Labiaplasty in Birmingham AL

Your Labiaplasty Consultation

If you're considering a labiaplasty, do your homework before scheduling surgery as with any plastic surgery procedure. Advance preparation is an investment in your final outcome.

During your consultation for vaginal rejuvenation with a labiaplasty, be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals.
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments.
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use.
• Previous surgeries.

Your surgeon may also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
• Take photographs for your medical records.
• Discuss your options.
• Recommend a course of treatment.
• Discuss likely outcomes of the surgery and any risks or potential complications.
• Discuss the use of anesthesia during your surgery.
• Answer any questions you have about labiaplasty.

Labiaplasty Risks and Safety

The risks associated with labiaplasty include those of most surgical procedures including bleeding, hematoma and infection. The most common complication is over-resection. While some women desire an aggressive reduction, this can result in chronic dryness, scarring at or near the vaginal opening and pain with intercourse. Healing problems are more likely to occur with a wedge procedure, particularly if the patient is exposed to substances that cause blood vessels to shrink.

Labiaplasty Procedure

Labiaplasty is a procedure that can be done under either local anesthesia with oral sedation or under general anesthesia at our Birmingham, Alabama cosmetic surgery center.

The most common type of labiaplasty is the trim procedure, in which the extra tissue is removed and sewn up directly. Next in popularity is the wedge procedure, which maintains a natural border after a pie-shaped piece of tissue has been removed. Extra folds of the clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

Labiaplasty Recovery

Most patients take a week off from work, during which they can reduce swelling and pain by icing with a cold pack sandwiched between the patient's underpants and an elastic garment, like Spanx. This can be done "20 minutes on, 20 minutes off." The patient can also lie with her bottom elevated to reduce swelling.

Patients can resume wearing tampons or having intercourse after 4 to 7 weeks. Trim labiaplasty generally allows for a quicker recovery.

While the most distorting swelling is gone by 6 weeks, residual swelling may take 6 months to disappear.

Labiaplasty Results

Labiaplasty typically results in shorter labia that no longer hang down below the level of the hair-bearing labia majora. Most patients who experienced symptoms from twisting and tugging of their labia generally find relief after surgery. According to multiple studies, labiaplasty surgery is associated with a high satisfaction rate of over 90%.