The demand for labiaplasty — a surgical process that modifications the form of the labia — is on the rise. It’s reportedly due to the recognition of tight-fitting leggings, which might go away some ladies feeling self-conscious or bodily uncomfortable as a result of measurement and form of their labia.
“Some of the clothing is very form-fitting so if someone had a very prominent area down there that could potentially show through,” Dr. Gordon Lee, professor of cosmetic surgery at Stanford University, tells Yahoo Life. “Some patients are more self-conscious about it than others.” He provides, “I can see that being a source of concern.”
Dr. Marisa Lawrence, a plastic surgeon in Atlanta, agrees, telling Yahoo Life, ”Contour irregularities could also be apparent when carrying tight-fitting garments resembling leggings, bathing fits and denims.”
Nearly 19,000 labiaplasty procedures have been carried out in 2021, up 36% from 2020, based on the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank. Prior to that, requests for labiaplasty elevated by greater than 217% from 2012 to 2017, based on the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. “It seems to have increased over the years,” says Lee. “There’s more of an awareness of it … and perhaps [more] acceptance that it’s OK to talk about some of these things and it’s not anything to be ashamed of.”
So what precisely is labiaplasty? Here’s what you might want to know in regards to the process, based on plastic surgeons.
First, a short anatomy lesson
Labiaplasty is usually dubbed “designer vagina” surgical procedure. While that’s catchy, it’s not precisely correct. Labiaplasty doesn’t change the form of the vagina, which is an inside, elastic, muscular tube that leads from the vaginal opening to the uterus. The labia are exterior genitalia and consist of 4 “lips.”
“The hair-bearing outer lips are called the labia majora,” explains Lawrence. ”The internal lips are known as the labia minora. In the higher portion within the middle is the clitoral hood, which covers the clitoris partly or completely. Below the clitoris is the urethral opening, and under that’s the vaginal opening.”
There are “wide variations” with regards to the anatomy of feminine genitalia, explains Lawrence (working example: the Labia Library). “The labia minora vary in length, thickness, symmetry, protuberance and the degree to which they project beyond the edge of the labia majora,” she says.
As Debby Herbenick, professor on the Indiana University School of Public Health and creator of Read My Lips: The Complete Guide to the Vagina and Vulva, places it: “Every body is different and that’s true for vulvas, too.”
What is labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty, which is usually carried out beneath native anesthesia and prices round $3,600 on common, is a plastic surgical process that reduces the dimensions and generally the form of both the labia majora or labia minora, explains Lawrence. But it’s extra ceaselessly carried out on the labia minora.
“The goal of the procedure is to reduce the labia minora so that they don’t hang below the hair-bearing labia majora,” says Lawrence. “A labiaplasty may be performed to reduce asymmetry when one is longer than the other, or, more commonly, to reduce the length of both labia so that the labia minora no longer protrude past the labia majora.”
There are two forms of labiaplasty: the trim technique and the wedge technique. In a trim process, “the extra tissue is excised and sewn up directly,” explains Lawrence. “It is preferable to use when a large amount of tissue is to be removed or when patients request removal of the dark irregular edges of the labia minora, leaving only pink tissue behind.”
The wedge process includes eradicating a central wedge — a triangular piece, “almost like a slice of pizza,” says Lee — from the a part of the labia minora that stands proud probably the most. “The advantages of this technique include preservation of the natural edge architecture and a shorter scar,” says Lawrence. “Extra folds of the clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures. The technique chosen for each patient will depend on the patient’s anatomy and cosmetic preference.”
Lee notes the wedge method has “some advantages” as a result of the scar is hidden, whereas the scar from the trim process is alongside the sting. With the wedge method, “it basically doesn’t have a scar where you can see it,” he says. “As plastic surgeons, we make every effort to try to camouflage or hide the scar no matter where it is on the body.”
Why do some individuals get labiaplasty?
There are a number of explanation why some choose to have the process. “Women and other people with vulvas may have labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons — e.g., to create more symmetrical labia, to remove darkened edges if they personally have a ‘pink ideal,’ or if they feel their labia are bigger than they would like,” Herbenick tells Yahoo Life.
Some select labiaplasty “to have more comfortable sex or to more comfortably engage in exercise, as for some people their labia are sufficiently long that they get pushed inside the vagina during intercourse or are chafed while walking or exercising,” Herbenick explains.
Lawrence additionally factors out that “many women may feel self-conscious about their appearance in intimate settings,” which could affect them to get the process. “And, for women who experience changes to the labia after childbirth, a labiaplasty may be included in their ‘mommy make-over,’ restoring their vulva to their pre-childbirth appearance,” she says.
Media and pornography may additionally play a task in why ladies select to have labiaplasty surgical procedure. “We do know that some women and others with vulvas are influenced by media images of smaller labia,” says Herbenick. “And in some ways this is a vicious cycle. It can be considered ‘obscene’ in some countries to see labia hanging down and, as a result, companies may choose actresses with smaller labia or may digitally alter labia, so that they can sell their photographs or pornographic videos in more markets. Unfortunately, that creates a false impression that labia tend to be small and that’s not true; labia come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors.”
But Lawrence says that, “rather than a media-driven desire to look a certain way,” she attributes the rise in labiaplasty surgical procedure to “better access to both information about the procedure and to the procedure itself.”
What are the dangers?
Overall, the dangers related to labia minora discount surgical procedures are “very low,” says Lawrence. Complications might embrace bleeding, hematoma and an infection, in addition to asymmetry, poor wound therapeutic, overcorrection or undercorrection of the labia, based on Lawrence.
Lee notes that “one of the more concerning risks” is the removing of an excessive amount of tissue. “This can happen if the surgeon is not a board-certified plastic surgeon or is not experienced in doing this type of procedure,” he says. “If the tissue is excessively removed, this can look very abnormal and you can’t exactly put the tissue back. Also, if the cuts are not done precisely, the shape of the labia may be abnormal and not smooth. Patients can also have asymmetry of the labia.”
Lee stresses the significance of discovering an skilled surgeon to assist cut back these dangers. “Even if it’s a board-certified plastic surgeon, you really want to make sure the surgeon is experienced doing this procedure,” he says. “Botched procedures happen when they aren’t trained or have never done one before.”
How lengthy does it take to get better?
Most sufferers take every week off from work to get better, notes Lawrence, “during which they can reduce swelling and pain by icing with a cold pack sandwiched between the patient’s underwear and an elastic garment. This can be done ‘20 minutes on, 20 minutes off.’”
Trim labiaplasty usually permits for a faster restoration, based on Lawrence. “While the most distorting swelling is gone by six weeks, residual swelling may take six months to disappear,” she says.
But most sufferers are in a position to return to an office-type job after a couple of week, based on Lee. Patients can resume regular actions, together with train and intercourse, in addition to utilizing tampons, after about 6 weeks post-procedure.
What are the advantages of labiaplasty?
Experts say the advantages are each beauty and purposeful, with Lawrence stating that analysis exhibits labia minora labiaplasties have “high rates of overall satisfaction,” together with “improved self-esteem.”
Herbenick says that “if the size or shape of someone’s labia was interfering with their sex life, exercise or daily walking, then labiaplasty may offer both physical and psychological benefits.”
That mentioned, the process isn’t with out danger, and “people should feel like they are fully informed of the possible benefits and risks before making their choice,” says Herbenick.
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