Why Do Women Want Labiaplasty?
While surfing the web, looking at social media, or watching televised press, you may have come across the topic of labiaplasty. This cosmetic procedure has been gaining a lot of attention and popularity recently in the United States and Australia.
What Is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is a cosmetic procedure to shorten or reduce the length of the labia minora in a woman’s genital region. The labia minora, also known as the inner labia, are the folds of skin on both sides of the vaginal opening. Labiaplasty, also called labia reduction or labia rejuvenation, is performed either under general anesthesia or with an oral sedative. The individual procedure typically takes one to two hours. The surgery sculpts the inner labia to provide a more appealing appearance.
Reasons Why Women Choose Labiaplasty
The labium is a part of the body that every woman has. For some, it might be small, large, or asymmetrical. For others, they might have experienced changes due to their age or after the birth of a child. There are two main reasons why women choose to undergo labiaplasty.
Relieve Pain
Many women who have one or both inner labia protruding from the outer labia experience painful symptoms from twisting and tugging of the labia—pain when riding a bike, having intercourse, or from wearing tight clothing. They experience pinching and rubbing from clothing and itching because it is a sensitive area.
Self-Conscious
Some women are self-conscious of the way their inner labia appears. If the inner labia are larger than the average female, a woman may feel insecure when wearing a bathing suit or with a sexual partner. Having this procedure performed gives these women the confidence they need to move forward with their life.
Recovery
Most women return to work two to five days after the procedure. However, it is recommended that the patient take one week off. Do not have intercourse or wear tampons for four to six weeks after the surgery. Residual swelling may last a couple of months. Recovery pain is minimal or non-existent for many women. Aftercare consists of ice packs to the area to reduce swelling, resting with an elevated bottom, and medication if needed for pain and discomfort.
