Labia Surgery

Labia surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed on women to decrease or increase the size of their labia. Females usually opt for this surgery to overcome physical irritation or as a part of a gender-affirming surgery. 

The labia is the fold of skin that surrounds the vagina opening part. Two folds of skin exist around the vagina. The outer fold, known as labia majora, is the large lip, and this safeguards the external female genitals. On attaining puberty, these are covered with pubic hairs. The inner fold, known as labia minora, is the small lip, and this safeguards the urethra opening and the vagina. Most females in the age group of 18 to 50 have labiaplasty. During this surgery, the surgeon will:

• Pull out some tissue from the labia to decrease its size.
• Administer a filler material or fat into the labia to shape them.
• Rebuilding the labia from various tissues.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), once the labia major surgery is done, a woman needs to relax at home and avert energetic activities all throughout the recovery, which normally takes 1-2 weeks.

Causes for an Oversized Labium

• On reaching puberty a sudden growth can lead to labia.
• Menopause and other hormonal changes can weaken the tissue in the labia majora.
• Pregnancy and birth.
• Changes in one’s weight.
• Genetics or hereditary concerns.

Who Requires a Labia Surgery?

• Functional problems include pain while performing an activity, having intercourse, or while wearing specific attire.
• Improvement in hygiene and healthcare as redundant tissue can hinder the cleansing and make it prone to bacteria to cause urinary tract infections.
• Aesthetic concerns include discomfort with the appearance of their labia, when one side can be longer or uneven shaped.
• To boost confidence, improve comfort, and make one sexually attractive, especially during sexual intercourse. It is to be noted that females have different lip sizes, shapes, and no labia is considered a normal one.

Benefits of Labia Surgery

• Decrease in irritation.
• An increase in sexual pleasure.
• More comfort while exercising and wearing tight-fitting clothes.

Risk Factors Associated With Labia Surgery

Some complications can include:

• Getting rid of excess or insufficient tissue.
• Infection.
• Bruising or hematoma.
• Wound disruption.
• Bleeding.
• Scarring.
• Current pain, pain with sex or loss of sensitivity.

Labia Surgery Procedure

Process of labia surgery from before to after:

Before the Procedure

Pre-surgical tests, such as blood, urine analysis, chest X-ray may have to be taken that can include:

• What to wear for the surgery.
• What food should be taken and avoided.
• When to use or stop certain medicines that may cause bleeding.

During the Procedure

Two types of surgery are carried out as per the need to address the labia minora: 

• Edge Resection
• Wedge Resection 

Anesthesia is given before the surgery starts.

• In edge resection the excess projecting edges of the labia are trimmed similar to the way in which one has a haircut.
• Wedge resection involves the retaining of primary labial edges, when wedge-shaped slivers of the skin are cut from the center of labia minora, which brings back the left over skin together with the help of sutures that are dissolved.
  • Step 1: Incision: A cut next to the labia minora or the desired location is made with the help of a scalpel or other surgical instrument.
  • Step 2: Reshaping: The excess tissue is cut out on labia and reshaped to get the desired contour. Fat or other filler material may also be injected to make the labia plump that lack a fullness.
  • Step 3: Stitches: All open incisions in the procedure above are closed with absorbable stitches or sutures that dissolve naturally with time. Finally, your surgeon will apply a surgical dressing to the wound site.

Recovery Precautions After the Surgery

Labiaplasty normally does not take more than 2 hours. Gender-affirming surgery may take more time. Once the surgery is over, the anesthesia effect will slowly subside, and the healthcare may check for excess bleeding. Before being discharged, you will be given guidelines on the wound healing. Other health issues, like pain and follow-up, may also be discussed. Patients recovering from the labia surgery are typically advised to:

• Wear loose clothes so that friction and soreness is minimized.
• To ease soreness, take a salt or sitz bath.
• Stay away from strenuous physical activities.
• Stop using tampons and avoid sex for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
• Do not wash the wound with soap water, only use warm water.