What are the benefits of Labiaplasty?

Ladies have a variety of reasons for considering a labiaplasty and the potential benefits can vary from person to person. For some women, labial reduction surgery can be life changing. Here are some of the possible benefits of labial surgery:

Enhanced visual appearance: you may be unhappy with the protruding nature of the labia minora leading to low self-confidence and feeling self-conscious. You may wish to have a neater, more streamlined, inner labia that lie within the outer labia majora. Labial reduction surgery provides a more symmetrical, harmonious appearance to vulva, boosting self-confidence and body image.
Increased Comfort: Enlarged labia can lead to discomfort during activities such as exercise and cycling. It can be uncomfortable wearing tight clothing such as gym wear, swim wear or certain underwear. Labiaplasty can significantly enhance physical comfort by reducing the size of bulky, protruding labia minora.
Improved Sexual Satisfaction: Excessive labial tissue may interfere with sexual activity, causing discomfort or pain. Feeling self-conscious can lead to being more inhibited when being intimate with your partner which can restrict your sexual freedom and satisfaction.
Improved hygiene: Some females have difficulty maintaining hygiene of the vulva area due to the excess folds of labial tissue. Some women can get fungal infections as a result. Trimmed, more contoured labia minora can help to ease the hygiene care of the vulval area.
Psychological Well-being: Dissatisfaction with the appearance of one's labia can result in embarrassment, self-consciousness, or anxiety in intimate situations. By enhancing the labia's appearance, labiaplasty surgery can alleviate these psychological concerns, contributing to improved mental well-being. ‍
Elevated Self-Esteem: Body dissatisfaction can significantly impact a woman's self-esteem. By addressing this concern, labiaplasty can contribute to improved self-esteem and an overall higher quality of life.

How much does Labiaplasty cost?

The cost of labiaplasty depends on how enlarged and thick the labia minora are, if there is any asymmetry, if you had surgery previously and whether you wish to have the operation under local or general anaesthetic. In addition, the hospital fees vary slightly at different locations.

Our prices include the cost of surgery as well as all follow up after the operation. Labiaplasty cost starts from £4,000 if performed with local anaesthetic and starts from £4,500 if done under general anaesthetic.

Where can I receive treatment for Labiaplasty in London?

Miss Tadiparthi provides consultations and surgery at a variety of locations across Central and South London:
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‍Central London: Chelsea / Sloane Square and Harley Street Locations

‍South London: Shirley Oaks Hospital in South Croydon and North Downs Hospital in Caterham.

Please do get in touch or request an appointment online if you wish to know more about labiaplasty surgery.

What happens during a consultation?

During the consultation, Miss Tadiparthi, will discuss your concerns and goals, assess your labial area and inform you whether the surgery would be beneficial and what can be achieved. She will also go through your medical history, medication and any mental health concerns to confirm your suitability for labiaplasty surgery. If you are suitable for surgery, she will go through the surgical options, explain the procedure, the recovery and likely scarring and any potential risks.

How is Labiaplasty performed?

Labiaplasty is performed as a day case, so you are home the same day and depending on your preference, it can be done either under local or general anaesthetic.

Firstly, you will be placed in a gynaecological position in theatre with your legs held out and secured with straps. Incision markings are designed outlining the section of the labia minora that is to be removed, ensuring that the labia are as symmetrical as possible after reduction. Local anaesthetic is injected into the labia (even if you are having a general anaesthetic) to minimise bleeding and pain following surgery. The area is cleaned thoroughly with an antiseptic solution.

Miss Tadiparthi uses the ‘Trim technique’ for labial reduction which gives a more precise means of contouring the labia. The area is cleaned thoroughly before undertaking any surgery. The labia are trimmed to the desired amount and any bleeding points are carefully cauterised. The open wounds are thoroughly cleansed before closure to minimise any infection. Absorbable sutures are used to close the wounds which fall out naturally over time (approximately 10 to 14 days) after trimming the excess labia. Deep stitches are used to bring the wound together initially and then vertical row of skin stitches are used to close the labia on either side. An antibiotic based ointment is applied to the wounds to keep the area clean and minimise the risk of infection. A sanitary pad and stretchy underwear are put on to cover the wound as it is not possible to apply any dressings on the area.

What is the aftercare following labiaplasty surgery?

Following surgery, you will need to wear a clean sanitary pad or sanitary pad for 1 to 2 weeks to catch any oozing of blood and tissue fluid. Daily showers and gentle cleansing of the area are recommended to keep the area clean and an antibiotic based ointment will need to be applied to the wound twice daily for 2 to 3 weeks. Tight underwear and clothing as well as sexual intercourse should be avoided for 6 weeks.

You will encounter mild pain, discomfort and swelling following the procedure. Pain relief medication will be prescribed to alleviate any discomfort. The labia will swell after surgery and typically, the swelling subsides in a few weeks. It is normal for one side to have more swelling than another. You will be given 1 week of antibiotics to minimise the risk of infection.

What is the recovery after labiaplasty surgery?

You should be able to work from home 1-2 days after the labial reduction. If you need to travel to your office for work, we advise taking 7 to 10 days off work to facilitate recovery.

After 1-2 weeks, you can gradually resume your normal daily activities and light exercise. If everything is healed, you are able to do light exercise after 4 weeks. Heavy exercise such as jogging or high intensity training and swimming is recommended after 6 weeks. Light sexual activity and intercourse can be resumed at 4 to 6 weeks.

More Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Labiaplasty

What are the techniques for labial reduction?

There are a variety of techniques used for labial reduction, the two most widely used are, ‘trim’ excision or ‘wedge’ excision.

In the ‘wedge’ technique, a triangular wedge section of the mid-section of the labia minora is removed and the resulting wound edges are brought together and closed. This aims to flatten and minimise the labia minora from protruding. The wedge technique leaves a horizontal scar in the labia minora.

In the ‘trim’ technique, a vertical section of the edge of the labia minora is trimmed. Depending on the location and extent of the removal, the trim may extend from above the clitoris to the vaginal opening. The trim technique leaves a vertical scar along the free edge of the labia minora.

Regardless of the technique used, care is taken to avoid over-trimming the labia as it looks unnatural, and tightening of the scar leads to long-term discomfort.

What is clitoral hood reduction?

The ‘clitoral hood’ refers to the excess folds of tissue above the clitoris. This excess skin folds can make the labial area look bulky and some women prefer a more streamlined look to the area. Some surgeons offer a clitoral hood reduction as a procedure on its own to contour the area however this can lead to issues in the long run with a painful scar or sensitive clitoral area.

Can a clitoral hood reduction be combined with a labiaplasty?

Miss Tadiparthi does a clitoral hood reduction as part of the labiaplasty by extending the excision to include any excess tissue above the clitoris, ‘the clitoral hood’. This leads to scars that run on either side of the clitoris and not too close to it which is much safer. She does not do a ‘clitoral hood’ removal as it can lead to a scar above the clitoris which can tighten and cause discomfort during intercourse when the clitoris enlarges or lead to damage to the nerves that supply the clitoral area.

Is labiaplasty painful?

During your labiaplasty procedure, local anaesthesia will be injected into the section of the labia minora that will be removed. This provides a few hours of pain relief and ensures that you will not experience any significant discomfort either during the surgery or for a while after surgery. Following the procedure, you will be given painkillers which you must take regularly for 1-2 weeks. In our experience, most ladies on the whole do not find labiaplasty surgery that painful and the discomfort settles in the first 2 to 3 weeks.

Will I lose any sensation and have normal intercourse after labial surgery?

Miss Tadiparthi is an experienced and well qualified plastic surgeon that has performed many labiaplasty procedures. When undertaking the procedure, she will take care to avoid any damage to surrounding important structures such as the clitoris and the vaginal opening. Therefore, you will have normal sensation and should enjoy normal sexual activity and intercourse after labiaplasty surgery.

How long will the results last?

The results of the labiaplasty are long lasting and usually permanent. However, your body may change with childbirth or natural ageing and so the labia may change in size, shape or volume over time.

Is a 'wedge' or 'trim' technique better for labiaplasty?

Miss Tadiparthi uses a vertical edge ‘trim’ excision technique as she finds that in her experience, it provides good, consistent accurate results that our patients have been happy with. The trim technique also allows for further excision if required. The scar is well concealed and hardly visible once fully healed.

The ‘wedge’ excision allows the labia minora to be less prominent and aim to leave a minimal scar. However, if a large triangular section of tissue is removed and the stitched wound is tight and closed under tension, the wound can separate partly or fully. If separated fully, the wound would have to be re-stitched together. If parts of the wound separates, then this can leave visible holes in the labia minora which can be difficult to close. The labia minora may not be fully contoured and there may be slight bulges above the horizontal scar.

Is clitoral hood reduction surgery safe to do on its own?

Full recovery may take a few weeks. Here is a guide on when you can return Clitoral hood reduction usually leads to a scar above the clitoris. The scar at times can become tight and cause discomfort during intercourse when the clitoris enlarges and the area can become quite sensitive. In some cases, there may be damage to the nerves that supply the clitoral region.

As a result, to avoid these risks, Miss Tadiparthi does not do clitoral hood reduction as a procedure by itself and only as part of the labiaplasty by extending the excision to include any excess tissue above the clitoris. This leads to the scar that extends on either side of the clitoris and leaves any nerves intact. It also places the scar a little away from the clitoris and is a much safer technique than a clitoral hood reduction alone.

How long does a labiaplasty take?

Labiaplasty typically usually takes around 1 hour. Depending on the complexity of the case, the labiaplasty procedure time varies from 40 minutes to 90 mins.

What are the risks of labial reduction surgery?

Every surgical procedure has the potential for complications and it is important that you understand these before proceeding with surgery. Our labiaplasty leaflet gives more information and Miss Tadiparthi will go through the potential risks in more detail at your consultation. The main risks of labiaplasty surgery include:

Permanent scarring: there will be a permanent vertical scar on each of the labia but these tend to heal very well and are hardly not noticeable.
Bleeding: It is normal to have some slight oozing of fluid and blood from the wound but this usually stops by 2 to 3 weeks. Wearing a clean, fresh sanitary pad or panty liner for the first 2 weeks catches most of the oozing.
Infection: due to the nature of the area, there is a risk of infection. Infection risk can be minimised with daily showers to keep the area clean, use of a fresh daily sanitary pad changed daily and regular application of antibiotic ointment on the wounds twice daily for 2 weeks.
Bruising and swelling: the area will undergo changes after the operation and any bruising and swelling will improve over a few weeks.
Altered sensation: sensation may take a few months to return to normal as there is underlying swelling and temporary numbing effect on the nerves to the area.
Delayed healing or wound separation: some parts of the wound may take slightly longer to heal. It is important to take some rest and only do light activities for 2 to 3 weeks till the wound gains more strength.
Asymmetry: it can be difficult to achieve perfect symmetry to the labia due to the folding, stretchy nature of the tissues. After surgery, there may be minor differences in the size of the labia minora. It is normal to have some pre-existing asymmetries in the labia minora and some minor asymmetry after surgery may result. ‍
Sensitive scar: in most cases, the scar is sensitive and painful only for the first few months. Loose underwear and clothing will help relieve this discomfort. A small minority of patients suffer from a sensitive scar in the long-term. In the vast majority, the scar settles fully by 1-2 years.

Is normal childbirth possible after labiaplasty surgery?

Labiaplasty surgery will not interfere with natural childbirth or you will be able to have children in the future. Miss Tadiparthi is an experienced and highly qualified plastic surgeon that has performed numerous labiaplasty procedures. When undertaking the procedure, she will ensure that the vaginal opening remains intact.

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What is Labiaplasty Surgery?