Many women consider having a labia reduction, or labiaplasty, in order to find relief from the discomfort experienced because of a common condition that occurs when the labia minora stretches below the labia majora. Often this includes pain or irritation from twisting, itching, or the overall irritation of the labia during daily or routine activities, like exercise or intercourse. A simple labia reduction is a very common and effective procedure designed to decrease the length of the labia minora and provide relief from these painful symptoms.
Is a labia reduction right for you? What can you expect from this popular procedure? Check out the following overview of what a labia reduction involves and how pursuing one might put an end to any suffering you’re experiencing.
Looking at Labia Reduction
If you’re considering a labia reduction, you should know that this common procedure is associated with a more than 90% satisfaction rate. Part of this success is, no doubt, due to the fact that the uncomfortable symptoms you’re currently experiencing are often immediately relieved following surgery.
Before the procedure, you will be presented with two anesthesia options, local (by oral sedative) or general. Depending on your specific situation, your doctor will perform one of the two most common types of labiaplasty: a trim or a wedge procedure.
A trim procedure, as the name suggests, simply removes the excess tissue from the labia minora, while a wedge procedure does so in the shape of a pie-shaped wedge. During a wedge procedure, patients can opt to have excess folds from the clitoral hood removed, if that is also a concern. The trim procedure is antiquated and suboptimal. Dr. Sterling has performed hundreds of wedge labiaplasties with excellent aesthetic and functional results.
Recovering from a labia reduction is rather quick. Most patients take a week off from work in order to apply ice packs to the area in the recommended, “20 minutes on, 20 minutes off” pattern. Between 4-6 weeks following the procedure, most patients resume their usual activities, including intercourse and the use of tampons.
If you’re considering a labia reduction, call our office and schedule a consult with Dr. Sterling.
