labia and making them symmetrical.
The second surgical labiaplasty, called the wedge method, takes a wedge of your tissue from the thickest part of the labia minora to reduce labia that may be causing pain.
Finally, a non-surgical labiaplasty involves using harvested fat or a filler to increase lost volume in the vulva region.
With these options, women of any age can experience revolutionary vaginal rejuvenation. You can say goodbye to lost confidence and look brightly toward a more comfortable, pleasurable future.
The Surgical Labiaplasty Procedure
If you’re ready to jump into a future free of labial discomfort, then you can schedule a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon and begin your journey. Once you’ve planned your labiaplasty with your plastic surgeon, you can expect to have a conversation with your plastic surgeon about surgery goals and go through some labs or scans to make sure that your body can handle a labiaplasty. Your plastic surgeon will also tell you all about how to take care of yourself after your procedure, including instructions on pain medication, what clothes you should wear, and what food you should eat.
Then, it’s important to make sure that before you arrive for your surgery, you’ve prepared your home. Know what clothes you’re going to wear the first few days after surgery, and have meals ready to eat or someone to help you prepare food. This will reduce your stress post-operation and increase your healing speed.
When you arrive for the labiaplasty itself, you can expect to receive a local or general anesthetic. During the 1 to 2-hour surgery, your plastic surgeon will follow the type of labiaplasty which you discussed. The wound will be closed with dissolvable stitches and you can go home the same day to begin your recovery process.
What Does Labiaplasty Recovery Look Like?
Once you’re at home, you’ll be all set to begin your recovery. Labiaplasty healing is longer than clitoroplasty healing, but just as worth it. Let’s break down your recovery week by week so you know exactly what to expect.
- Week 1: During the first week, you should take time off work to rest at home. While you’re at home, you’ll want to give your body optimal care. This means wearing loose, comfortable clothing, icing the surgical site, elevating your bottom to reduce swelling, and getting lots of sleep. You should also wash the surgical site daily to make sure it stays clean and free from infection. It’s also important to take the medication that your plastic surgeon prescribes. This will reduce any pain you may experience. As for the side effects of surgery, you may notice some bleeding, bruising, or inflammation. Don’t worry, these are all completely normal for your first week, and sometimes during your second as well.
- Week 2: By this time, you’ll be healing well. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to tell you had a procedure. Movements like peeing and sitting might still be uncomfortable and other side effects could still be present. You should continue to rest at home while these symptoms subside. Also, keep wearing comfortable clothes, especially loose underwear, so that nothing rubs you uncomfortably. You should also continue washing the region and taking your medication as prescribed.
- Week 3: At week 3, you’ll notice that true healing has set in. You won’t feel as tender and your bruising and bleeding will be significantly reduced, if not gone. You will still have some swelling, but this won’t stop you from living your regular life. At three weeks, you’ll certainly be back at work and wearing many of your favorite outfits again.
- Week 4: This is when you’ll feel fully like yourself again. You may have some swelling left, but all other side effects should be completely gone.
Labiaplasty recovery is very simple with these steps. Other general steps to follow during your recovery include attending your follow-up appointments, using sanitary pads and not tampons during the first several weeks, and abstaining from sexual intercourse for 6-12 weeks. After this time frame, there are no restrictions from your labiaplasty and certainly no more embarrassment. You can feel free to live your best, most confident life.
Can Clitoroplasty and Labiaplasty be Combined?
Now that you know the difference between a clitoroplasty and a labiaplasty, you may realize that both of these vaginal rejuvenation surgeries can help you. If that’s the case, never fear! Clitoroplasty and labiaplasty surgeries are often combined for brilliant results. Your plastic surgeon will be happy to discuss this combination with you at your consultation.
With vaginal rejuvenation, you can suddenly feel yourself again! No more embarrassment or sudden bathroom trips to fix that obnoxious camel toe. It’s time to shine and be the best version of yourself, and we’re here to help you achieve that!
Are You Considering Clitoroplasty or Labiaplasty? Contact Us to Learn More!
Ready to book for vaginal rejuvenation surgery? Meet us at 19500 Sandridge Way, Suite 350, Leesburg, VA 20176, or call us at (703) 574-4342 for a complimentary consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Phillip Chang before proceeding with your vaginal wellness treatment plan! If all the conditions are met, our team will help you navigate the entire process from beginning to end! Also, remember to check out our resources page and social media for more information on plastic surgery trends!
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