Labia Reduction (Labiaplasty)

A minimal protrusion of the inner lips beyond the outer lips of the genital organ is considered natural. However, the inner lips may extend out of the outer lips in some women due to various causes, leading to a sagging appearance. Inner lip sagging may occur due to giving birth more than once or because of the genetic factors. This situation may cause some problems in the sex life of a woman. Besides losing the self-confidence in front of the partner and avoiding nudeness, a woman may avoid wearing swimsuits or tight pants.

Furthermore, a woman may experience urinary incontinence when she coughs or sneezes. The labial reduction surgery is the method that eliminates all of these problems. It is possible to reduce the saggy inner lips with this easy-to-perform surgery.

Labial Reduction Surgery and Combined Operations

The only patient complaint involving the vagina may not be the enlarged and saggy inner lips. A combined set of operations or medical aesthetic procedures can be performed together with labiaplasty in these patients. For example; plumping up of the outer lips can be performed. As plumping up the outer lips will cause a reduction in the saggy appearance of the inner lips, a combination of this procedure with labial reduction surgery can be completed successfully with excision of a lower volume of tissue.

Another surgery that can be combined with labiaplasty is to narrow the vaginal opening. Both vaginal narrowing and labial reduction can be achieved in a single session of surgery. The patient can easily overcome these two difficulties after undergoing a single recovery period.

Can Isler, MD.
Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery
General Surgery

About Operation

Expected duration of stay in Istanbul: 6-7 days
Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Expected operation duration: 2-3 hours
Expected duration of stay in the hospital: 1 night
Pain: Occasionally, simple analgesics are needed.
Swelling and bruises: Usually
Dressing: Day 4 and 6
Stitches: No need to take stitches that melt on their own.
Expected return to normal life: 3 days
Sports: Light exercises after 1 week

Before the surgery…

At least 15 days before the operation, patients should discontinue the use of drugs such as vitamin E, blood thinners, and ibrufen. The patient should inform the physician about the other medications he or she receives.
Patients should avoid smoking and using any tobacco products before the operation. The habit of smoking adversely affects blood circulation, thus reducing the success rate of surgery. Wound healing is delayed and problems associated with anesthesia may occur.
If the patient is pregnant, the surgery must be postponed to a later time.
Full body examination is required.
From the night before the surgery, patients should stop eating. They should take their essential medications with little water before.
Patients should not use alcohol; they should not spray apply any cosmetic products on their hair, and they should not wear any makeup.

The operation

Labium reduction surgery is a very easy operation and completed in a short time. It is usually performed under local anesthesia, which provides anesthesia in the area of the body below the waist. However, general anesthesia may be preferred in some patients. After achieving appropriate anesthesia, excess tissue is removed by applying an incision so that the inner lips will no longer sag out of the outer lips. This process aims to achieve not only a reduction but also an appearance of the inner lips having more regularly shaped contours.

After the excision of the excess tissue, the incision is closed with absorbable sutures and then the operation is completed. The whole procedure of this aesthetic intervention takes about half an hour.

After the surgery…

Patients experience a comfortable recovery period after the operation. Approximately 2 to 3 hours after the operation, the patient can be discharged from the hospital and go home. Since anesthesia is performed, it is recommended that the patient has a rest at home on the day of the surgery.

Hygiene is the most important component of the recovery process. The patient should pay maximum attention to the hygiene of the surgical site. Especially the area of intervention needs to be cleaned hygienically after using the toilet. Sexual abstinence is another point requiring attention during recovery.

Sexual intercourse can cause wound dehiscence, bleeding, and infections. Therefore, sexual abstinence should be practiced during the period specified by the physician. The underwear needs to be changed daily and hygienic pads should be used for several days. Recovery period will be completed comfortably as long as these precautions are complied with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the surgery too painful?

This type of surgery is performed when the patient is anesthetized. You will not feel pain.

Is it possible to take a bath after the surgery?

You can take a bath after about 48 hours following the surgery.

Can anyone undergo a labial reduction surgery?

Anyone having no contraindications for undergoing surgery and anesthesia can benefit from this surgery.

What is the appropriate time to undergo this type of surgery?

Surgery can be performed at any time based on your preferences.

Is there an age limit for undergoing this type of surgery?

This operation can be performed at any age after 18 years of age.

Can the operation be repeated?

Of course, it can be repeated if sagging occurs again.

Are the outcomes of surgery permanent?

Yes. However, sagging remains to be a possibility after giving birth or in advanced ages.

Is it possible to engage in workouts after the surgery?

After a week, all kinds of sports activities can be performed.

Is it possible to swim in the sea after the surgery?

For the purpose of maintaining good hygienic conditions, you should not swim in the sea or pool for a week following the surgery.

Does surgery require abstaining from sexual activities?

Sexual abstinence is required for 2 to 3 weeks. Sex life can be restored afterward.

Can others notice that I underwent this type of surgery?

No, it will be unnoticeable.

Does the surgery cause scar marks left behind?

The architecture of the inner lip tissue allows disappearing of suture marks in a short time.

Is it necessary to use hygienic pads after the surgery?

The use of pads for a few days relieves the patient.

When can I go to work after the surgery?

You can go to work on the day after the surgery.

When do the sutures resolve after the surgery?

The sutures start to get absorbed after about 2 weeks following the surgery. They will be resolved completely after three weeks following the surgery.

Does the surgery cause swelling?

A slight tissue edema may occur. After about 3 weeks, the swelling disappears completely.

Will I feel uncomfortable while sitting after the surgery?

You may need to sit down carefully only for a few days after the surgery.

Does the surgery cause discoloration?

No. The color change that occurs in the first days returns to normal and the skin color is restored in a short time.

Is it possible to reduce the volume of the labia without undergoing surgery?

Surgery is needed because excess tissue should be removed.

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