Labioplasty "Vaginal Rejuvenation" - by Dr. Robert Peterson - Honolulu Plastic Surgeon

No longer secret women's business!

Labioplasty is one of the fastest growing procedures requested by women of all ages and walks of life. This procedure is also referred to as vaginal rejuvenation, labia minora reduction, inner lip reduction or labia reduction. It may be a delicate topic for some women; however the reality is more and more women are interested and not ashamed of asking for this procedure.

There are a variety of reasons women are requesting this procedure some for functional reasons or cosmetic reasons or a combination of the both. Often just feeling good about how you look can build self-esteem and self-confidence. Some patients report an improvement in their sex life as a result of this procedure and comment on the effect it has on their confidence. It can help with painful intercourse or to relieve discomfort caused by large and/or thick labia, which often interfere with their everyday life.

Cosmetic Labioplasty involves surgically reducing and/or reshaping the female external genital structures. Many women want to enhance or improve the appearance of uneven or asymmetrical labia.

The procedure varies according to the improvement each individual woman wants. Dr Peterson explains, 'Large or asymmetric labia may cause different problems for women. Protruding labia may be uncomfortable, may chafe against underwear and can be visible through swimming costumes. More commonly, large labia tend to make some women self-conscious about their appearance, which may impact on their relationships".

One of my patients had a labia that protruded and made her feel uncomfortable. When she stood up, it would pop out and she said she commonly felt the need to tuck it back in. As well as this, her labia rubbed on her underwear, which was uncomfortable and sometimes even painful for her after some time wearing pants. When she was younger, she thought she would grow out of it, but she didn't. She had no self-confidence in relationships, because her labia hung down when she was naked. 'After the procedure, she felt as if her life had been changed. She said she now had the confidence to do little things she hated doing before, such as wearing her swimming costume in summer. She also said she was amazed how many women she knew who were fascinated about the procedure and what it involved. A Labioplasty procedure is not worth being embarrassed about. The corrective procedure can be performed in day surgery, and recovery time usually takes about two weeks.

Commonly asked questions

How is the procedure performed?
Labioplasty can be performed in a day surgery, usually under sedation. The procedure takes 60-90 minutes. The excess tissue is marked out and removed. Once the surgery is completed, you will be recovery until you are ready to go home.

How long does recovery take?
Recovery is a gradual process but it usually takes about a week before returning to work. You can get back to exercise about two weeks after the operation and playing sport after about four to six weeks and sexual activity can resume after four to six weeks depending on your comfort levels.

What are the risks?
Labioplasty is a safe procedure but like all operations, has some risks. Bruising will persist for about a week and swelling will decrease over about six weeks. Asymmetry is possible and scars may also detract from the result. Nevertheless, Labioplasty is a procedure with very high satisfaction.