What is clitoral hood reduction (hoodectomy)?
Clitoral hood reduction, also known as hoodectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size of a prominent clitoral hood. The clitoral hood is also known medically as the prepuce and functions as a protective layer over the clitoris in between periods of sexual arousal.
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The clitoris itself is highly sensitive, and the clitoral hood retracts during sexual intercourse to facilitate clitoral stimulation. In some cases, excessive tissue forms part of the clitoral hood, which may prevent its ability to fully retract during sexual intercourse, which results in reduced stimulation of the clitoris. Clitoral hood reduction or hoodectomy is a straightforward procedure that involves the surgical removal of excess clitoral hood tissue located on either side of the clitoris, which results in a smaller clitoral hood that is better able to retract. Clitoral hood tissue may be carried out on its own or may be combined as part of a labiaplasty (labia reduction) procedure to reduce the size of large labia at the same time.
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Hoodectomy surgery is a safe and highly effective operation which takes approximately one hour to carry out. The clitoris itself and its associated nerve endings are left untouched by clitoral hood surgery. The procedure is designed to remove excessive clitoral hood tissue, which results in a greater surface area of the clitoris, which can be exposed and stimulated during sexual intercourse. Many women report increased levels of sexual pleasure after a hoodectomy.
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The procedure is designed to expose a greater part of the clitoris, increasing the amount of stimulation achieved during sexual intercourse. However, clitoral hood surgery may not necessarily increase the chances of women achieving orgasm. The ability to achieve an orgasm is linked to several interconnected factors, including emotional state, sexual desire and one’s state of health aside from having a normally functioning clitoris. Although the surgery is carried out in the region of the clitoris, it is important to remember that a hoodectomy does not involve surgical alteration of the size or shape of the clitoris itself. The surgeon takes great care to ensure the clitoris is left untouched during the procedure.
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Am I suitable for clitoral hood surgery?
Dr Dimitriadi at Centre for Surgery will carry out a detailed clinical assessment to determine your suitability for clitoral hoodectomy. Patients should be:
- In good physical and mental health with no serious medical conditions
- Concerned about the appearance function of the clitoral hood
- Are aware of what surgery can achieve and have realistic expectations
Many women may also experience the following symptoms:
- A reduction in sexual enjoyment due to excessive clitoral hood tissue
- Experience pain and irritation caused by an oversized clitoral hood rubbing on clothing
- Exercise-induced discomfort caused by clitoral hood irritation
- Excessively large clitoral hood as a result of childbirth or the natural aging process
Women who have an excessively large clitoral hood may develop a loss of self-confidence which may manifest in symptoms of anxiety and possible depression. Women who are concerned about the appearance of the clitoral hood can benefit from a hoodectomy to improve appearance and function.
Hoodectomy surgeons
Dr Paraskevi Dimitriadi is a specialist aesthetic gynaecologist and has trained at some of the world’s leading hospitals in all aspects of gynaecology. Dr Dimitriadi continues to practice in a major London teaching hospital. She takes an active interest in research into aesthetic gynaecology and lectures both nationally and internationally on a range of topics in aesthetic gynaecology. She is a full member of the European Society of Aesthetic Gynaecology (ESAG).
Dr Dimitriadi’s high level of experience that she has achieved in labiaplasty surgery sets her apart from other doctors in the field. Not only is she recognised across the UK as a renowned expert in this procedure, but she also continues to contribute to the growing international body of knowledge in the most advanced techniques of performing labia reduction surgery.
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As a female surgeon, Dr Dimitriadi understands her patient’s most delicate needs and preferences, which allows her to create a personalised and bespoke labiaplasty treatment plan to meet the patient’s goals. She is regarded as one of the top labiaplasty surgeons in London by her peers and brings years of experience to each and every procedure she performs. Dr Dimitriadi brings together her expertise across both surgical and non-surgical gynaecological treatments – unrivalled in London and exclusive to Centre for Surgery.
Dr Dimitriadi is known for her caring, patient-centred approach, supporting all her patients and she always strives to optimise patient outcomes at stages of the patient journey.
RealSelf Top Doctors for labiaplasty
RealSelf top doctor status is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf doctor community. This status is earned by achieving consistently high patient satisfaction (from RealSelf reviews), getting excellent feedback on expert answers to patient questions, and investing significant time in Q&A and other doctor activities.
What does a clitoral hoodectomy involve?
The clitoral hood reduction procedure aims to improve the aesthetic appearance while maintaining functionality.
The procedure is comfortably performed with a local anaesthetic and the option of mild oral tablet sedation is available which may make you feel drowsy. The injection of a local anaesthetic renders the area fully numb which means there is little or no discomfort during the procedure. However, if you do not wish to be awake for the procedure, the option of TIVA general anaesthetic is available. Clitoral hood reduction takes about one hour to perform.
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There are different methods for completing the clitoral hood reduction. These include:
- Bilateral excision: the prepuce tissues which cover the clitoral glans are removed, with the glans in the middle being maintained.
- Excision of redundant folds: as the name suggests, the redundant folds of the clitoral prepuce tissue are surgically removed. In this case, the incisions are made parallel to the long axis of the clitoris to reduce the risk of sensory disturbances to the clitoris.
The clitoral hood reduction is often performed as part of a labiaplasty, which involves reshaping the labia minora. With a combined labia minora reduction and clitoral hood reduction, the procedure takes about 2 hours to complete.
Clitoral hood reduction recovery
After having a clitoral hood reduction, it is normal to experience some swelling and bruising. You may also experience some pain and discomfort. Your surgeon will be able to give you medication to take if you need help managing pain levels. Ice packs can be used to help reduce swelling. Most people will need to take at least two to three days off to recover from surgery. You will have sutures in place, however, these will dissolve over the following few days. You should wear a sanitary pad for the first week to help with any bleeding. Any rigorous physical activity – including any sexual intercourse – will have to be avoided for one month.
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What are the risks and potential complications of Hoodectomy
As with any surgical procedure, clitoral hood reduction carries certain rare risks. Risks associated with this procedure include:
- Wound separation
- Asymmetry
- Infection
- Reactions to the anaesthetic
Our surgeons take all relevant precautions to ensure that the likelihood of complications occurring is minimal.
FAQs
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Can clitoral hood reduction be combined with labiaplasty?Clitoral hood reduction is commonly performed at the same time as a labiaplasty procedure. Labiaplasty or labour reduction is designed to reduce or reshape the labia menorah which are the inner lips of soft tissue located on either side of the vagina. The most common method of reducing the size involves surgical removal with a scalpel before stitching back the cut edges with dissolvable stitches. Your Surgeon can easily combine labia reduction with a hoodectomy at the same time.
If clitoral hood reduction is combined with a Labiaplasty, there may be a greater amount of swelling in the recovery period which may necessitate a longer period of time off work allow proper healing. The most appropriate treatment options will be discussed at your consultation with an expert surgeon. -
How long does hoodectomy recovery take?Clitoral hoodectomy requires approximately six weeks for full recovery to take place as long as you continue to follow all the post-operative after-care instructions given to you by your surgeon. There are several ways to improve healing including avoiding having bath too early for at least the first two weeks after surgery. When you go to the toilet, you should dab the area to dry it rather than rubbing the area which may cause irritation. We would recommend sleeping with your pelvis elevated when sleeping to reduce swelling.
Swelling can be reduced further by applying cold packs temporarily for no more than 20 minutes at a time. They can be reapplied once 20 minutes have passed. -
What are the common side-effects and potential risks of hoodectomy?As with any surgical procedure, clitoral hood reduction involves certain risks. The most common risks include minor bleeding, wound infection, wound breakdown or minor asymmetry. When performed by an expert surgeon, thankfully these risks are rare. The risk of severe bleeding is minimal with this procedure due to its minimally invasive nature.
Certain serious risks of surgery include allergy to medicines used during the procedure, deep vein thrombosis or severe wound infection. These risks are rare due to the strict safety protocols used during your surgery.
If you have further questions about the risks and complications of hoodectomy, please discuss these with your surgeon at the consultation. -
Will I have scars after hoodectomy?Any type of surgery involving an incision will result in a scar. Clitoral reduction surgery involves minimal scarring due to the minor nature of the procedure. A greater amount of scarring may occur when the procedure is combined with a Labiaplasty although overall the amount of scarring is still minimal and will be barely visible either to yourself or others.
Any type of scar after surgery is always more noticeable during the first four weeks but will settle down over time and the appearance of scars can be improved by following expert scar management advice from our postoperative nurses. -
When can I resume sexual activity after hoodectomy?It is important to avoid sexual intercourse for the full six weeks after clitoral hood surgery. Sexual intercourse should only be resumed once any symptoms of pain or discomfort have fully resolved. If you develop pain during sexual intercourse, you should wait for a longer period of time before having sexual activity again.
Women should avoid the use of tampons for six weeks after hoodectomy as these may interfere with wound healing. If you would like to use alternative sanitary products, please speak to one of our post-operative nurses for further advice on suitable products to use.
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