What is labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce or increase the size of your labia. The surgery is done to improve the appearance of your labia, to reduce physical discomfort or as part of gender-affirming surgery. Your labia are the folds of skin around your vagina opening. You have two folds of skin. The outer folds are called the labia majora, which means large lips. These folds are the larger fleshy folds that protect your external genital organs and are covered with pubic hair after puberty. The inner folds are called the labia minora, which means small lips. These skin folds protect the opening of your urethra (where your pee leaves your body) and vagina.
During a labiaplasty and depending on why it’s being done, your surgeon either:

Removes some tissue from the labia to reduce its size.
Injects a filler material or fat into the labia to enlarge it.
Reconstructs a labia from other tissue.

What are the reasons for wanting a labiaplasty?

Medical and physical reasons

To reduce the size of labia minora so it doesn’t protrude beyond the edges of the labia majora. Excess labial tissue can twist, turn, or get pinched or tugged, and cause physical discomfort and irritation during exercise, physical activities (such as bike riding or jogging) and intercourse.
To improve hygiene and health since excess tissue can make cleansing more difficult and can harbor bacteria that can lead to the development of urinary tract infections.

Cosmetic and emotional reasons

To restore a more youthful look after childbirth or aging.
To reduce asymmetry (uneven shape) of the labia minora or labia majora when one side is longer or shaped differently than the other.
To increase self-confidence and eliminate the visual lines, bulges or “camel toe” appearance when wearing body-conforming pants or leggings. Tight-fitting clothing can also cause physical discomfort if there’s excess labia tissue.
To improve comfort, confidence and sexual well-being about the appearance of your genitalia during intimate contact.

Gender-affirming surgery

If surgery is part of a gender-affirming process, labia can be created using existing genital tissue. Labiaplasty may be performed before or after other reconstruction surgeries .

Reasons for a labiaplasty

There are a host of reasons females have enlarged labia, including childbirth, aging, sexual activity and genetics. Females choose to have surgery for several reasons. First, there are several functional benefits when electing for a labiaplasty. Many females who suffer from an enlarged labia experience difficulty with exercise, hygiene, urinary tract infections, sexual activity and other physical activity.
Furthermore, with the increasing trend of wearing yoga pants, workout pants and swimming suits, an enlarged labium can make it difficult to wear such clothes. However, most female patients describe feeling extremely self-conscious when becoming romantically involved with their partners. These reasons and others are what females consider when choosing a labiaplasty.

What happens before surgery?

First, you and your surgeon will discuss the reasons why you want to undergo labiaplasty. You’ll discuss your expectations and goals as well as the risks of the surgery. You may undergo a psychological exam including being asked about depression and anxiety.
Next, your surgeon will explain the details of your surgery, including where incisions will be made and what to expect regarding changes to the size and shape of your labia. You may undergo some presurgical tests including blood work, urinalysis and chest X-ray.
You’ll be given instructions about what to wear to your procedure, when to stop food and drink, when to adjust or temporarily stop certain medications and other information on how to prepare for your surgery.

Labiaplasty procedures in Iran

Initially, there was a single procedure for labiaplasty, and it was very popular as well. With the change of time and advancement in techniques, several techniques have evolved. Some of them are as follows:

Trim procedure
It is the original technique and is most natural to perform. It is also the most widely used technique used by surgeons. In this procedure, the excess part of labia minora is removed and sutured so that it is symmetrical with the labia majora.

Wedge procedure
In this procedure, a partial thickness wedge is removed from the thickest part of the labia minora. The submucosa (layer tissue beneath a mucous membrane) must be left intact by removing only a partial thickness. This procedure gives the vagina a natural look after the surgery as well, preserving the wrinkled edges.

There are several other techniques for reducing the labia minora, and all these techniques have certain advantages and disadvantages. If you are considering a labiaplasty, the key to ensure appropriate outcomes is to make sure you are going to a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in this procedure.

Enlarging procedure
To enlarge your labia majora, your surgeon takes a small amount of fat from another body area, such as your abdomen or thigh (in a liposuction procedure) and injects it into your labia majora. Injecting hyaluronic acid into your labia majora is an alternative option.

Gender-affirming surgery
Tissue from the penis can be used to create your labia. Labiaplasty is one step in the entire gender-affirming reconstructive surgery process.
All incisions in the procedures described above are closed with absorbable stitches (sutures) that dissolve over time and don’t need to be removed. Your surgical site is covered with surgical dressing.

Anesthesia for a labiaplasty

Labiaplasty is an outpatient surgery. The procedure can be performed within an hour, either individually or with other cosmetic surgery. It can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the treatment plan discussed with your plastic surgeon.

How long does labiaplasty take?

Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure. Labiaplasty typically takes less than two hours. Gender-affirming surgery would require more time.

Labiaplasty Recovery after surgery

You may need up to 2 weeks off work to recover. It can take a couple of months for the skin to fully heal.
During this time you need to:

keep the area clean and free from infection
wear loose underwear and clothes to prevent rubbing
avoid sex for about 6 weeks
avoid physical activity for 6 to 12 weeks
use sanitary towels instead of tampons for a few weeks

Your surgeon may give you more specific advice to follow .

What are the risks and complications of labia surgery?

A labiaplasty can occasionally result in:

bleeding
infection
scarring of tissue
reduced sensitivity of the genitals

Labiaplasty recovery tips for getting through the pain

The feeling of discomfort is the most common problemin the time of postoperative labiaplasty recovery pain when most women experience painful or itchy “lady parts”, especially when their labia get wrapped in underwear, sitting or even wearing normal (mostly tight) everyday clothes. Besides following all the labiaplasty post op instructions provided by your surgeon, attending all the follow-up appointments and taking the prescribed medications, there are some of the pain-relieving labiaplasty recovery tips that could help you go through the days more seemingly .

Elevating the area – this will help you find the right position when resting, but also helps in stopping the blood vessels from stretching.
Using cold compresses – this therapeutic sort of massage can help to lower the temperature in the affected part of the body while reducing pain and swelling but avoid keeping the cold compress on the area longer than 15 minutes in a row to avoid skin damage.
“Icing” the area – applying ice to an injury restricts blood flow to the area, which can result in reducing swelling and inflammation.
Refrain from any form of penetration until cleared by your surgeon or until the tissue is completely healed. You should also use pads or liners, avoiding the usage of tampons.
Wear loose-fitting underwear and bottoms.
Instead of wiping with toilet paper, irrigate the area with warm water to avoid the unnecessary touching.
Use a doughnut pillow when sitting during the first week to minimize the pressure.

How do I wash my labiaPLASTY area?

Use lukewarm water only (no soap) to wash your wound. Gently wipe or dab the area dry after peeing; don’t rub the surgical area. Your surgeon may have you take medication or recommend a diet to prevent constipation so that you do not strain, which could stretch or break your stitches. Follow all your provider’s post-op instructions for peeing and pooping, for keeping your surgical area clean and free from bacteria, and allowing the surgical area to heal.

Labiaplasty Postsurgical care

The genital region of females is very sensitive and requires proper care in general. So, when undertaking a procedure like a labiaplasty, there are some post-operative instructions you need to be aware of before having the procedure. You should avoid long showers and should pat the wound dry every time after washing. The antibiotics prescribed by the surgeon should be taken to reduce pain and inflammation, which can be present after the procedure Riding bikes, running and other physical activities will need to be avoided until you have been released by your plastic surgeon. Premature return to the activities can exert pressure on the wound and will unnecessarily delay the healing process. You should not wear tight clothes or undergarments as they cause friction against the wound. Also, you cannot indulge in sexual intercourse for at least four weeks .

Frequently Asked Questions About Labiaplasty

What is the trim labiaplasty technique?

The trim technique remains the most commonly used surgical method to perform labiaplasty. This approach involves creating an incision that removes the outer edge of the inner labia, making the inner labia even with the outer labia (or slightly receded).

One of the benefits of this labiaplasty technique is that it trims away the naturally darkest part of the labia. For many women, removal of the darker edge is one of the cosmetic reasons why they choose to have labiaplasty.

The most common problem with trim labiaplasty, however, is that if particular care is not taken during the procedure, there is often an awkward, uneven transition at the clitoral bulb where the two "trimmed" sides meet.

What is the wedge labiaplasty technique?

The wedge technique is a newer alternative to trim labiaplasty. Using this method, your plastic surgeon removes a V-shaped "wedge" from both sides of the labia and then stitches the remaining edges together.

Although the wedge technique avoids the problem of smoothly transitioning at the clitoral bulb, it typically leaves the darkest parts of the labia intact, which may be undesirable for some women.

How long after labiaplasty does it look normal?

The initial swelling, soreness and temporary discoloration decrease over the first couple of weeks after surgery. Most swelling is gone after six weeks. However, it may take up to four to six months of healing time for swelling to completely go away before seeing the final results of your labiaplasty.

Is labiaplasty high risk?

Some women report that having a labiaplasty has improved their quality of life. However, complications can occur including nerve damage and over-resection. The latter can result in chronic dryness and scarring near the vaginal opening, leading to painful sex.

Does it hurt to pee after labiaplasty?

Following your surgery, the labia will be more sensitive. As a result, women may feel discomfort when urinating. This side effect usually goes away about six to eight weeks after surgery.

Is labiaplasty very painful?

Many women are surprised that they feel very little pain, and our patients tell us that they typically only experience mild and manageable discomfort for one week, feeling almost completely recovered within a few weeks after the procedure.

Labiaplasty in Iran