Labiaplasty

Patient Testimonial

“Dr. Leedy and staff were wonderful. They were very kind and professional. I was treated with much respect and didn’t hesitate to answer my questions to resolve my anxiety before my procedure. They listen and take the time you need to make sure what is truly best for you. I am extremely happy with my results. Definitely recommend ! 👍” – J.B.

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What is a Labiaplasty?

A labiaplasty is a form of vaginal rejuvenation that focuses on the appearance and function of a woman’s external genitalia. The labiaplasty procedure most commonly reshapes the labia minora, the inner pieces of tissue at the vaginal opening. The labia minora can sometimes grow larger or longer than the labia majora, which surround the inner tissue. The excessive amount of skin can cause discomfort, both physically and emotionally. Elongated labia may get tugged during sexual intercourse or pinched by clothing. They may make it difficult to insert tampons or feel optimally clean and fresh. Some women seek labiaplasty for purely cosmetic reasons, while others desire a change in their physical shape so they can feel more self-confident in the types of clothing they like to wear. There is no right reason to have labiaplasty. Dr. Leedy helps women achieve their aesthetic and functional goals by designing surgery around their unique anatomy and desired outcome.

What Causes a Woman to have Enlarged Labia?

The labia majora are larger pieces of tissue, often called vaginal lips, that outline the vaginal opening. The labia minora are smaller pieces of tissue that sit within the labia majora. The labia minora surround the clitoral hood and are directly around the vaginal opening. There is no standard size for the labia majora and labia minora. This part of the body is as diverse as all of the other characteristics that make every woman unique and beautiful. It is perfectly normal to have asymmetry, textural differences, and color variations in labial tissue. It is not uncommon for a woman to experiences changes in the shape, color, and size of her labia as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. This is particularly true of the labia minora, the smaller lips. The labia naturally enlarge during sexual arousal, but usually return to normal quickly. With age and hormonal changes, however, this may not happen. The length and size of the labia may remain long, causing irritation, tugging, and chafing.

What are The Benefits of Labiaplasty?

Women seek labiaplasty for a wide variety of personal reasons. Some of the benefits that can be achieved through this procedure include:

• Increased comfort in clothing. Some types of clothing can be difficult to wear when the labia are long or asymmetrical. Labiaplasty can restore comfort and confidence when wearing bathing suits, workout clothing, leggings, and other tighter clothing.
• Increased confidence. As far as we’ve come with the body-confidence movement, women may still struggle to feel their best in intimate situations due to the appearance of their labia.
• Improved comfort. The inner labia are delicate pieces of innervated tissue. Pinches from clothing and pulling during sexual intercourse can be quite uncomfortable. By reducing the size of the labia minora, labiaplasty can eliminate the pain of sexual intercourse, chafing, pinching, and accidental twisting. Increased sexual pleasure is a big part of this improvement in comfort.
• Improved health and hygiene. More evenly-sized labia can make hygiene easier. There is less redundant tissue present after labiaplasty, so fewer areas in which infection-causing bacteria can hide and thrive.

How Long does Labiaplasty Take?

The labiaplasty procedure is performed with meticulous care. After administering a local anesthetic that blocks nerve signals, the doctor may take one to two hours to carefully reshape and trim the labia. The outpatient procedure is usually performed in the office. Patients may receive a mild sedative to help them feel optimally comfortable. If a sedative is given, patients may need to arrange to have someone accompany them to their appointment. Anesthesia is discussed during the consultation visit, so there are no surprises come surgery day.

What is Labiaplasty Recovery Like?

Patients can expect some downtime after their labiaplasty procedure. The side effects that occur after labiaplasty are usually mild enough to manage easily with prescription and over-the-counter medication. Patients are encouraged to rest as much as needed for a few days and to limit certain cavities, including sexual intercourse. While most patients can return to work in 7 to 10 days, it can take a full six weeks for the healing process to complete. Until that time, patients should not have sex. Throughout the recovery period, it is important to keep the area clean and to avoid friction with clothing.

During the first week after labiaplasty, patients may notice swelling and bruising. Prescription pain medication should be taken as directed to alleviate pain. Postoperative care instructions should be followed carefully to prevent unnecessary discomfort and infection. As the tissue heals, discomfort may transition to itching. After this first week, swelling and pain should be significantly less. It is around this time that the dissolvable sutures begin to disappear and normal activities feel more comfortable and do-able. It remains important to avoid any activity that places pressure on the vaginal area, including sexual intercourse. Tugging or pressure on the area could result in a painful tear along incisions. At the six-week follow-up, patients are usually cleared to resume all normal activities without risk to their incisions or healing labia tissue. While patients may get back to their normal routine after six weeks, minor swelling may persist for up to six months.

Does Labiaplasty leave Visible Scars?

No. The procedure involves incisions that are made in the natural folds or creases of the labia, resulting in scarring that is well hidden.

Speak With Dr. Leedy For A Labiaplasty Consultation In Mayfield Heights!

To learn more about Dr. Leedy and how he performs labiaplasty surgery, contact us at 440-459-0007. Or, you can fill out the form in our contact page for your one-on-one appointment at our Mayfield Heights office.