Is skin rippling or wrinkling avoidable in a labia majora reduction, or is this always a risk in this surgery?

Question

I've been wanting a labia majora reduction for about 5 years now due to insecurity and discomfort. The procedure seems to just now be becoming more popular.. I really want to get it done but I'm worried for some of the aesthetic complications I've seen.. a type of "pulling effect" that still makes the area look wrinkly? Is this avoidable? What causes this? Is this always a risk with this surgery?

Christine Rodgers, MD · Answer

HI Rocket.

No, wrinkly after a labia Majora surgery is not always a risk. It depends on how large the labia majora are, how much skin you start with , your age and the general skin tone an elasticity of the structure.

Your surgeon would not want to excise too much because you might then have  result that would pull on the labia minora. You also could have bad scarring on the labia majora if the closure is too tight,

Please visit with a surgeon in your area who specializes in these procedures and get several opinions.

Hope this helps a bit.

Best,

Dr. Christine Rodgers

Gary J. Alter, MD · Answer

Many women with sagging or wrinkling of the majora have stretching of skin and often fat loss. If the skin only is saggy due to fat loss, then only fat can be injected. However, over-injection can cause a large bulge in the genitalia, which can be unsightly. If skin is excessive and fat is diminished, then skin can be excised and  fat injected at the same time. If you only have slight wrinkling, then a laser can tighten the skin. ​If your labia majora skin and fat are excessive, then skin and probably fat can be excised to make them smaller and less protruding. The skin excision technique I pioneered leaves a scar on the inside of the majora in the concavity between the majora and the minor and clitoral hood.  I have published and lectured extensively on this procedure in textbooks and throughout the world.  Many physicians are not comfortable or trained in this procedure resulting in poorly placed scars, asymmetry, and poor results. You need to have the surgeon show photos of his past patients.

Dr. Gary Alter

Beverly Hills, CA - Manhattan, NY

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

It depends. First, you need to show me what your labia look like. Some skin has a tendency to wrinkle and some doesn't. Share some photos to get started. Bad surgery will always wrinkle skin, but good surgery won't always prevent wrinkles if it's the wrong kind of skin. Your best next step should be a virtual consult with an expert.

Michelle Jones Singer, MD · Answer

The labia majora and the labia minora have wrinkles naturally. I would like to see photographs to address the concerns you have about the "pulling effect".

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

In general, because the labia majora skin develops from the same fetal tissue as the scrotal skin, it naturally has a wrinkly type surface. That being said, I’m not sure what before and after photos you’re looking at or how soon after surgery they are, but in general the surgery is very successful and can often be done with a relatively seamless and imperceptible scar when performed by an experienced labiaplasty specialist.

Is skin rippling or wrinkling avoidable in a labia majora reduction, or is this always a risk in this surgery?

Answers (7)

Answer: Labia majora

Answer: Labia majora

Answer: “Wrinkly” appearance after labia majora reduction?

Answer: “Wrinkly” appearance after labia majora reduction?

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Everything you need to know about Labia Majora Reduction

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Is skin rippling or wrinkling avoidable in a labia majora reduction, or is this always a risk in this surgery?

Answers (7)

Answer: Labia majora

Answer: Labia majora

Answer: “Wrinkly” appearance after labia majora reduction?

Answer: “Wrinkly” appearance after labia majora reduction?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Labia Majora Reduction

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