Labia Puffing: What You Need to Know

This two-step, in-office procedure typically takes under an hour.

• First, you’ll be given a local anesthetic to numb the labia majora and the area where your surgeon plans to harvest excess fat (often the abdomen or flanks). You may also be given an oral sedative.
• Once you’re numb and relaxed, your surgeon will remove the excess fat via liposuction, using a cannula (a thin tube) to suction it out.
• The fat will be processed and purified.
• Finally, they will inject the purified fat into your labia to create the desired volume, taking care not to overfill (which can reduce the survival rate of the fat cells).

According to a 2017 report in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, labia majora augmentation with fat transfer has high patient satisfaction and a low complication rate. 

Just be aware that fat injection results can be unpredictable because not all of the transferred fat will survive. Dr. Johnny Franco, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas, explains that “There will be some resorption of the fat (about 30%) initially, but what is still present at three months will be there for years to come.” 

At the three-month mark, you may decide you want to undergo an additional procedure to further increase the volume.

Hyaluronic acid–based fillers, like Juvéderm and Restylane, can temporarily plump the labia majora. A 2016 study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal showed that hyaluronic acid (HA) injections resulted in significant labia rejuvenation in women, with no reported complications. 

This treatment starts with a local anesthesia injections or numbing cream, to minimize pain. Labia injections can be more painful than facial fillers because the area is so sensitive, so it’s important to make sure the area is sufficiently numb before your procedure starts. 

Next, your provider will then inject the hyaluronic acid into the outer labia, which takes about 20 minutes. 

HA filler results can last 4–12 months, depending on the type that’s used and how your body metabolizes it. After that, you’ll need maintenance treatments.

Some physicians prefer to plump the labia majora with Sculptra, a poly-L-lactic acid filler that stimulates collagen growth over time, to increase padding and improve tissue elasticity. With Sculptra, an initial series of two to three monthly treatments is needed. Results can last up to two years.

Pros

• This labia rejuvenation procedure can improve the appearance of the labia, increase your comfort during high-impact activities, and boost self-confidence.
• Labia puff reviews show high patient satisfaction: RealSelf members give it a 89% Worth It Rating.
• Results of labial puffing via fat transfer can last years and even decades, subsiding only with age.
• Hyaluronic acid filler results are reversible, if you don’t like them or have a complication.

Cons

• Dermal fillers are not yet FDA-approved for labia augmentation, so this is considered an “off-label” use.
• Some RealSelf reviews report an unexpected level of pain and ongoing discomfort after labia puffing.
• With Sculptra injections and fat transfer, you’ll have to wait three months or longer to see your final results
• There is a lack of published studies or standardized protocols for labia majora augmentation. In 2022, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists noted that “women should be informed about the lack of high-quality data that support the effectiveness of genital cosmetic surgical procedures and counseled about their potential complications.”

The labia puffing photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Whether your procedure involves dermal fillers or a fat transfer, you can expect to have swelling, bruising, and a dull ache for the first few days afterward. 

Most patients can walk around fine, but you’ll probably be more comfortable if you take over-the-counter pain medications for up to a week, especially if you’ve had a fat transfer (which also involves soreness in the area where the lipo was performed).

Avoid sexual activity for a week after your procedure, to let your body heal and the fillers or fat to settle. Some providers also recommend avoiding high-impact exercise for up to six weeks after fat transfer, to reduce the risk of fat cell death.

Once the swelling goes down, you’ll see your final result.