What is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce or increase the size of your labia. People usually have this procedure to reduce physical discomfort or as part of sex reassignment surgery. Sometimes you may also want it for cosmetic reasons, but there is a fairly wide standard of labia and everyone's labia are unique and there is no ideal or “normal” way for them to look.
Your labia are the folds of skin around your vaginal opening. There are two folds of skin there. The outer folds are called labia majora, which means big lips. These are the larger fleshy folds that protect your external genitals. After puberty they become covered with pubic hair. The inner folds are called labia minora, which means small lips. These folds of skin protect the opening of your urethra (where your urine leaves your body) and your vagina.
During labiaplasty and depending on why you are having it done, your surgeon will either
- It removes some tissue from your labia to reduce its size.
- Injects a filler or fat into your labia to enlarge it.
- It reconstructs your labia from another tissue.
Why Does a Person Have Labiaplasty?
There are medical reasons for labiaplasty. There are also physical, cosmetic and emotional reasons.
Medical and Physical Causes
- To reduce the size of the labia minora so that they do not protrude beyond the edges of the labia majora. Excess labial tissue can twist, turn, pinch or pull and can cause physical discomfort and irritation during exercise, physical activities (such as cycling or jogging) and sexual intercourse.
- It can be done to improve hygiene and health, as excess tissue can make cleaning more difficult and harbor bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Cosmetic and Emotional Causes
- To reduce labia minora or labia majora asymmetry (irregular shape) when one side is longer or shaped differently.
- To increase comfort, confidence and sexual well-being about the appearance of your genitals during intimate contact. Remember that people have a variety of lip sizes and shapes and there is no labial appearance that is considered normal.
What Causes a Large Labium?
- Puberty can cause a growth spurt in your labia.
- Menopause or other hormonal changes can thin the labia majora tissue.
- Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Changes in your weight.
- Genetics.
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