Female Genital Aesthetics

Female genitalia includes much more than just the vagina, the muscular canal lined with nerves and mucus membranes that runs from cervix to vulva.

The vulva incorporates the labia majora and minora (the skin folds surrounding the vaginal opening); clitoris (a complex erectile organ that’s mostly internal but has a small visible area, the sensitive clitoral glans, near the top of the vulva); and the urethral opening (which is connected to the bladder).

Related: Why 3 Women Got Vaginal Rejuvenation Post-Breakup

With a surge in popularity of the concept of a “designer vagina,” female genital cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular.

Some women seek out this type of aesthetic surgery in order to reverse changes to the genital area brought on by aging or pregnancy. Others are simply bothered by how their genitals naturally look. Depending on your aesthetic goals, there are quite a few options available for addressing these issues.

	Monsplasty surgical	Labiaplasty surgical	Labia Puffing surgical	Clitoral Hood Reduction surgical	Vaginal Rejuvenation surgical
Worth It Rating	91%	95%	100%	100%	96%
Average Cost	$8250	$5157	Not yet available	$4812	$8320
Downtime	Up to 1 week of downtime	3–7 days of downtime	Varies by procedure	3–5 days of downtime	Varies by treatment
Anesthesia	Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia	Sedation, local or general anesthesia	Varies by procedure	Local anesthesia with oral sedation or general anesthesia

• Monsplasty, also known as a pubic lift, is a cosmetic procedure that tightens the area of fatty tissue between the genitals and pubic bone. Hormonal shifts, weight changes, or aging can cause this area to bulge or sag over time. The procedure begins with your surgeon making a horizontal incision on the lower abdomen. Then underlying muscles are raised and tightened and the hair-bearing pubic skin is pulled up into the new position.  For some women, this procedure is paired with a tummy tuck or pubic liposuction, to improve the body’s contour. The entire procedure takes between one and three hours, and the results are considered permanent. Find a doctor who offers monsplasty
• Labiaplasty is the surgical procedure most commonly performed to address genital cosmetic concerns. This procedure focuses on the external genitalia, removing excess tissue from the inner vaginal lips, otherwise known as the labia minora. In addition to reducing the size of the labia minora, this procedure can also fix symmetry issues. Depending on the technique used (there are several), downtime for a labia minora reduction is about three to five days, with final results settling in at around four months post-op. Like many surgical procedures, there are risks to undergoing a labiaplasty. These risks include skin irregularities (like pigmentation or discoloration along the edge of the labia) and nerve pain. It’s important to note that labiaplasty surgeries are complex and bad results can be difficult to fix, so it’s vital to see an experienced surgeon for your procedure. “A big part of my business is fixing botched labiaplasties,” says Dr. Gary Alter, a plastic surgeon practicing in New York City and Beverly Hills, California.  Related: Botched Labiaplasty Is Common. Doctors Explain Why. In fact, a 2018 study found that while close to 11,000 labiaplasties were performed by members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) in 2017, 66% of those surgeons had performed only 1–10 of these procedures each year. Before you choose your doctor, ask if they’ve performed at least 100 labiaplasties and how they’ve dealt with complications. Find doctors who offer labiaplasty
• Labia augmentation, or labia puffing, changes the appearance of the labia majora—specifically, to fight signs of aging in the area. Loss of elasticity, wrinkling, and reduced volume can all be addressed with this procedure.  The two techniques that are considered best for labia augmentation are fat transfer and injectable fillers, although studies have found fat transfer to be the preferred method among providers. When undergoing fat transfer, the surgeon will start by harvesting excess fat from somewhere else on the body via liposuction. Then they’ll purify it and inject it into the labia. If you choose hyaluronic acid–based fillers, products like Juvéderm or Restylane will be injected into the area, to create a plumper appearance.  Since injections are performed in a sensitive area, discuss pain management with your provider before treatment. Find doctors who offer labia augmentation
• Clitoral hood reduction, also known as hoodectomy, is a surgical procedure that reduces the size or protrusion of the prepuce or the clitoral hood itself, the folds of skin surrounding the clitoris. This is often done in combination with a labiaplasty, to create a more balanced look and to provide more direct access to the clitoris, for sexual stimulation. A clitoral hood reduction is sometimes paired with a clitoropexy (which is a repositioning of the clitoris to allow for a more aggressive clitoral hood reduction). This surgery typically takes only an hour. Find doctors who offer clitoral hood reduction
• Vaginal rejuvenation is a general term that incorporates a variety of procedures. “Vaginal rejuvenation refers to making the inner vagina and feel like it used to,” says Dr. Alter. “It feels tighter during sex and may also treat urinary incontinence—those are the kind of concerns that are addressed during vaginal rejuvenation.” Typically, the procedures that fall under this category include lasers or radiofrequency treatments, to noninvasively reduce vaginal laxity; vaginoplasty, for additional vaginal tightening; and perineoplasty, to repair the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus). Surgical rejuvenation typically creates more dramatic results for patients. Results are considered permanent. However, your body changes over time, so new issues may arise down the road.  Find doctors who offer vaginal rejuvenation