Labiaplasty (Vaginal Rejuvenation)

Labiaplasty aims to rejuvenate the appearance of the vulva by reducing excess skin, usually of the labia minora. This can be due to ageing, changes during puberty, or congenital. In many women, the labia minora protrude beyond the labia majora or they’re asymmetrical, features that may be cosmetically undesirable. This may also cause functional issues, such as discomfort with certain clothes or intercourse, and potentially hygiene issues. Whatever the reason, labiaplasty has become an increasingly common procedure among plastic surgeons in the last 10-15 years. Dr. McInnes understands the highly sensitive nature of these consultations, and the courage it can take for some women to have their concerns assessed.

Candidates:

• Patients without complex medical conditions that would increase the risks of surgery
• Non-smokers (must be willing to stop smoking before surgery)

Consultation:

• Dr. McInnes will discuss your specific concerns with respect to labiaplasty. He will discuss what the surgery entails, the risks of surgery, and perform a physical examination with a female chaperone present.

Procedure Details:

Dr. McInnes usually performs labiaplasty under general anesthetic. Your labia minor will be specifically marked to keep sufficient blood supply to the labial tissue that will be retained. Long-acting local anesthetic will be applied to keep you comfortable in the immediate post-operative period. The excess tissue will be removed with a fine-tipped cautery device to minimize any bleeding. After this is done, the remaining skin will be carefully sutured with dissolving sutures so they do not need to be removed afterwards.

Recovery:

Following your surgery, Polysporin will be applied to your incision. You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site, medications to take orally, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up with Dr. McInnes. Unless combined with another large procedure (eg. mommy makeover) labiaplasty is usually day surgery, meaning patients will go home afterwards, once they are comfortable and settled a couple of hours after surgery. Post-operative pain is minimal and is controlled with oral analgesics. After surgery, you will likely notice some expected swelling and bruising. Patients should avoid tight fitting underwear, and must abstain from sexual activity and tampon use for 4-6 weeks. Patients may wish to wear a female sanitary pad for a few days to keep the Polysporin ointment from getting on their underwear.

Results & Expected Outcome:

The sutures from your labiaplasty will slough off after 2-4 weeks. You will have a follow up with Dr. McInnes during that time, and he is available if you have any concerns before then. The results of your labiaplasty will be notable immediately following surgery, although swelling will likely take several weeks to fully subsite.

Risks of surgery

While complications are uncommon, these may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Incision healing issues
• Asymmetry, over or under-correction
• Scar sensitivity

Labiaplasty questions: