When discussing labiaplasty, we focus on the procedure itself–and rightly so. But nearly as important is the “before and after” the procedure. Let’s consider that for a moment.
To review, labiaplasty is a plastic-surgery procedure which reshapes and / or reduces the woman’s labia minora. This is the skin surrounding her vaginal opening. For most women, the labia minora are visible only when her legs are separated.
So why do some women have labiaplasty done? It starts in the “before” zone. Because they are oversized, the labia minora are visible on some women even if the legs are not separated. This makes many women self-conscious and embarrassed. It can even cause them to become distant in some relationships.
Enlarged labia are sometimes seen in tight pants. Even worse, this condition can cause physical discomfort, especially during intercourse or some exercises. While enlarged labia usually are congenital, they can also be increased by childbirth or hormonal changes.
These are the “before” conditions that lead a patient to undergo a labiaplasty procedure. And indeed, most plastic surgeons can provide you “before” photos that will show why previous patients also decided to have the labiaplasty procedure done.
He/she will also have “after” photos, usually of the same patient. The woman who has had a successful labiaplasty procedure will have such an improvement in her appearance that there will be little difference between her and the woman who never needed any reduction of an oversized labia minora in the first place. After the labiaplasty procedure patient’s labia minora will generally not be seen as she stands or wears tight clothing. The size of the labia will appear “normal” for her age.
Another result for the “after” procedure patient will be increased self confidence. Because she no longer has to worry about the labia minora being prominent and very visible, she can feel more comfortable about interacting with people even intimately. In her daily routine the patient after the labiaplasty procedure can engage in rigorous physical activity without discomfort.
In the period immediately following labiaplasty, the patient should allow herself time to fully recover before she can resume normal life activity. This generally means two or three days before going back to work and about 6 to 8 weeks before returning to her previous sexual lifestyle. In the intervening weeks, she should rest a lot and keep her post-op visits with her surgeon.
These steps will ensure that the “after-labiaplasty” patient will be much more attractive, confident and comfortable, than the “before-labiaplasty” one was.
