Labiaplasty (Inner Labia Reduction)

In women, vaginal or genital aesthetics have gained a new dimension today with the advancement of aesthetic surgery techniques. Although it concerns women of all ages, it has often remained in the background due to reasons such as embarrassment, not being able to undergo examination, lack of information, or difficulty finding solutions.

The purpose of genital-vaginal aesthetic operations is to correct the appearance from an aesthetic perspective, increase sexual pleasure with the partner, and improve the patient’s psychological condition. After deciding on genital aesthetic surgery, the first step you need to take is to consult a plastic surgeon. This is because a plastic surgeon evaluates the vaginal area as a whole.

In particular, inner labia reduction surgery (labiaplasty) is one of the most commonly performed operations in women, following nose and breast aesthetic surgeries.

One of the most frequent genital aesthetic problems is the enlargement and sagging of the outer and inner labia. The surgical correction of the labia, one of the genital aesthetic procedures, is called “labiaplasty.” The inner labia (labia minora) extend as thin folds of skin between the outer labia. At the front, they join in the midline, covering the clitoris like a hood. The inner labia gradually diminish toward the back, forming a faint fold. In some women, the inner labia extend outward beyond the outer labia, which, although not medically problematic, can impair aesthetic appearance. This condition, which may be congenital, appear after childbirth, or develop due to excessive weight gain or loss, can severely affect a woman’s sexual life. This operation can be performed on any woman—married or single, whether or not she has given birth.

Under local anesthesia and in operating room conditions, the inner labia are reduced to the appropriate size. The operation takes about 1 hour. The inner labia are repaired with self-dissolving sutures. Afterwards, no dressings are applied; instead, the area is cleaned with antibiotic ointments. Patients can return to their daily lives starting the next day. Stitches heal within one week, and within about a month, healing occurs in a way that is indistinguishable. The genital area is fortunate in terms of wound healing, and scars are barely noticeable. Sexual intercourse can be resumed after 4 weeks.

This surgery does not damage the hymen and has no adverse effect on sexual intercourse, orgasm, conception, or childbirth. Once healing is complete, no scars remain, and it is not possible to tell that surgery was performed. There are no problems related to urination after the operation.

Sometimes, the outer labia (labia majora) may be structurally longer than normal. In such cases, the labia may be stretched during sexual intercourse due to penile thrusting, which can cause pain. In these situations, the labia can be reduced to normal size through surgery for both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.