22 female self-conscious about labia - is it worth going through all the pain and recovery? (photos)

Your labia minora and clitoral hood are very enlarged. A labiaplasty with a clitoral hood reduction can reduce your size. However, it must be performed by a surgeon with experience. One of the two most common labiaplasty techniques is the central wedge technique, which I invented in 1995 and published in the plastic surgery textbooks. It is also known as the "V" or wedge technique. Gynecologists and most plastic surgeons perform a labioplasty very differently. They essentially trim the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) and leave a long suture line instead of the normal labial edge. Their technique is the same whether a scalpel or a laser is used. This often causes asymmetry, scallops, and a wide suture line. In contrast, the central wedge removes triangles of tissue and bring the normal edges together. Thus, the normal labial edges, normal color, and normal anatomy are preserved, but the darkest labial tissue is usually removed.

Since you have extra tissue on your clitoral hood, it can 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. No matter the technique, an inexperienced or unskilled surgeon can lead to a high rate of complications, chronic scar discomfort, labial deformities, and further surgery. About 40% of my labia cases are reconstructions of other surgeons' labiaplasties.

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

Anytime we are self-conscious of something we have two choices. One is to accept and move on, and the other of course is to make a change. In the case of plastic surgery and specifically, Labiaplasty, that change can be made safely and really with minimal pain. Most of my patients report discomfort only the first evening after Labiaplasty. The procedure can be done under local anesthetic with a very delicate touch, and the healing process is very quick. Just like when you bite your cheek or your tongue or burn the inside of your mouth, it can be painful and uncomfortable, but that pain subsides quickly. The labia and the inside of the mouth have a very similar biology which means rapid healing in both areas. Along those lines, there is really no scarring inside the mouth and similarly no scarring that is appreciable or visible with a Labiaplasty.

The full recovery takes about three weeks and after three days most ladies can go back to work and usual activities!

All shapes and sizes of labia are normal. However, if you feel that you have excess labial tissue, have problems wearing clothes like swim suits where the excess tissue shows through or have associated discomfort of the excess tissue getting caught in your underwear or during intercourse, then a labiaplasty to remove the excess tissue can help. Your excess labia minora tissue can be addressed with a labiaplasty procedure under local anaesthetic as a day case procedure.

For optimal outcome, please consult a fully qualified plastic surgeon, who has specialist qualification in plastic surgery 'FRCS Plast' after having being trained adequately in the field of plastic surgery, is registered on the 'Specialist register for Plastic surgery' with the General Medical Council and has been considered competent enough to be a member of the 'BAPRAS' (British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) and 'BAAPS' (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) at the least.