You have probably heard of breast lifts and tummy tucks but may not be familiar with a procedure called labiaplasty According to the American Society of Plastics Surgeons, labiaplasty procedures are on the rise.
So, what is labiaplasty? Labiaplasty is considered a vaginal rejuvenation procedure where excess labia minora tissue is trimmed or shortened so that it does not hang below the labia majora. This procedure may be done for cosmetic or functional reasons.
Women may be self-conscious and concerned that the excess labia tissue may peek through their underwear or swimsuit. In addition, some women experience physical discomfort when doing physical activities like riding a bike or during sexual intercourse. Labiaplasty can relieve the discomfort and may improve sexual pleasure. After the procedure, many women feel more comfortable wearing yoga pants and other work-out gear. Multiple studies report labiaplasty is a safe and effective procedure with patient satisfaction rates over 94%.
Labiaplasties are performed in an outpatient setting so you are able to return home the same day. The entire procedure takes about an hour. There are two different approaches: trim labiaplasty and wedge labiaplasty. Trim labiaplasty involves trimming the tissue and stitching it back together. The wedge labiaplasty is performed by removing a wedge section of the tissue and stitching the edges back together.
Not everyone is a candidate for labiaplasty. You must be in good health prior to having the surgery. The plastics surgeon will perform an initial evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for labiaplasty and help determine which is the best approach for you.
Most health insurance plans don't cover labiaplasty, or other plastic surgery that's elective rather than medically necessary. Only occasionally, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is labiaplasty medically necessary, such as with labia hypertrophy (overgrowth) caused by excess testosterone, congenital conditions, or chronic irritation.