The “Ins” and “Outs” of Labiaplasty and Vaginoplasty

On this site, we frequently discuss both labiaplasty and vaginoplasty. We’ve also explained each procedure in detailed manners. But let’s examine in detail just how labiaplasty and vaginoplasty are alike–and more importantly, how they are different. To understand the two better, just think of what you can and cannot see.

This is important because:

1) Labiaplasty is concerned with what’s visible. For instance, the vulva is what you see in the pelvic area of a female. It includes the labia minora, labia majora, the clitoris and the perineum (the space between the anus and vaginal opening). You might even consider the inner thighs, anal area and fat pad over the pubic bone as parts of the vulva because they’re visible. Labia surgery is done on these areas. It involves surgical reduction, trimming or resulting of the woman’s inner smaller lips. Sometimes, it also refers to the surgical reduction of the larger outer lips’ saggy skin. These inner and outer lips together are known as the labia (the root for the word “labiaplasty”).

This is the area where labiaplasty surgery is done. Specifically, labiaplasty usually involves the surgical trimming, reduction, or re-sculpting of the inner smaller lips. However, it can also refer to the surgical procedure to reduce the saggy skin of the larger outer lips. Together, the inner and outer lips are called the labia, hence labiaplasty. One more thing, if you have a flap of excess skin on the sides of your clitoris that is large and floppy, pulls, or is constantly irritated then a clitoral hood reduction (also called prepuce reduction) is often done as part of the labiaplasty surgery.

2) Vaginoplasty is concerned with what’s invisible (or not seen). By invisible in this context, we mean that you cannot see it because it’s inside of the woman’s vagina. This area is stretched well beyond its regular size when a woman gives birth to a child. Even if the woman has a Cesarean Section, this space is often stretched. As a result, the vaginal walls become saggy and loose inside.

With a vaginoplasty, the surgeon tightens the inside of the woman’s vagina to make its size narrower by suturing the inner deep tissues together and by trimming some inner vaginal skin.

There is one other procedure that you should know about, which is related to labiaplasty and vaginoplasty. It’s called a perineoplasty. This is a surgical repair of those tissues between the anus and vagina which have been torn or damaged in childbirth. Or in other words, it repairs the area of the vaginal opening.

Perineoplasty is done under general anesthesia and involves an incision being made at the vaginal opening. The surgeon then brings the tissues back together, stitching them in place with dissolvable threads which last for about four to six weeks. Al of this can be summed up thusly: understanding the difference between labiaplasty and vaginoplasty is as simple as understanding the “ins” and “outs” of both procedures. If it’s in the vagina, it’s vaginoplasty; if it’s outside, it’s labiaplasty.