Why is my vagina lips wrinkly? (Photo)

Question

My lips are wrinkly and are really stretchy? What's wrong with them? Do I have too much extra skin ?

Oscar A. Aguirre, MD, FPMRS · Answer

The changes you've noticed with your labia majora are very common, especially as women age. Just as with the rest of your body, the vulvar skin also goes through the aging process which includes loss of skin elasticity and loss of volume. Another culprit is pregnancy where some women's vulvas become very swollen and thus stay stretched throughout their pregnancy.  As a result, after delivery their labia majora look deflated, wrinkly, and older than they did prior to pregnancy.  In your case you appear to have a combination of loss of volume and lax skin. Your least invasive option is Radio Frequency treatments of the labia majora using Pelleve or Thermi. The changes are not permanent though and you'll require ongoing treatments. If this doesn't give you the look you want you could have a Labial Puff procedure where PRP or Fat is injected into this area to "plump" it up. Alternatively, you could have the extra skin removed in the form of a labia majora reduction.  You should consult with an experienced cosmetic vaginal surgeon who can then examine you in person and go over the best options for you since this depends on your age, skin quality, expectations, etc.  Best of luck,

Nikesh K. Patel, MD · Answer

Wrinkles in your vulvo-vaginal tissues are as common as wrinkles anywhere else on the body and changes such as pregnancy, rapid weight loss or gain, or simply aging could cause such wrinkling.   A treatment such as ThermiVa can help to rejuvenate the vulvovaginal area.  ThermiVa is a short (30 minute), noninvasive treatment that uses radio frequency energy to tighten the skin and rebuild collagen.  After a course of three treatments, the collagen that is generating in the area will plump the skin's surface to create a more youthful appearance of the vulvovaginal area.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Women have a wide range of normal color, texture, size and asymmetries of their genitilia. This is true of the Vulva and all of its parts, the same as other parts of the body.

Candidates for #labiaplasty and #vaginal surgery include women concerned about the appearance of their genitals, or those who experience discomfort, pain or difficulty with sexual relations.  Moisture can create problems such as yeast infections.

More specific problems may exist at birth or with growth and development. They can occur with childbirth or other trauma to the region. All of these issues can cause a woman great emotional distress that is often difficult to talk about with their partner, friends and even their doctor. The best thing to do is seek out a local board certified plastic surgeon for consultation in regards to your desired results. Good luck!

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

The fullness of the labia majora is the result of subcutaneous fat. If you lose fat in labia majora, they flatten and wrinkle. Fat injections are the most common solution to this appearance if it bothers you.

Gary J. Alter, MD · Answer

You show a photo that is primarily focused on your outer lips. You appear to have extra skin which can be reduced or filled with fat. Often, stretched out labia majora can be improved by excising some of the extra skin to make it more youthful. Reducing the skin and adding some fat can be done so that the best of both procedures can be done. I have published extensively on labia majora skin excision as I have done hundreds of these procedures.

Gary J. Alter, M.D.Beverly Hills, CA - Manhattan, NY

Gary J. Alter, M.D.Beverly Hills, CA - Manhattan, NY

John Paul Tutela, MD · Answer

Thanks for reaching out.  There is a wide spectrum of appearance of a woman's external genitalia.  There does not appear to be anything wrong with the photo you have posted.  Some woman do have excess skin that can cause discomfort during exercise of intercourse.  Labiaplasty is a technique to reduce the excess skin.  If you are concerned it is best to see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.I hope this helps.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photograph.  There is a wide spectrum in the appearance of a woman's genital anatomy and your vagina is well within normal.  Whether due to fluctuations in weight, age, or hormones the tissues can change subtly over time, including the development of wrinkly or loose skin.  If your current appearance causes you concern, seek out a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to discuss your treatment options.  Hope this helps.

Pedy Ganchi, MD · Answer

Hello

Like any other area, the labial skin can be affected by age, hormones and genetics. It is not unusual to have some "wrinkling" and irregularities of the skin along the labia as you have demonstrated.  Labia majora platsy can help tuck the excess outer labia tissues when they descend excessively when standing. This may improve the wrinkling you have noted somewhat as would fat grafting and fillers if the area appears deflated. A thorough examination would determine your best options.

Regards,

Dr. Pedy Ganchi                                                                                                                                                         Village Plastic Surgery

Ozgur Kartal, MD · Answer

büyük ağzınız altında yağ dokusu az olabilir yada deriniz fazla olabilir. sizi muayene etmeden bunu bilemeyiz.

Cheri A. Ong, MD, FACS · Answer

You seem to have some laxity and loss of volume from the outer labia. This can be improved via non-surgical techniques like ThermiVa or RF devices. Surgical options include labial surgery as well as adding some volume to the area, most commonly fat. Depending on your expectations, an experienced doctor can discuss all these options to you and see what makes most sense for you.