Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

Question

I had a trim labiaplasty and hoodectomy 1 yr ago which left me with scalloped edges and an unbalanced hood/labia. My surgeon gave me a free revision using cauterising. I am 3 weeks into healing from my revision and I can already tell I will need further work. My hood is still protuberant, there are multiple lumps around my frenulum, and the labia edges that I'd asked my surgeon to smooth out are now worse. I know I need to wait, but what are my options? Will I need full reconstruction? Thank you

Gary J. Alter, MD · Answer

As the inventor and innovator of the wedge technique in 1994, I reconstruct many women who have had labia reductions by other surgeons, both wedge and trimming techniques. The reconstruction technique depends on the deformity. However, no attempt to revise your labia should be done until you are at least five months after your past procedure as your appearance will improve, and the swelling will be less. You need to control your anxiety and wait. The reconstruction is more difficult than a primary labiaplasty and should be done by a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in labia reconstruction. I published the first and most extensive paper on labia reconstruction in the prestigious journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" over ten years ago. You will need various reconstructive techniques to give you a good appearance, but this won't be known until all the swelling is gone. I may use multiple wedge excisions to reduce your labia, eliminate many of your scallops, and improve symmetry.  Alternatively, I may need to reconstruct your labia minora with clitoral hood flaps, which I invented and published in that journal article. In this surgery, I take the tissue on the sides of your clitoral hood and transfer it downward to smooth out your labia minora.  I have done this surgery about 80 times with excellent results. The surgery takes about 3+ hours so it is not a simple office procedure. If any surgeon reduces more of your clitoral hood, you will be ineligible for this repair.

You clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. Your clitoral hood is thick, wide, and protuberant.  It can be decreased somewhat by reducing the sides.  I pioneered a clitoropexy with clitoral hood reduction in which the clitoris is pushed closer to the pubic bone and the width, thickness, length, and protuberance of the clitoral hood can be drastically decreased. I have done it over 350 times with excellent results.  I have not published this technique, so no one does it like me.

You only get one good chance to reconstruct you, so be patient and ask a lot of questions.

Gary J. Alter, M.D.

Beverly Hills, CA - Manhattan, NYC

Mark N. Scheinberg, MD · Answer

Tank you for your questionYour photos show that the prepuce and hood were not addressed in your surgery. The e scalloping is due to the type of labiaplasty procedure you chose.( see labiaplasty video below). There are two pair of inner labia: lower pair that inserts into the clitoris(where you have the scalloped edges and an upper pair, called prepuce, which forms the hood( the skin immediately above the clitoral glans). this prepuce can enter and even overwhelm the lower pair. This ideally should be addressed prior to treatment of the lower pair. The prepuce appears untouched as is the hood itself. These can be treated to give a "bridge of the nose " appearance to the prepuce and a reverse -V hoodoplasty can be done to let the clitoral glans just peek out from under the hood. The scalloped lower pair can be can be trimmed to give a smoother appearance.You need to do your homework and find someone well trained to do these procedures and look at their before and after photos as well as reviews.

Burcak Tok, MD · Answer

Hello, you should wait eight weeks after the second revision. As a result, if there are still areas you do not like, the scalloped appearance, especially on the inner lips, can be removed. In my opinion, the clitoral hood looks better after the second revision, but the inner lips may need another revision.

Michelle Jones Singer, MD · Answer

A second revision can be done but this must be done by an experienced surgeon that understands and has done many labiaplasties regions. You also will need to wait about 6 months to have any revision done. So do your due diligence to find a surgeon that has done several labiaplasty revisions. I suspect you will have to travel.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  You can seek a revision procedure but it will need to be a subtle reshaping of the tissues for contour and symmetry as you have little remaining excess.  Be sure to seek out a series of specialists to get the best in-person advice.

Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

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Answer: Labiaplasty revision

Answer: Labiaplasty revision

Answer: Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

Answer: Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

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Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Labiaplasty revision

Answer: Labiaplasty revision

Answer: Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

Answer: Labiaplasty and hoodectomy - what are my reconstruction options? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Labiaplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.