We understand that it can be difficult, and even feel embarrassing, to raise concerns about more intimate areas of your body. But if you suffer from discomfort due to the size and/or shape of your labia, we offer a procedure that could help.
1 - 2 hours
day case
first 4 - 8 weeks
6 - 8 weeks
Also known as labia reshaping or labia reduction, labiaplasty is a surgery that can reduce the size of the labia minora, which are the flaps of skin around the vaginal opening.
Some people have labia that are oversized and uncomfortable, particularly when they wear certain clothes or when they’re exercising. Having labiaplasty could relieve this discomfort and help improve the function of your vaginal opening.
If you are unhappy with the size and/or shape of your labia, and find that it’s interfering with your daily activities, labiaplasty could offer these benefits:
There are risks and potential side effects to every cosmetic procedure. Our surgeons have a wealth of experience in this type of surgery, but you should be aware of the risks and potential side effects that come with vulval surgery:
For your labiaplasty, you’ll be given general anaesthetic – you can find out more about this and its risks here.
Before your surgeon begins, your labia will be cleaned and your pubic area shaved to prepare for surgery. Then you’ll be given general anaesthetic, which makes you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the procedure.
Once you’re asleep, your surgeon will make incisions to resize and/or reshape your labia. They might use a trimming technique, using a scalpel to remove excess tissue from the outer edge of your labia minora so that it lines up with your labia majora. Or they might remove a wedge of tissue from the inner area of your labia minora, depending on your desired results. Once the right amount of tissue has been removed, the incisions will be stitched closed.
Labiaplasty surgery can take up to 2 hours to complete.
People can have labiaplasty for a variety of reasons. Whether you’d like the surgery for cosmetic reasons, or because of the discomfort caused by large labia, it could be the right procedure for you. You might be unhappy with the appearance of your labia, or your labia might cause you pain, irritation and hygiene issues.
To be suitable for labia reduction surgery, you should be over the age of 18 and understand the risks involved with the procedure.
Following a labiaplasty, you should take around 2 weeks off work, depending on the nature of your job. You’ll have some bruising, swelling and discomfort for the first week or so, which you can manage by getting plenty of rest and taking suitable pain medication.
For at least 2 weeks, you should wear loose clothing and underwear to prevent friction and take care to keep the area clean and dry. You should avoid exercise, heavy lifting and sex for at least 6 weeks after your procedure. Where necessary, you should use sanitary pads instead of tampons until you are fully recovered.
Any initial swelling, pain and bruising should disappear from the area within the first few weeks, but it can take up to 6 months to see the final results of your labia reduction.
Your menstrual cycle shouldn’t have any effect on your recovery or healing. The only thing to bear in mind is keeping your labia clean and dry while it heals, so you might want to wipe the area with a clean cloth and dry it properly each time you replace your sanitary pad.
For several weeks after your labia reduction, you should avoid anything that could injure or harm the area. This includes exercise, heavy lifting, penetration, swimming or saunas/steamrooms. You should also avoid tight clothing or underwear which can cause friction or put pressure on the area.
Your labia will be especially sensitive in the weeks following your surgery, so you should avoid having sex until at least week 6. This gives your labia time to heal and means that when you do have sex again, it won’t be as painful, although it might be uncomfortable the first time after your labiaplasty.
A labiaplasty targets the skin outside of the vaginal opening, while a vaginoplasty concentrates on the inner function of the vagina. A labiaplasty can help with irritation and pain caused by excess labia skin, and a vaginoplasty can restore the perineal muscles and repair the vagina post-childbirth. The two procedures can be combined to address both issues if necessary.
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