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Labiaplasty surgery, also known as labia minora reduction surgery, is a highly effective procedure for addressing the size and shape of the labia minora. Many women have found their quality of life to be improved significantly as a result of the procedure although given the intimate nature of what a labiaplasty involves, many patients find it difficult to discuss their concerns with a medical professional.
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What does labiaplasty surgery involve?
Labiaplasty surgery is designed to reduce and reshape the inner lips of the labia, also referred to as the labia minora, so that the labia minora can be well concealed by the outer labia majora. Many women find that the labia minora are much larger and may even protrude beyond the margins of the labia majora. For many women, this can be a source of significant psychological and physical discomfort.
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The labiaplasty procedure is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can be carried out as an outpatient under a local anaesthetic in most cases and is associated with very little discomfort during the postoperative period. It is normal to experience a mild to moderate degree of bruising and swelling following the labiaplasty surgery, but these side effects rapidly settle down after 3 to 4 days. Many patients will tell our post-operative nurses that their recovery was much smoother than expected and that they were surprised that the labiaplasty procedure was very well tolerated.
For patients with mild to moderate degrees of labia minora enlargement, a local anaesthetic injected into the labia will facilitate a pain-free and comfortable procedure. Patients with larger degrees of labia minora enlargement may prefer to have the procedure under a general anaesthetic. Our expert surgeons can advise you on what could work best for you.
Once the labia has been surgically reduced in size, the surgeon will use absorbable sutures without needing them removed at a post-operative appointment. There are a number of different techniques for performing a labiaplasty, including:
- Trim method
- Wedge method
- Depithelialisation method
RELATED: Trim Labiaplasty vs Wedge Labiaplasty
Why do women choose to have a surgical labiaplasty?
The decision to undertake level reduction surgery is often a very personalised one and women choose to have labiaplasty surgery for many different reasons. For many women, the presence of overly large labia can result in pain or discomfort during everyday activities such as exercise or even just sitting down, and they may have difficulty applying a tampon. Some women may even have discomfort during sexual intercourse.
The other main reason for seeking labiaplasty surgery is to improve the aesthetic appearance of the labia, as many women may find their labia to be a source of aesthetic concern. Over time, many women may develop a lack of self-confidence, affecting their ability to form intimate relationships. Women who have had a labiaplasty carried out for aesthetic reasons often remark on the massive boost in self-confidence the procedure has given them.
Suppose you have been considering having a labia minora reduction or labia majora reduction, otherwise known as labiaplasty surgery. In that case, you can be assured of receiving the very best treatment with our dedicated gynaecologists. Centre for Surgery is home to is some of the most experienced labiaplasty surgeons in the field and have carried out in excess of 250 labiaplasty procedures each year.
For further information about the labiaplasty procedure or if you would like to book a consultation at Centre for Surgery, please give us a call and speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable patient coordinators to see how we can help you.