What is a labia majoraplasty?

A labia majoraplasty is a procedure designed to surgically reduce the size of the outer, hair-bearing labia majora.

Reasons patients want a labia majoraplasty

Patients who feel their labia majora are too large or hang down may feel discomfort from such activities as cycling, or they may be embarrassed by the fullness.

Anesthesia for a labia majoraplasty

This procedure can be done under local anesthesia with oral sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed.

Labia majoraplasty procedure

The plastic surgeon removes two slight crescents of skin from the inner portion of each labium. The amount to be removed depends on the amount of excess tissue. In some cases, when there is atrophy of fatty tissue, a small amount of fat can be transferred from another area of the body after liposuction. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

What are the risks of a labia majoraplasty?

Risks include bleeding, hematoma, infection, scarring, underresection, overresection.

Recovering from a labia majoraplasty

Most patients take a week off from work, during which they can reduce swelling and pain by icing with a cold pack sandwiched between the patient's underpants and an elastic garment, like Spanx. This can be done "twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off." The patient can also lie with her bottom elevated to reduce swelling.

Patients can resume wearing tampons or having intercourse after four to six weeks.

Swelling after a labia majoraplasty can last 6 months or longer, depending on the thickness of the tissue, although much of the swelling is gone by 6 weeks.

What are the results of a labia majoraplasty?

This procedure typically results in smaller, tighter labia majora. In patients with excess skin, drooping of the labia majora when the patient is standing is usually improved. In patients with excess volume, this procedure can result in a lower profile.