Labiaplasty

Labiaplasty is a surgery that reduces the length and/or thickness of the inner lips of the female genitals, the labia minora. These are the inner folds of skin of the vulva; and their size and shape can be very different from woman to woman. Though there is no “normal” sized labia, some women may experience discomfort or worry due to their enlarged or uneven appearance. Having this condition may be congenital, meaning that it’s present from the time of birth, or it can result from pregnancy or aging. 

At Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, Texas, we understand the sensitive nature of this procedure and the importance of achieving natural-looking results in the safest and most effective way possible. With over 25 years of experience, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Suresh Koneru, brings his expertise and meticulous attention to detail to every labiaplasty he performs, taking each individual patient’s goals into consideration. 

Feel better about the appearance of your labia, call (210) 499-5900 or schedule an appointment online to discuss the procedure further. 

Benefits of a Labiaplasty 

In the United States, labiaplasty has become more and more popular over recent years. According to statistics from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the number of labiaplasties performed between 2012 and 2017 grew by 217.2%. ⁽¹⁾ And there are extremely good reasons for this: 

Candidates for Labiaplasty

Women who experience emotional or physical discomfort due to large labia are in a good position to consider having a labiaplasty. As long as you’ve completed pubertal development and are in good overall health with no serious health conditions, you will likely be a suitable candidate. It is important to have a thorough personal consultation with a plastic surgeon, like Dr. Koneru, experienced in labiaplasty to determine if it is the right time for you.

Personal Consultation 

A personal consultation with Dr. Koneru at Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, Texas is the first step towards achieving your desired results through labiaplasty. Dr. Koneru, a renowned labiaplasty surgeon and expert in intimate rejuvenation, has dedicated himself to helping women achieve their aesthetic goals and enhance their intimate wellness.

During your private consultation, he will take the time to understand your specific concerns, discuss your medical history, and review any prior procedures you may have had. He will then thoroughly examine the area, carefully assessing the size, shape, and evenness of your labia. This part of preparation is crucial in determining the most suitable surgical approach for your unique anatomy. To get started today, give us a call at (210) 499-5900 or schedule a meeting with Dr. Koneru through our contact form. 

Preparation

Once your surgery is scheduled, you will receive detailed instructions on how to prepare for your procedure. It is important to follow these instructions closely. This includes stopping the use of blood thinners as these types of medications and supplements can result in more bleeding than usual during the procedure. Dr. Koneru will also advise you to stop smoking, vaping, or using any nicotine products for the 4 to 6 weeks leading up to your surgery date. The chemicals in these products have been proven to slow down the body’s healing abilities, which can make your recovery longer and possibly more complicated. You will also want to pick up prescription medications so that you have them readily available once you’ve come out of the surgery. Finally, you should talk to a friend or family member who can pick you up from your appointment and possibly help you with daily chores and errands in the first few days. The procedure requires that you take 1 week off from work and that you rest as much as you can during this time. See more about our Fast Recovery After Plastic Surgery (FRAPS) protocol on our Patient Resources page.

Labiaplasty Procedure

Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure, so you will get to go home on the same day. Before making any incision or providing anesthesia, Dr. Koneru will give you antibiotic medications. To minimize any chance of discomfort, you will be placed under general anesthesia beforehand. Each labiaplasty technique is tailored to the needs of the patient.

Regardless of the technique used, Dr. Koneru has extensive knowledge of female anatomy that helps guide his carefully made decisions. He understands the importance of preserving the sensitive structures of the vulva and parts of the clitoris that extend deeper into the tissue. He closes all labiaplasty incisions with dissolvable sutures that do not require a follow-up appointment to remove. 

Recovery

After your labiaplasty, it is normal to experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the groin area. It’s normal to experience slight bleeding, so you should consider wearing a pad. Although rest is important, the day after your procedure, you should walk for 5 to 10 minutes every 2 hours to encourage blood circulation. In the long run, this will speed up your healing. To manage discomfort, Dr. Koneru may prescribe medications or recommend over-the-counter pain relievers. You may also be allowed to apply ice for a few minutes at a time. After about 1 week, you’ll be able to return to a sedentary job. However, you should avoid strenuous exercise for at least 4 weeks and avoid sexual intercourse for at least 6 to 8 weeks following the procedure. To learn more about the recovery process, a consultation with Dr. Koneru will give you a better idea of what to expect. 

Related Procedures 

Labiaplasties can be performed with another procedure to give an overall balanced look to the vulva. If you have enlarged labia, you may want to consider one of these other procedures to be performed at the same time: 

Clitoral Hood Reduction 

Those with large labia may have excess skin around the upper part of the vulva. This procedure, also called clitoral hoodectomy, is often performed at the same time as a labiaplasty to help patients achieve a more balanced look to the vulva overall. The clitoris also has more than 10,000 nerve fibers within it, so reducing an appropriate amount of skin in the clitoral hood can help patients feel more sexual pleasure. 

Fat Grafting to the Labia Majora

Fat grafting to the labia majora may be requested by a patient to replace lost volume in this area. With age, pregnancy, and hormonal changes, the labia majora can appear deflated. Dr. Koneru performs fat grafting to the labia majora by taking fat from another area of the body to give an overall replenished and rejuvenated appearance.

Cost of a Labiaplasty in San Antonio, Texas 

After your initial consultation, we can provide a letter with photos to your insurance provider. It is extremely rare for insurance companies to authorize labiaplasty unless there has been severe trauma to the area, cancer, or a significant congenital defect.  If you have brought your issues to the attention of your primary care physician, please bring their letters to our office. We will try to secure coverage from your insurance this way. Please note that we do not feel it is appropriate to request insurance for cosmetic procedures, and we will not submit a letter if we feel your issue is mostly a cosmetic problem. For those interested, Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery offers several financing options to allow patients a chance to be able to afford the procedure of their choice. 

FAQ

References

1. Willis RN, Wong CS, Pai A, Patel BC. Labiaplasty Minora Reduction. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448086/ 
2. Ellsworth WA, Rizvi M, Lypka M, et al. Techniques for labia minora reduction: an algorithmic approach. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2010;34(1):105-110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-009-9454-5 
3. Uloko M, Isabey EP, Peters BR. How many nerve fibers innervate the human glans clitoris: a histomorphometric evaluation of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2023;20(3):247-252. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdac027