When it comes to your labia, there’s really no “normal.” This area describes the outer and inner lips of your vulva. The labia majora refers to the outer lips where your body hair grows, and your labia minora lies inside, surrounding your vaginal opening. Labia come in all shapes and sizes.
In recent years, a growing number of women have sought labiaplasty to improve their sexual well-being. This procedure focuses on reducing or reshaping the labia, usually the labia minora. For some women, their labia size causes pain, pinching, irritation, or general physical discomfort, while others feel insecure or uncomfortable with the appearance of their labia alone.
If you have questions or concerns about your labia, our all-female team at Bela Vida Urogynecology can help. Here’s what you need to know about labiaplasty and what you can expect from this procedure.
How labiaplasty works
Many women consider labiaplasty because they feel their vaginal tissue has grown stretched, long, or loose. This can develop because of your genes, the aging process, going through childbirth, or experiencing trauma in the area.
There are several different labiaplasty techniques to reduce and reshape your labia. One of the most common involves removing extra tissue during a trim procedure. The wedge procedure, another popular option, removes a pie-shaped piece of tissue. This approach helps maintain the natural border of your labia. When you have labiaplasty, we can also reduce excess folds in your clitoral hood at the same time.
Because every woman is different, we work closely with you to develop a personalized labiaplasty approach based on your overall goals to ensure optimal outcomes. Our procedures typically take approximately one hour while you sleep comfortably under general anesthetic.
Recovering from labiaplasty
As you know, this part of your body is delicate and highly sensitive, so you can expect to have some discomfort after your procedure. Your recovery time often depends on the type of labiaplasty you have, and trim procedures typically heal faster.
Most women take approximately 1-2 weeks off from work and apply ice regularly to help with swelling and pain. We also recommend lying on your back with your bottom elevated to help reduce your risk of swelling. You should also avoid tampons, intercourse, and rigorous activity for 4-6 weeks while you heal.
In most cases, you can expect the most significant vaginal swelling to fade within six weeks, though residual swelling can last up to six months.
What to expect from labiaplasty
Reshaping your labia can offer numerous benefits, including:
- More comfort while sitting or engaging in physical activities
- Less pain during sexual intercourse
- Improved vaginal appearance
- More self-confidence in intimate situations
Whether you consider labiaplasty because of physical discomfort or to improve the overall appearance of your labia, this procedure comes with a satisfaction rate of over 90%.
To learn more about labiaplasty, contact us by phone or online to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations in Ocoee, Florida.