Labiaplasty (sometimes spelled labioplasty) is a plastic surgery procedure involving the labia, any of four folds of tissue of the vulva (female external genitalia).
As with other procedures, like plastic surgery of the nose (rhinoplasty), labiaplasty may be undertaken for functional reasons, aesthetic reasons, or a combination of the two. The procedure can involve creation or reshaping of the labia. Labiaplasty is sometimes performed to revise conditions such as large inner labia, as well as to repair the area following disease or injury, especially from childbirth. A hoodectomy may be performed to expose the clitoris in order to address sexual dysfunction such as clitoral phimosis or lack of orgasm.
The procedure is frequently performed to reduce the size of one or both sets of labia.
Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure usually performed under local anesthesia. After surgery, women may experience some mild discomfort and swelling, which usually disappears completely after 1-2 weeks.
Controversy
Labiaplasty evokes strong emotional responses (both pro and con) far more often than more common procedures like rhinoplasty. There is considerable controversy regarding surgery on some patients, notably women who are worried that their labia are not “normal.” Many feminists feel that desire for the procedure is driven by media images of “ideal” genitalia, especially those deemed ideal in the pornography industry. Some have likened the procedure to other forms of genital modification and mutilation.
Transsexual Labiaplasty
In the case of transsexual women, labiaplasty is frequently the second part of a two-stage vaginoplasty, where labia and a clitoral hood are created. This is often performed a few months after the first part of the procedure. In some cases, labiaplasty is an elective procedure to improve appearance after a one-stage vaginoplasty.
External links
- http://www.labiaplastysurgeon.com/
- http://www.labiaplasty.org/ (Female surgeon specializing in labiaplasty.)
- More Women Seek Vaginal Plastic Surgery 11/14/04
- Labiaplasty resources for transsexual women
- http://www.geocities.com/hoodectomy/ (Includes index of surgeons)
- Reduction Labiaplasty
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