Every woman’s vagina is different, including the tissue that surrounds it. The labia minora and labia majora are the outer tissue folds that protect your vaginal opening. Sometimes, the inner vaginal lips, the labia minora, are larger than the outer ones. This leads to a number of issues, which a surgical procedure called a labiaplasty can address.
Dr. Inga Zilberstein is an expert in gynecology and obstetrics in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, who understands the need for an aesthetic look to your labia minora. She provides several aesthetic vaginal procedures, including labiaplasty, to give you the comfort and look that makes you feel good about your sexual health.
A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of your inner vaginal lips, or labia minora. It’s often performed for aesthetic reasons — a long labia minora may seem unsightly to you and affect your confidence — but it’s also an effective approach to addressing discomfort.
A large labia minora rubs on your clothes, causing irritation when walking and exercising. It also can cause problems during intercourse, including pain and too much friction that results in tears of the tissue, which may lead to infection.
When you’re looking to improve the look or length of your labia, Dr. Zilberstein and her team take special care to ensure the best outcome. This involves discussing your wants and needs before surgery.
Dr. Zilberstein performs the labiaplasty with either a trim procedure or wedge procedure. But what’s the difference between the two?
The trim procedure is the traditional type of labiaplasty that’s widely used and is most natural. Dr. Zilberstein removes the excess skin of the labia minora and sutures it to match up with your labia majora.
The wedge procedure is very different. She removes an area of tissue from the thickest area of your labia minora. This leaves a natural look to the labia and preserves the sensitivity in that area.
Both the wedge procedure and the trim procedure are successful in reducing the size of your labia. There are advantages to both procedures, which Dr. Zilberstein discusses with you to determine which option is best for your needs.
A labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning it doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay. It involves anesthesia, however, so you must arrange for a driver to get you home after your surgery.
Although it’s an outpatient procedure, it still requires significant recovery. Your labia and vaginal area will be sore and irritated for several days to weeks after the surgery. You may need antibiotics to reduce your risk of infection in the area.
To ease discomfort, Dr. Zilberstein advises you to take sitz baths several times to reduce swelling and pain. You also want to make sure to wear loose or baggy clothing while you’re recovering.
You should avoid vaginal sex and tampon use for at least four weeks and up to six weeks post-op because these can damage the area and result in infection and improper wound healing.
The swelling in the area should subside in about six weeks, but it often takes up to six months for a full recovery. During this time, you’ll meet with Dr. Zilberstein to review your results and make sure you’re healing well.
If you want to learn more about how labiaplasty surgery can help you, call today at 646-601-6351 to schedule an appointment with Inga Zilberstein, MD. You can also book a consultation using our online tool.
