Labia Majoraplasty Procedure

The labia are folds of skin found on the outside of a woman's genitals. This is also called the vulva. The labia are responsible for protecting the vagina, clitoris and urethra.

There are two types of labia—the outer, larger folds called the labia majora(major) and the inner smaller folds called the labia minora (minor). Sometimes the labia are called "lips".

The size of the labia majora can vary significantly from woman to woman. Just as everyone's noses or ears are different, so are a woman's labia. They can vary in color and shape as well.

Labia Majoraplasty Indications

Some women are born with very large or protruding labia majora. For other women, the labia may enlarge or skin may loosen after childbirth or after a dramatic weight loss. This loosening or enlargement can be problematic for some women as they cause:

• An unnatural or embarrassing bulge in swimsuits, leotards or tighter fitting clothing
• Sweating or irritation during exercise

• Painful sex

To reduce their size and appearance, you can consider a surgical procedure called a labia majoraplasty.

Labia Majoraplasty Procedure

The procedure is relatively simple. Labia majoraplasty surgery takes about an hour to complete and can be done in an outpatient surgical setting under general anesthesia or in your provider's office using local anesthesia.

During the procedure, your provider will reshape the labia. He or she may make a crescent-shaped cut and remove any extra tissue then re-stitch the labia to the body. Incisions are made close to the body and designed so that the scars are concealed in folds of the vulva.

Labia Majoraplasty Recovery and Healing

You will be able to go home after your procedure. If you chose to sleep through the surgery you will need a driver to take you home.

Your provider will give you pain medication you can take if needed. Not all women experience significant pain after the procedure. Swelling in the first day or two after surgery is common and you may need to use ice packs to fight the swelling.

Once the swelling goes down, you should be able to return to work (24-48 hours after surgery) assuming you won't be doing activities that could injure the incisions. This includes any job with strenuous physical movement or activities like riding a bicycle, motorcycle or horse, which could place pressure on the incision.

Your provider may use dissolving stitches so you won't have to have anything removed later. It can take 3-12 weeks for the stitches to completely dissolve but you will be able to return to normal activities (and even have sex) about 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Request More Information

To request more information from a trained medical healthcare provider, please call (408) 946-9453 or contact us online.

Author

Gul A. Zikria, MD, FACOG As an expert in preventive care, innovative treatment solutions, and laparoscopic surgery, board-certified OB/GYN Gul A. Zikria, MD, FACOG, is a trusted practitioner who’s been in private practice since 1985. Dr. Zikria earned his doctor of medicine from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He went on to complete a competitive surgical residency program at Georgetown University in Washington. Dr. Zikria then went through a comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology residency program through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at the Magee-Women’s Hospital. He welcomes new and existing patients to his practice in Milpitas, California.