Labiaplasty: so small with so many parts

The labia minora are the smaller inner lips of the female genitalia.  The labia majora are the hair-bearing outer lips.  The female genitalia come in many shapes and sizes, and all of them are normal.  If you look closer, there are more structures: the clitoris, the clitoral hood, and other folds and variations.   The sides can be symmetric or asymmetric.  When women want to surgically or non-surgically change the appearance of the genitalia, usually it is involving the labia, or labiaplasty, or labial reduction.    During labiaplasty treatment, we can alter the tissue size, amounts, and lengths in many ways and degrees.  My technique is to address each of these items and determine what the woman would like to see changed.  I go down the list of each part and describe the appearance and the potential outcome to make sure it fits the woman’s expectations.    Many women have not thought there could be so many parts to treat and many different shapes and sizes of outcomes.  It is important to delineate these details in planning for a surgery or procedure.

At the time labiaplasty is done, we can address the local structures.  This is a good time to assess the labia majora details, and further how the majora will respond when the minora is surgically changed.  It is time to evaluate pelvic floor support and quality of the vaginal tissue.  Support structures decline over time, and they can be fixed.  The vaginal caliber can be made more snug if needed.  Urine incontinence can be treated with supportive procedures or slings.  These can all be done in the office.

In planning a labiaplasty surgery, I plan on each part and anticipate the final blend at the outcome to get the best results possible.  If you are thinking of surgical options, contact me and we can make a plan: 850-916-7766

Author

Karen E Kennedy MD Gynecologist for over 21 years in Gulf Breeze, FL, caring for patients in the Florida panhandle area.