Labiaplasty
Correct Large or Prominent Labia
An increasing number of women are growing self-conscious of the appearance of the genital area and seek out options to address this sensitive area. A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that can be performed to help reduce, reshape or trim the folds of skin surrounding the vagina to address these concerns, and potentially help patients with personal comfort and confidence.
Dr. Adrian Sjarif is one of a few specialist plastic surgeons who perform this procedure on a regular basis. He understands that patients who request labiaplasty can sometimes be self-conscious and that the decision to start the process with the initial consult can be daunting and so he aims to make the process as simple as possible, remaining empathetic and sensitive to their treatment needs.
Could I Benefit from Labiaplasty?
You could benefit from a labiaplasty if you are bothered by long, enlarged, asymmetrical or protruding labia and experience any of the following problems:
- rashes, chafing or infections in the folds of skin
- itching or irritation from oversized labia
- pain from the labia twisting or tugging
- difficulty keeping the folds of skin clean
- discomfort during intercourse or physical exercise due to long or large labia
- inability to wear bathing suits or yoga pants because the outline of the labia is visible through tight-fitting clothing
- Self-conscious in intimate situations
Surgical Details
Labiaplasty is performed on an outpatient basis in an accredited hospital facility. The procedure is performed with a general anaesthetic and takes approximately 1 hour. The procedure can be performed by itself or combined with other surgical procedures if requested. After the surgical procedure, you will spend a short time in recovery before you are discharged home on the same day.
There are two main techniques that Dr Sjarif utilises to remove the excess labial skin and tissue to shorten the labia minora so it no longer protrudes beyond the hair-bearing labia majora. The first technique is know as the edge trim method. This involves trimming excess tissues from the edge of the labia and sewing the remaining tissue together. This can be a useful method if the main patient concern is heavily pigmented labia that can result from age and pregnancy. This technique will effectively remove the pigmented region. The second technique is known as the wedge resection procedure, in which a pie-shaped wedge of tissue is removed from the prominent portion of the labia. This can be a very useful technique as it can preserve the texture and the natural borders of the labia.
Dr Sjarif will discuss your particular situation and recommend the approach that is most likely to provide your desired results.
Recovering from Labiaplasty
After surgery, your genital area will feel swollen and sore or tender. The worst of these symptoms should resolve within a few days, but as with other surgical procedures, it can take up to six months for residual swelling to subside.
You will be discharged home with post-surgery instructions, pain medication and antibiotics in some instances. As a general rule, you will be able to get the area wet but need to be vigilant with hygiene after toileting.
Most labiaplasty patients take about a week off from work to heal, and are asked to refrain from exercise and sexual intercourse for four to six weeks. Dr. Sjarif follows up with every patient individually to monitor the recovery process. He will clear you to resume work, exercise and your regular activities.
