Labial Surgery

Labiaplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can provide relief from a variety of conditions:

• Irritation, rubbing, or chafing of the labial skin during sexual activity and exercise.
• Discomfort with the appearance of the labia, making the patients feel uncomfortable showing that part of their body to their partner, impacting sexual relationships.
• Discomfort and pain during exercise, such as running or biking.
• Self-consciousness about showing excessive labial tissue through tight clothing or swimwear.
• Needing to “tuck in” the labia into undergarments.
• Asymmetry of the labia.

You really have to be careful about who you choose to perform surgery on your most sensitive parts. Generally speaking, urologists, gynecologists, urogynecologists and plastic surgeons are the physicians that are most familiar with the anatomy and the techniques used in cosmetic gynecology. But even amongst this group of physicians, you want to make sure you are going to somebody that has a lot of experience doing these procedures.

You may not know this, but ANY physician who has a medical license in ANY specialty can advertise themselves as a cosmetic surgeon. There is no specific training that needs to be done in order to advertise oneself a cosmetic surgeon. That means a facial plastic surgeon, a family practice physician, or an orthopedic surgeon can all claim that they perform cosmetic vaginal surgery.

During your consultation you should ask the physician about specific training they’ve had for performing vaginal surgery, what credentials they have for performing vaginal and vulvar surgery, the number of cases they’ve done, how long they have been performing vaginal and vulvar surgery, and ask to see their before and after photos. Also, ask how they would deal with complications, such as clitoral, bladder and rectal injury, etc.

Don’t trust your vagina and vulva to just anybody. Don’t let the person who mainly does facelifts and rhinoplasties get near your clitoris, ladies! The scary part is that outside of the trusted specialties listed above, these other folks don’t know what they don’t know, and that could be very dangerous for you!

There is no one-size-fits-all procedure for labiaplasty. Dr. Taghechian is proficient in several techniques, and the best-suited labiaplasty technique is chosen for each patient based on their individual needs and anatomy.

Labiaplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that is performed in the office, under local anesthesia and relaxing medication. Dr. Taghechian will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. Most patients actually fall asleep for the majority of the procedure. All sutures are dissolvable and will be absorbed in 4-6 weeks.

Cost varies for each individual patient dependent upon the scope of work, but the procedure can run anywhere between $3500 and $6800.

• Discontinue all supplements 2 weeks prior to your procedure to decrease any risk of bleeding.
• Stop all NSAIDS and blood thinners (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, etc.) 7 days prior to your surgery.
• No smoking (of any substance, including vaping) 4-6 weeks prior to surgery to ensure that your tissue heals. There is increased risk of wound breakdown if you do not stop smoking.
• Remove all pubic hair 3-5 days prior to surgery.
• Shower at home prior to surgery. Do not apply any lotion.
• Wear dark, loose-fitting clothing and slip-on shoes.
  Bring towels/Chux to sit on in the car on the way home.

• Arrive one hour prior to your procedure start time.
• We will have you take your pre-operative medications once you arrive (sedatives and antibiotics).
• Pre-operative “before labiaplasty” photos will be taken just prior to your surgery.
• You are welcome to bring music/headphones/something to watch on your smartphone to keep you comfortable and relaxed.
• You will be given relaxing medication to keep you comfortable during your labiaplasty.
• Local anesthesia will be used to thoroughly numb the labia.
  A simple labiaplasty make take around 2 hours to perform. Most of the patients are comfortably sleeping during the procedure.

Learn more about preparing for your labiaplasty

• You will need a driver to take you home. This has to be a friend or family member. You are not allowed to take a Taxi/Uber/Lyft/public transportation home.
• There will be minimal pain after a labiaplasty. Most patients take pain medication for the first day, and then find they don’t need any more than that.
• You may take Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed following your labiaplasty.
• Make sure you have stool softeners on hand
• If your labiaplasty procedure is NOT combined with any fat transfer procedure, then you are instructed to ice the area for the first week. 10-20 minutes of ice on the area, followed by 10-20 minutes of rest.
• No direct sitting/pressure on the labia. It is preferable to lounge or lay on your side for the first week.
• You should be able to return to work after 3-4 days. A donut pillow to sit on is suggested if you have a desk job.
• Do not directly touch area of labiaplasty surgery in any way. The more you leave the area alone, the better it will heal.
• You are allowed to shower only. No baths or immersing in water for 4-6 weeks. Let the soap and water run over the area, but do not scrub or use your hands/fingers/any other tool to clean the area.
• We will provide you with a peri-bottle when you leave. This can be filled with warm water which you can gently splash to clean genitals after trips to the bathroom. Pat area dry with toilet paper.
• There will be a large amount of swelling after a labiaplasty which may last up to 6 weeks. This is NORMAL and there is no reason to worry that something is wrong.
• Intense itching may occur around 2 weeks after labiaplasty. Can use Dermoplast spray to reduce the sensation.
• No heavy lifting, strenuous activity, straining, or sexual activity for 4-6 weeks.
• We will see you one week post-operatively to make sure everything is on track. Do not resume sexual activity, wax/shave the area until cleared by Dr. Taghechian (usually at 4-6 weeks).
• We will plan on seeing you again four weeks post-operatively to check on your labiaplasty outcomes. We will plan on taking “after labiaplasty” photos during this visit.

Learn more about recovery after your labiaplasty