Generally, labiaplasty should be postponed till the patient reaches adulthood. However, there are certain cases in which it can be performed on teenagers: Significant Physical deformity causes discomfort during the day to day activities.
Labiaplasty in adolescents is discouraged since complete genital development has not been achieved until the age of 18 [2].
A labiaplasty is surgery to reduce the size of the labia minora – the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening. It should not be done on girls younger than 18 because the labia continues to develop beyond puberty into early adulthood.
While in general labiaplasty should be postponed until adulthood, in rare cases labiaplasty may be appropriate for a teenaged patient: A physical deformity of the genital tissues is causing discomfort during day-to-day activities or preventing a patient from comfortably wearing certain types of clothing.
If you are a healthy female with an excessive amount of tissue (4-5cm) on the labia, you are likely a good candidate for labiaplasty.
BEFORE Surgery
Shaving: Shave entire area prior to the procedure. Hibiclens: The night before surgery, clean labia with Hibiclens then rinse off thoroughly with water. (Hibiclens is an anti-bacterial surgical soap that may be purchased over-the-counter).
It is not usually a cause for concern, although discomfort may occur during some activities. Having enlarged labia is normal and not a cause for concern. Many people are born with large and often asymmetrical labia and experience no negative side effects.
Patients who have undergone female genital mutilation should be referred to a specialist female genital mutilation clinic via NHS England. NHS North Yorkshire CCG does not routinely commission labiaplasty/ vaginoplasty, for cosmetic reasons, as these procedures are considered to be of limited clinical value.
The cost of a private labia reduction surgery consultation without health insurance typically costs £200-£300 at a private hospital or clinic in the UK.
Is labiaplasty permanent? Absolutely. The excess tissue of the labia, which at times can be darkly pigmented, is trimmed and does not grow back.
According to the ASPS (the American Society of Plastic Surgeons), labiaplasty is one of the most common vaginal rejuvenation procedures, accounting for about 10,000 of the plastic surgical procedures performed in the U.S. each year.
Labial reconstruction surgery may be advised for women experiencing discomfort due to enlarged or distorted labia, which could be catching on their clothing, making having sex or inserting tampons painful, or preventing them from doing exercise or sitting down comfortably.
A labiaplasty surgery gets rid of the excess redundant tissue in the labia. Therefore, if performed correctly, the surgery does not damage any nerves, and after a full recovery, you will regain all sensation in the area.
Labiaplasty done with the patient awake under local anesthesia can be very stressful (for both doctor and patient!), and carries with it risks of high blood pressure and faster heart rate, which can increase bleeding risk.
What Causes Labial Hypertrophy? Larger-appearing labia minora may be completely normal. Early in the pubertal process, the labia minora may look larger than the labia majora (outer lips of the vulva). As patients move through puberty they deposit more fat in the labia majora.
A labiaplasty is not classed as emergency surgery so an approved patient will have to join the labiaplasty waiting list. In normal circumstances, the maximum time a patient should be on an NHS waiting list is 18 weeks.
While labiaplasty is considered a minor surgery and can be performed under a local anesthetic in some cases, it does still involve cutting into the labia minora, which often results in some pain and swelling following the procedure.
When it comes to how painful is labiaplasty recovery, it varies from person to person. Your Viva Eve specialist will prescribe medications to help manage pain but you can expect some soreness and swelling as the sensitive area heals. If you feel as though your labia are swollen in the first six weeks, this is normal.
There are the textbook risks of a labiaplasty such as bleeding, hematoma, and infection. Other risks include wound opening (dehiscence) with prolonged healing, discomfort during sexual intercourse, need for revisional surgery, change or difficulty in orgasm, pain at the incision site, or change of skin sensation.
Most labiaplasty procedures are performed in our office under local anesthesia, so you can drive yourself to and from your appointment. If the procedure is more extensive, you may require general anesthesia at an accredited facility, which will mean you need a responsible adult to pick you up after your surgery.
Like any other surgical procedure, labiaplasty recovery time requires downtime and your doctor will typically recommend avoiding any physical activity, intimacy, even walking for the first 2 days. Recovery for labiaplasty procedures is straightforward and most women return to their normal activities at 2-4 weeks.
Activity Restrictions. Labiaplasty isn't as invasive as other surgeries, and most women return to work within 2 to 4 days after the procedure. But you'll still have some restrictions on activities. You can expect to shower the day after surgery, but avoid baths or otherwise submerging the area for a couple of weeks.
2 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY
increase risk of bleeding and bruising. Avoid aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Motrin, blood thinners, vitamin E, omega-3, fish oil, and alcohol. Use Tylenol in place of other over the counter pain medications.
Labiaplasty is an increasingly common procedure done for both aesthetic and medical health reasons. It's not without its risks, though. Be sure to discuss the option with your healthcare providers and become fully informed before making a decision about labiaplasty surgery.
It is important to avoid exercise, strenuous activity, or heavy lifting over 5 lbs for one month following labiaplasty. These activity restrictions will lower risk of bleeding and increased swelling at the surgical site. When you are standing, the labial tissues are dependant.