Labioplasty

Labioplasty (also known as labiaplasty, genital enhancement or 'designer vagina'

For some women their labia minora (inner lips) or labia majora (outer lips) cause them symptoms that are painful, uncomfortable or distressing. This is a surgical procedure that reduces the unwanted tissue. There is no particular reason why some women have larger labia than others, but a simple operation can alleviate the anatomical problem.

Who is a candidate for this operation?
There is a very wide variation in normal anatomy, and this is particularly true for the external female genitalia. For some women their labia are large and can be a problem when doing sports like bike riding or horse riding. For some women it can be uncomfortable to wear certain clothing like swim wear or jeans. Some women feel very self conscious about their large labia and find that this can interfere with their comfort with intimate relationships or with intercourse. In some cases, only one side is too large and this side is simply reduced to match the smaller side. Under a sedational and local anaesthetic, the excess tissue is removed and sutures used to close the incisions made. The procedure takes approximately an hour and patients can go home after a brief observation period.

What is the procedure like?
Most patients feel uncomfortable for 2 or 3 days but can usually return to work after that time provided they don’t do a lot of walking. A pad is worn to absorb any exudate, and antibiotics taken to reduce the chances of an infection in that area. The sutures dissolve and usually don’t need to be taken out. Pain is usually manageable with simple analgesics (Panadeine type). Salt baths help to sooth the area and keep it clean.

How long before I can get back to sex?
This varies between individuals but for most women it is somewhere around a month after the operation if healing is normal.

Does it affect my ability to have children?
Because the incisions don’t go right around the opening of the vagina and the tissues usually heal very well, it is likely that a normal vaginal delivery would not be any different for a woman who has had a labioplasty compared to any other woman.

Are there visible scars?
For most people the scars are virtually invisible and cannot be seen after a few months of healing and remodelling of the tissues in the area.

Is there a Medicare rebate?
For a few women there may be a Medicare rebate applicable; this can be determined during your consultation with Dr Topchian.

Will I need to ne examined on the day of consultation?
For the surgeon to perform an operation on you he will need to examine you to make sure that you are a suitable candidate and to plan the surgery. This means that if you feel comfortable on the day of consultation you can be examined then; however it can be anytime before final arrangements for the operation day are made.

Are any special blood tests required?
For most healthy women no blood tests are required.

What if I have more questions?
Not all patients are suitable for this procedure, and a consultation is required to assess your suitability, medical history and general health & fitness, and to allow you to discuss the procedure including risks and complications with Dr David Topchian. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second medical opinion.

Consultations can be arranged by appointment by calling the Endless Solutions on (03) 9681 7311 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .