Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty surgery (reduction of large labia) is performed when a woman's labia minora (inner lips) are longer than normal and hang down significantly past her labia majora (outer lips). Sometimes this happens naturally, but sometimes this is caused during childbirth. Patient's who want labiaplasty surgery usually do so because their hanging labia get pulled during exercise or sex. Although some women present for purely aesthetic reasons, the majority of patients are experiencing unpleasant side effects from their large labia minora and are looking for something that will improve their discomfort.
Surgeons used to simply cut off the edge of the labia to make it the appropriate length; however, this approach left the labia with a scalloped edge and changes in sensation. The more modern procedure is to do what is called a z-plasty. The incision is made in a z shape and wedges of excess skin are removed. When stitched back together, there is very minimal scarring because the z-plasty allows the forces pulling on the skin to be dispursed, rather than to pull in a straight line causing a deformed shape to the labia.In the media, this procedure, as well as vaginoplasty, have been criticized. For some reason, some people think this is about looking like a movie or porn star. All our patients who have this procedure are regular women looking for a solution to a problem they are having. As with many of our other procedures, most women are simply trying to restore their appearance to how they looked before having children or to a "normal"state. Obviously, this is a very personal and private matter. If this is troubling you, give our office a call to schedule a complimentary consultation. Let Dr. Jones help to solve this troubling, and sometimes embarrassing, problem.