Labiaplasty in Santa Barbara, CA

Having uneven or overly large labia can create discomfort and self-consciousness. Labiaplasty, or the surgical treatment of the inner labia, can reduce the size of the labia or correct asymmetries, leaving you feeling more confident and more comfortable during activities that may have caused chafing or irritation in the past.

Through a labiaplasty designed specifically for your body, Dr. Yegiyants can enhance the appearance and comfort of your labia tissue.

Deciding If Labiaplasty Is Right for You

Labiaplasty refers to a surgical procedure to correct the size or shape of the inner labia, or labia minora. Women with large or uneven labia may have many reasons for wanting to undergo labiaplasty. From a cosmetic standpoint, you might desire smaller labia that are symmetrical and don’t hang below the outer labia.

If you have inner labia that extend beyond the outer labia, you may experience chafing or twisting of the labia during certain physical activities. Larger inner labia are also more prone to dryness and itching, and they may cause discomfort during sexual intercourse. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may choose to have the size of your labia reduced through labiaplasty. While there are other treatments and procedures that can enhance and rejuvenate your vagina, there is not a non-surgical alternative to reshape your labia. Most patients tolerate labiaplasty quite well, and it can even be performed in the office under local anesthesia.

What Will My Consultation Be Like?

In our boutique practice, you will meet with Dr. Yegiyants personally when you come in for your consultation. Upon physical examination, she can determine if you are a candidate for labiaplasty based on your health and the size and shape of your labia.

All procedures are fully customized to each patient. If you have pictures that demonstrate the look that you want for yourself, it can be helpful to bring these to your consultation to share with Dr. Yegiyants. During your consultation, she will extensively review your medical records and history, and discuss your ultimate goals for the surgery.

Dr. Yegiyants has advanced training in arts and aesthetics, and she will draw upon this background to study the natural shape of your inner and outer labia and make recommendations for your procedures. She will also take the time necessary to make sure she fully understands what you want for yourself and that you know what to expect throughout the process.

How Is a Labiaplasty Performed?

There are two different approaches to labiaplasty. The trim method removes and reshapes the outer edge(s) of the labia. Sutures are placed once the extra tissue is removed. This is the most common approach to labiaplasty and it allows your surgeon to create a beautiful, smooth edge to the newly sized inner labia. It also has a generally reduced healing time compared to the wedge method.

The wedge method removes a small wedge of tissue from the inner labia, preserving the natural outer edge. The sutures are then placed where the tissue was removed, somewhat inwards from the outer edge. This approach is less common, as most patients opt for outer edge re-shaping when having the procedure.

What Other Vaginal Procedures Can Be Performed?

In addition to labiaplasty, you may choose to have other procedures performed to improve vaginal appearance and sensation. For instance, some women have excess tissue over their clitoris. This tissue can be minimized to enhance sensation during intercourse and overall appearance using a clitoral hood reduction procedure. Other women have excess fat deposits over their pubic area that creates a bit of a bulge. During a mons pubis reduction, this tissue can be streamlined to improve the overall aesthetic of the pelvic region. Additionally, a vaginoplasty can be performed to tighten vaginal muscles that have stretched through aging or childbirth. This is usually only performed once the patient is done having children.

What Can I Expect During Recovery and Beyond?

You will have stitches in place where the labial tissue was removed; these are usually absorbable sutures that will fall out on their own. It is common to experience some pain and swelling for the first few days while the labia heals, and icing is recommended to enhance comfort and reduce swelling. Dr. Yegiyants will also prescribe pain medication to further enhance your comfort after the procedure. Patients generally take a few days to a week off of work to give themselves time to rest and care for their body while it heals.

Most patients return to work in a week or so, once they are able to move around without pain. Though immediate changes will be visible, it may take several weeks for all swelling to subside and healing to be complete. You will be able to resume normal activities, including the use of tampons and sexual intercourse, within one to two months.

Labiaplasty