Labia reduction surgery

Why consider a Labioplasty?  |  Labioplasty surgery consultation  |  Labioplasty surgery  |  Recovery period  |  Book Consultation

Why consider a labioplasty?

There are many reasons why women may choose to have labia reduction surgery (labiaplasty).

Some choose to have a labiaplasty because their labia causes discomfort, whether from clothing, during intercourse, whilst playing sport, or their labia may be causing infection and/or irritation.

Others choose to undergo a labiaplasty for cosmetic reasons.

Labiaplasty aims to address such concerns by surgically removing the excess skin of the ‘labia minora’ (inner labia).

Your Initial Consultation

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will discuss with you your specific concernsand your expectations for the surgery. You will need to allow one hour for this appointment.
The surgeon will also discuss the potential risks and limitations of the surgery and will perform an assessment of your labia and the amount of excess skin you have.

You will also be required to provide a full medical history, which will assist the surgeon in understanding how appropriate the procedure might be for you. You will need to disclose all medications you take (including non-prescription medication), whether you are a smoker, your history of mental illness and whether you have a history of blood clots or excessive bleeding.

Your surgeon will also provide a tailored costing of your procedure, and can take you through before and after photos of previous patients to assist you in your decision-making process.
Your initial consultation is also the perfect opportunity to ask your surgeon about any concerns you may have – whether about the procedure itself, the risks involved or what the aftercare process is like.

There is a cost for an initial consultation at our Melbourne clinic, with the potential to receive a portion of this back via Medicare where eligible for rebate, provided you have a referral from your GP.

Preparing for Labiaplasty Surgery

Your surgeon will advise you on how to best prepare for your labiaplasty to ensure you have a safe and comfortable surgical experience.

In the weeks leading up to your surgery, it may be necessary to stop taking certain medication, such as blood thinning agents, the contraceptive pill, Aspirin, Disprin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Certain medications can increase the likelihood of bleeding during surgery, which is why they’re very important to avoid.

Your surgeon may also require you to undergo further diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, to determine your bleeding tendencies and to assess your fitness for the anaesthetic.

It is essential that smoking is stopped at least six weeks before, and six weeks after surgery. Products containing nicotine can also impact the body’s wound healing process and these should also be avoided in the weeks leading up to surgery.

Your surgeon will advise you on medication designed to reduce the risk of thrush which will need to commence prior to surgery.

What are the Risks of a Labiaplasty?

Risks of surgery are uncommon and occur infrequently. Nonetheless, patients need to be informed of the potential risks before they consent to having a labiaplasty.

Complications may include:

• Bleeding
• Problem scarring
• Wound infection

Revisional surgery is required for only a small percentage of patients – around 5 per cent – whose surgery has resulted in redundant skin and/or asymmetry.

Only once you have had all your questions and concerns addressed by the surgeon and understand all the potential risks involved, should you provide consent to the surgery.

After surgery, it’s normal to experience swelling of the soft tissue which can be the cause of some discomfort. However, this will improve over a few months.

How Much Does Labiaplasty Cost?

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will be able to provide you with a cost of your procedure. Every patient’s requirements are unique, which is why costing is provided at a tailored price.

The Australian Medical Board also strongly advises against the advertising of set prices for regulated health services. This is why we do not provide any pricing on our website.

We invite you to contact the clinic before your initial appointment if you’d like to find out more about approximate costs and any applicable Medicare rebates. Please contact us on 03 9088 5000 or via online enquiry, to find out more.

There is a cost for an initial consultation at our Melbourne clinic, with the potential to receive a portion of this back via Medicare where eligible for rebate, provided you have a referral from your GP.

Labioplasty Surgery

Labiaplasty can be performed as day-surgery, under general or local anaesthetic with sedation. The surgeon will make incisions to remove excess skin of the labia. They will be placed so as to be concealed by the inner aspect of the labia majora.

The surgeon will use dissolving stitches to close the skin, so they do not need to be removed at a later date. Afterwards, a urinary catheter may be inserted for a short period of time to minimise the risk of urinary retention.

You will need to take preventative medication to reduce the risk of wound infection and vaginal thrush caused by the antibiotics to optimise the wound healing process.

Post-surgical Recovery

It is important that access to medical attention is available by telephone once you have been discharged. Issues about which your surgeon needs to be made aware urgently include pain uncontrolled by medication, bleeding to the extent that the dressings soak through with blood, temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, redness of the skin or any concerns related to the surgery.

Following your surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room and then discharged once you have fully recovered from the anaesthetic.

You’ll be given appropriate pain medication and antibiotics to control your discomfort and minimise the risk of infection.

You should report any severe pain, high temperature and abnormal bleeding to your doctor immediately.

To assist in managing your pain and to encourage healthy wound healing, you should avoid sitting down for longer than 15 minutes. You might also find that a haemorrhoid surgical cushion can help relieve some pain and discomfort when sitting.

To reduce the risk of infection following every bowel movement, it’s recommended to sit in a salt bath for ten minutes and shower thereafter.

You will see your surgeon for a series of post-operative visits, during which they will assess how your wounds are healing. Generally, wounds will heal within two to three weeks after surgery.

You can begin walking for exercise three weeks after surgery and resume running and normal exercise at six weeks. You can expect to return to work after two to three weeks, and resume intercourse after approximately a month after surgery.

It’s normal to experience swelling and bruising after the surgery, which generally subside approximately five to 10 days after surgery. It’s important to note that you may not be able to see the final result of your labiaplasty until a few months after your procedure, when all the soft tissue swelling has gone down.

Second Opinion

Mr Patrick Tansley MD FRCS (Plast) and Dr Sugitha Seneviratne FRACS (Plast) provide second opinion to patients seeking to address previous cosmetic plastic surgery problems and revisions for already ‘botched’ surgery. If you would like a second opinion on previously undertaken surgery, book a consultation to discuss this with one or both of our surgeons.