Posted on 10th May, 2023 at 2:45:02 AM
In the last few years, labiaplasty – a surgical procedure, has caught the attention of many women all across the world. It is also known as vaginal rejuvenation and female genital cosmetic surgery. This surgical procedure focuses on the labia minora which is the inner lips and the labia majora which is the outer lips. The surgeons mostly work on labia minora to give it a tucked-in appearance just so that they don’t hang below the labia major.
What happens in Labiaplasty?
This procedure involves reducing the length of the inner labia by cutting and removing the excess tissue present there. There are cases wherein the surgeons work on one side of the inner labia to reduce the asymmetry. Some surgeons have also worked on reducing the extra folds of the clitoral hood.
Why do people get Labiaplasty done?
There are various cases of labiaplasty, and every woman has a different reason to get it done. There are women who get the procedure done as their inner labia are longer than their outer labia or vice-versa. Then there are instances where they are shaped differently, and the clitoris is visible and asymmetrical.
Is it necessary to get Labiaplasty done?
According to a doctor, labiaplasty has become popular amongst women due the cultural and societal pressure. Some women have got labiaplasty done as they think that smaller or shorter labia minora is more desirable than what they originally had. In some way, it can also be pointed towards porn for making women choose this procedure, as they see the women and think that a certain type of labia minora is desirable.
However, it is medically advised to get this surgery done when the labia get sucked or tucked in the woman’s vagina during intercourse. If the woman does not get it operated on, it might lead to painful tears in the vulva skin and cause extreme pain and discomfort.
There are some doctors who recommend this operation to dancers, sportswomen, or women with sore labia due to chafing.
What is the recovery period after the surgery?
Usually, doctors advise the patients to take at least a week off from their work after getting operated on. The patients are asked to wear loose clothing as that would provide comfort and reduce the chances of friction.
Women who use tampons are told to abstain from them and use pads. Along with that, the patients are not allowed to have sex for at least 4 to 6 weeks as it might lead to tearing and discomfort.
The patients are usually supposed to have a couple of follow-ups with their doctor in order to check for side effects and how the healing process is taking place.
Given below are some risks which come along with the procedure –
Decreased vulvar sensitivity – there are some cases wherein going under the knife resulted in them not feeling as natural as before. As the original and natural labia are being modified with external resources, the anatomy of the area is also modified with excessive tissues being removed. This might result in decreased vulvar sensitivity.
Swelling and bruising after surgery – this is not a permanent side effect, rather is a temporary side effect of the procedure. The swelling after the surgery can be at its peak for a couple of days and might take at least up to 3 weeks for it to subside. The bruising which occurs after the surgery takes a couple of days to subside, but the patient should contact their doctor if it continues.
Temporary numbness – just as the name suggests, this side effect is a temporary effect. This usually happens as the sensory nerves of the area which was operated on were numbed with an external source and it might take a couple of days to weeks for it to become normal. Just after the period of numbness, the patient feels a sensation similar to pins and needles which again are quite common after the surgery.
Asymmetry – this operation is sometimes opted by women to remove the asymmetry from their labia minora. However, there might be a few cases where due to the surgery, some other areas may differ, but just so slightly. This is considered to be normal.
Bleeding – bleeding during the surgery and after the surgery is very rare. The patients are often advised not to exercise or indulge in any activity which might put a strain on or stretch the vulvar area.
Scarring – a risk with every surgery will also be there with labiaplasty. There can be some scarring in the operated area, which over time may also fade away.
Tearing – there can be some tearing in the operated area if the patient plans on vaginal birth in the future. Patients are usually asked whether they plan on delivering children in the future or not.
