Labiaplasty

LABIAPLASTY AT DR. ANDREWS PLASTIC SURGERY

The physical appearance of the female anatomy varies from woman to woman. Some women have smaller breasts, some women have larger breasts. It is not uncommon for those who are unsatisfied with their physique to seek a plastic surgeons’ opinion and ultimately surgery. In these instances, a breast augmentation, a breast reduction or breast lift. The same applies to women who are unsatisfied with the appearance of their labia.

The labia or “lips” is the tissue that is external to the vagina, and is comprised of the inner lips, or the labia minora, and the outer lips, or the labia majora. The labia minora can sometimes extend beyond the boundaries of the labia majora, and cause problems such as chafing in clothes, chafing with exercise or even walking, discomfort or pain with sexual activity. It also contributes to an undesirable appearance in clothing, such as the ever-popular yoga pant.

Not only does a labiaplasty address the physical appearance, it also promotes improved functional aspects as well. Women seek more confidence while wearing clothing and want relief from chafing, and to not have pain or discomfort with intercourse. Some women live with chronic urinary tract infections or have difficulty with maintaining hygiene, and these circumstances can be drastically improved with a labiaplasty. Dr. Andrews and his team are dedicated to promoting confidence, self-esteem, and quality of life for all patients who are distressed by this condition.

MEET COURTNEY ALBRITTON, PA-C

Courtney Albritton is our Physicians Assistant and is now trained to perform the Labiaplasty procedure. Her expertise and approach to patient care is unmatched, and she’s the only woman in Iowa to offer Labiaplasty.

HOW IS A LABIAPLASTY PROCEDURE DONE?

A labiaplasty is a simple procedure which can be done in the office under local anesthesia, and it can shorten the length or change the shape of the labia minora. A labiaplasty procedure can also address the size of an enlarged labia majora, which can also cause distress for women due to the appearance in clothes, discomfort with exercise or sexual activity. This procedure is unlike other plastic surgery in that women can expect to see their results almost immediately. The labiaplasty recovery timeline is fairly quick. Women can return to work after 2-3 days. The ideal candidate for this procedure will have an understanding to follow simple after care guidelines, such as no tampon use or sexual intercourse for 6 weeks. Women may return to their normal exercise routine in 2-3 weeks. Follow up care includes a follow up clinic check at 2 weeks and 2 months. The labiaplasty stitches are absorbable, so there is no need to have them removed at a later date.

There are varying approaches for a labiaplasty, the most common being an edge trim or a wedge technique. Dr. Andrews will customize the procedure to your anatomy and desired outcome. The edge trim technique is a technically easier procedure in which the edges of the labia are trimmed and sewn in a linear fashion. This produces a reduced pigmentation along the edge of the labia minora and has a similar recovery to that of the wedge technique. This technique is best for a woman who has minimal hypertrophy, or enlargement, of the labia minora.

The wedge technique improves an elongated or enlarged labia minora and can also address clitoral hood excess. The excess tissue is gently removed, and a very thin scar is placed in the groove between the labia minora and majora.

For patients who have an enlarged labia majora, a reduction labiaplasty can be performed as well. This removes the excess skin and tissue through an elliptical incision, and the scar is also hidden in the groove between the labia. Some patients may also benefit from adjunctive procedures to address a bulky labia majora, such as a monsplasty. A monsplasty can also be performed under local anesthesia or with sedation in Dr. Andrews’ AAAASF-Certified surgical suite.

NO WOMAN IS THE SAME—WE OFFER CUSTOMIZED LABIAPLASTY RESULTS

Alternatively, some women may seek rejuvenation of their labia majora because of atrophy or deflation of the outer lips which may occur with age or weight loss. This can be achieved with a simple in office procedure using fat grafting. Excess fat can be simply removed from another area on the body, such as the abdomen, and strategically placed in the labia majora to produce a more youthful appearance. This can also help patients who experience discomfort with sexual activity or wearing certain clothing or bathing suits. Another non-invasive treatment offered at Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery is Thermi-Va. Thermi-Va, a form of vaginal rejuvenation, uses radiofrequency to tighten the outer labia and can also improve the tightness of the inner vaginal canal, which enhances sexual confidence and well-being. Thermi-Va has no downtime, is similar to a warm massage, and is not painful. You may have this done in an hour and return to all activities immediately.

WHO REQUESTS A LABIAPLASTY PROCEDURE?

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10,000 labiaplasties were performed in 2017. This number is on the rise, with a 217.3% increase in the last 5 years. Women aged 19-50 consist of about 84% of the women who have the procedure. This tells us that the problems of enlarged labia affect women of all ages, but it doesn’t have to.

HOW DO I KNOW I’M A GOOD CANDIDATE?

You are a good candidate for a labiaplasty if you are in good health and motivated to follow the recovery guidelines, which includes no exercise for 2-3 weeks, no tampon use or sexual intercourse for 6 weeks. Patients should also be out of puberty, as there are many changes going on in a woman’s body at that time.

HOW DO I GET A CONSULT OR MORE INFORMATION?

You may call our office at 319-800-6877 to speak with one of our experienced staff members about this procedure and your goals. We will set you up with a consult with Dr. Andrews or our physician assistant, Courtney Albritton, PA-C, who has over a decade of Ob-Gyn experience and is also the in-house expert on Thermi-Va. We want you to feel confident and safe knowing you are in the most qualified hands for an issue that can be embarrassing to discuss. Dr. Andrews is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is trained in the art and science of labiaplasty and is able to answer your questions expertly and completely.

WHERE IS THE LABIAPLASTY PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

A labiaplasty can be done in our office procedure room under local anesthesia or even in our AAAASF-certified surgical suite, if you desire sedation or general anesthesia—the choice is yours! The procedure in the office will take about an hour and you may drive yourself home. If you have sedation you will need to arrive about an hour before the procedure and go to recovery for about an hour, then need to have someone take you home. You may return to work in 1-2 days, depending on the type of work you do. Some patients benefit from using cool compresses to help with swelling, or warm sitz baths daily, to help with discomfort.

We are happy to answer your questions about labiaplasty and offer you the expertise you deserve. Please call us at 319-800-6877 or email us at drandrews@drandrewsplasticsurgery.com to schedule a consult.