Labiaplasty St. Louis

For those who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their outer vagina, labiaplasty can help. Childbirth, genetics, and other factors can play a role in the aesthetics of a person’s vaginal area. Sometimes the appearance of one’s labial area can cause them to be self-conscious, result in body-image issues, and negatively affect functionality.  Women with increased size and length of the labial tissues can get irritations with exercise, bike riding, intercourse, and certain clothing.  

What Is Labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty is a procedure in which the inner and/or outer vaginal lips are surgically re-sculpted to fix the appearance and/or functionality of the labia. This procedure can fall under two categories: cosmetic and functional. 

A cosmetic labiaplasty relates to the appearance of the outer vagina, while functional labiaplasty deals with the functionality of the vaginal opening. For example, if the labia are enlarged or loose, they can cause pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse and certain physical activities, thus inhibiting normal vaginal functions. 

Labiaplasty can be performed to reduce the external vaginal tissues in size, eliminate dark areas, reduce thickness of the vaginal lips, and fix asymmetry. 

Before & After

Patient #6059

Before:
Before Labiaplasty
After:
After Labiaplasty

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Labiaplasty?

If you have asymmetrical or loose vaginal lips or are dissatisfied with the color and appearance of your vagina, you may be a good candidate for labiaplasty. Those who experience pain and discomfort during sex and other physical activities or while wearing certain types of clothing may also be ideal candidates.

Before Your Procedure

Before your labiaplasty, it is important to eat healthily, stay hydrated, and get plenty of rest. These healthy practices will aid in recovery after surgery. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking before your procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or any other NSAIDs since they increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Plan to time your surgery just after completion of a menstrual cycle to ease postoperative care. 

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure can be done in the operating room under general anesthesia or sedation and is often combined with other surgeries.  Others choose the privacy of having the surgery done in the office with local numbing medication so they can drive themselves to and from the procedure.  During the procedure, our Chesterfield Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon will make small incisions in the targeted areas to reduce the excess tissue. He will then meticulously close the incisions with absorbable stitches.  Incisions are carefully placed to avoid or altogether limit contact in these areas during intercourse. Antibiotic ointment and an ice pack will be placed over the area and postoperative care instructions will be discussed.   

Labiaplasty can take anywhere from one to two hours to perform; however, the time this procedure takes depends on the extent of the reshaping of the labia. If you have any questions or concerns about the length of the surgery, talk to one of our outstanding Plastic Surgeons about them during your consultation. 

Downtime and Healing

You may experience some swelling and bruising in the treated area after your labiaplasty. Our surgeons will prescribe medication to help you deal with any pain or discomfort.   

You may be able to return to work two to five days after your procedure; however, you should not perform any strenuous activities for three weeks after your surgery. It is important to note that you should not have sex for approximately six weeks after your labiaplasty to allow adequate healing.

You should also avoid wearing a tampon for ten days after your procedure. Do not wear thong underwear for at least six weeks. 

Find Out More About Labiaplasty

If you’re interested in getting a labiaplasty and think you could benefit from this procedure, contact Chesterfield Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and arrange your consultation today.

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