Labiaplasty

For many women, feeling unhappy or dissatisfied with the size and shape of their labia can lead to issues with body confidence. The labia minora are the inner lips of the vagina. They come in all shapes and sizes, but women with large or uneven labia can feel self-conscious. Labiaplasty, labia reshaping and reduction surgery is becoming an increasingly popular option for women looking to restore confidence and boost personal relationships.

"The operation was on Thursday and by Monday I was back in my routine. Day by day I noticed it healing.  It was just amazing.  I am so happy that I did this, years of worrying and now its ended. "

A McIndoe Centre Patient

What Does This Surgery Involve?

Labiaplasty is the umbrella term used to describe a range of surgical procedures which reduce the size and prominence of the labia.

Incisions are made along the rim of the labia, carefully placed to avoid scarring, and are closed with dissolving stitches. The procedure usually takes between one to one and a half hours and is performed under general anaesthetic. This means that you may need to stay in the hospital overnight.

Recovery After Surgery

You should expect to experience some mild discomfort and swelling during the first few weeks after surgery, but you should be able to return to work within a week. Passing urine may be mildly uncomfortable at first though sexual intercourse can resume whenever you feel comfortable. It is vital to keep the vaginal area as clean as possible to avoid the risk of infection.

What Are The Benefits Of This Procedure?

Labiaplasty can help with health problems and body confidence issues.

Some of the benefits include:

• Boosting body confidence and personal relationships
• Reducing discomfort caused by exercise and physical activity
• Asymmetrical labia reshaping for evenness

For more information, we would be delighted if you wanted to arrange a consultation with us. You can call the Helpline for free and professional advice.

This article was written by The McIndoe Centre, in collaboration with Paul Banwell BSc MB BS FRCS (Eng) FRCS (Plast) Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. All information, advice and procedures were updated on 17th September 2019.