What Exactly Is A Designer Vagina? What To Know About Labiaplasty

Celebrities in recent years have taught us that the vulva and vagina aren't off-limits to cosmetic procedures. The Kardashian sisters' candor regarding their laser vaginal rejuvenation and Sharon Osborne's discussion of her vaginal tightening procedure both show how commonplace under-the-belt beauty procedures have become. The trend is also becoming more popular among non-celebrities. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there was a 53% increase in labiaplasty procedures from 2013 to 2018 in the U.S. Labiaplasty, also known as "designer vagina" surgery, involves changing the labia.

According to Juliana Hansen, MD, professor of surgery and division chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, this growing trend may be the result of increased awareness of and discussion about vaginal health. According to Dr. Hansen, procedures and options for female genitalia care were nonexistent for many generations because vaginal health was taboo

• Between 2013 and 2018, the U.S. saw a 53 percent increase in labiaplasty procedures.

Regardless of the precise cause of the trend, vaginal health and cosmetic procedures performed on or near the vagina are receiving more attention than ever. Here, you'll find all the information you need on labiaplasty and other popular vaginal cosmetic procedures.

Let Describe labiaplasty.

Although labiaplasty is primarily an aesthetic procedure, it may also serve other purposes (more on the reasons women have it done below). Dr. Hansen explains that while the surgery typically affects the labia minora, or the inner lips of the vagina, it may also be customized to affect the labia majora, or the outer lips. In essence, the plastic surgeon shortens the labia to remove extra tissue that may bother the patient for aesthetic or functional reasons, such as when it interferes with sex or exercise.

According to Dr. Hansen, a vaginoplasty, a surgical procedure for tightening the vagina, is distinct from a labiaplasty. According to her, some patients may need this procedure due to pelvic-floor problems like incontinence that have developed after multiple pregnancies. But it's also frequently done to aid in tightening the vagina for pleasure-related reasons. However, according to Dr. Hansen, "there is not a lot of evidence that [vaginoplasty] procedures work well" and "there may be potential for harm and chronic pain."

• Labiaplasty involves trimming the labia in order to remove any extra tissue that the patient may find bothersome for either cosmetic or practical reasons.
• Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedures are also available; they fit the "designer vagina" trend but differ greatly from labiaplasty. These include LED light treatments that purportedly stimulate the vagina to produce more tissue and lasers to stimulate the mucosa, or inner lining, of the vagina, according to Dr. Hansen. She does, however, caution that the majority of these remedies are not FDA-approved or supported by scientific evidence to increase vaginal tightness or decrease dryness.

Labiaplasty and vaginal rejuvenation surgeries are typically completely distinct from surgeries for transgender women. For a male-to-female transgender patient, gender confirmation surgeries frequently involve creating a vulva; however, the new vulva typically needs to be dilated and stretched to function properly, according to Dr. Hansen—exactly the opposite of many of these tightening vaginoplasty or labiaplasty procedures.

Why might someone choose to have a labiaplasty?

There are a few justifications for having a labiaplasty procedure, but most of them are more aesthetic than medical:

Unhappy with the way the labia look: The main factor that causes women to have labiaplasty is this. Particularly during sex, they may feel embarrassed or insecure about how their labia appear. The labia minora hang lower in many women, which is completely normal! However, this does not correspond to the very limited beauty standards that women see in the media, according to Dr. Hansen.

Long labia can be uncomfortable for some people. For some patients, having larger or longer labia can actually lead to functional issues. This may involve discomfort while biking, donning underwear or a thong, or having too much vaginal moisture.

Pain during sex: A patient's confidence in the bedroom may suffer if they are unhappy with how their labia look. However, having enlarged or longer labia could interfere with sex and possibly result in a painful or at the very least uncomfortable experience. Sexual function might even be improved by simply shrinking the labia because there is less concern about the tissue being pulled or stretched during sex, according to Dr. Hansen.

Precancerous conditions or cancers: A labia reconstruction may be necessary for medical reasons such as having

Cancers or precancerous conditions: Having to remove a portion of the labia that contains cancer cells in the vaginal area may be a medical necessity for a labia reconstruction. Excisions may be necessary if cancers or precancerous conditions develop there, according to Dr. Hansen.

What dangers exist with labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty carries some risk, just like any medical procedure. Scarring and wound separation are potential complications. However, all of these risks need to be further investigated. Some researchers have also expressed concerns about potential loss of sexual sensation as a result of labiaplasty and an increased risk of trauma to the perineal area during vaginal delivery.

How is a labiaplasty procedure carried out?

A consultation with a plastic surgeon is the first step in getting labiaplasty. This is a discussion of the vulva's pre-operational problem. According to Dr. Hansen, the physician must observe the same problem with the patient's labia that the patient does. According to Dr. Hansen, the surgeon won't advise surgery to the patient if there isn't a good surgical solution that would involve shortening or reconstructing the labia.

According to Dr. Hansen, the procedure itself is always surgical but can be completed in-office, in a clinic under local anesthesia, or in a hospital under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make a stitch line and reduce the labia minora's size and length during the procedure. She advises two to three weeks of resting, icing, and keeping the area clean as it takes some time to heal.

Dr. Hansen adds that patients should refrain from strenuous activities for six to three months to prevent traumatizing or stretching the stitch line (so it might involve getting creative with your typical sexual activity).

Patients frequently concur that although the surgery only takes an hour on average, it goes quickly, the recovery time is lengthy. "As I anticipated, the healing process was very painful. I took a lot of painkillers, and for at least a week, I avoided being on my feet at all costs. One patient at Labiaplasty Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, wrote about her experience with the procedure: "It hurt really bad when I walked for about seven days, and I felt a burning pain which was worse during urination. If you intend to complete this task, you should ensure that you have at least a week off. The pain from this procedure was well worth it, though.

What is the price of a labiaplasty?

The cost of labiaplasty procedures is not cheap. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the procedure will set you back about $2,800. Even if you could convince an insurance provider that the procedure might be beneficial medically, Dr. Hansen says it would be

challenging to get it covered because these are typically regarded as elective cosmetic surgeries (such as in the case of pain during sex or reconstruction after the removal of cancerous cells).

Who cannot have labiaplasty procedures performed on them?

In general, a surgeon won't perform a labiaplasty on a patient if they don't believe there is a good reason to. Patients with additional medical issues, particularly those that might impair healing, would not be good candidates, according to Dr. Hansen. It's best to speak with your primary care physician before visiting a plastic surgeon if you have other medical issues.

Pregnant women should avoid the procedure as well because giving birth would interfere with the healing process. Most surgeons would never advise that because a natural birth would have an adverse effect on that region and women might tear their stitch line or require an episiotomy after giving birth, according to Dr. Hansen.

The bottom line: If you believe that your labia are painful or uncomfortable or that they interfere with your ability to function sexually, labiaplasty may be able to help. However, keep in mind that vulvae and vaginas typically come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so only take the medical risk if *you* want to.