By Dr. M Rajkumar , Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery
Labiaplasty is a form of cosmetic plastic surgery, which is performed to reduce the size of the labia minora or the flaps of skin, which are present on the sides of the vaginal opening in a woman. Labiaplasty is undertaken by many women who do not like the appearance of their labia. The surgery is also conducted when discomfort in the labia is caused.
Labiaplasty is generally carried out because of the following reasons:
- When a woman is concerned about appearance because of the size, discoloration or the length of the labia.
- When a woman experiences pain, discomfort and irritation during sexual intercourse.
- When a woman is concerned with pain, pulling or discomfort caused during physical activities.
Procedure of Labiaplasty
Before thinking of undergoing Labiaplasty, you should consult an efficient cosmetic surgeon. Initially, you would be having a health checkup and all the implications and results of a labiaplasty will be explained to you by the surgeon. Once you are fully satisfied with all the required information, the surgery date is scheduled. Labiaplasty is a simple surgical procedure compared with other cosmetic surgeries.
Before carrying out a Labiaplasty, the patient is given a general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia. This helps the patient to sleep so that she doesn’t feel any pain during the process. The procedure involves the shortening and reshaping of the labia or the lips of the vagina. The unwanted tissues are cut off or removed using a scalpel. Laser is also used to perform the removal of unwanted tissues. After the removal of unwanted tissues, the loose edge is stitched using fine and dissolvable stitches. The surgical process is not a very complicated one and requires one or two hours to complete successfully. Many patients are allowed to go home on the day of the surgery itself while some have to spend one night in the hospital.
Recovery and Safety measures
After a Labiaplasty, it is essential for you to take some time off from work or any other activity. It takes at least two months for the complete recovery of the skin.
During this phase, a patient will be required to take several precautions or safety measures such as:
- Keep the area clean and free from any kind of infection.
- Try wearing loose underwear and clothes to avoid rubbing from the labia.
- Abstain from having sex for some weeks.
- Use sanitary towels for some weeks instead of tampons.
Labiaplasty is an effective cosmetic surgery procedure which enables women to get rid of the extra skin from the lips of the vagina. The surgery is simple and doesn’t take very long to heal. The results obtained are also satisfactory.
