Female Genital Plastic Surgery in California

Surgical Options

The term “female genital plastic surgery” covers several different procedures. It is sometimes called vaginal rejuvenation, female genital rejuvenation surgery, female genital cosmetic surgery, vulvovaginal plastic surgery, and designer vagina surgery.

The term female genital plastic surgery covers several different procedures. It is sometimes called vaginal rejuvenation, female genital rejuvenation surgery, female genital cosmetic surgery, vulvovaginal plastic surgery, and designer vagina surgery, among other terms. Among the procedures that comprise female genital plastic surgery are labiaplasty, clitoral hood reduction, labia majoraplasty, monsplasty, and vaginoplasty. Before discussing each one, it is important to look at the anatomy.

External Anatomy of the Female Genitalia

The hairbearing area over the pubic bone at the upper portion of the female genitalia is called the mons. The hair-bearing outer lips are called the labia majora (singular is labium majus). The inner lips are called the labia minora (singular is labium minus). In the upper portion in the center is the clitoral hood, sometimes called the prepuce, which covers the clitoris in part or entirely. Below the clitoris is the urethral opening, and below that is the vaginal opening.

VAGINOPLASTY

Vaginoplasty (also known as posterior colporrhaphy) is a procedure designed to tighten the vagina. An alternative is non-invasive vaginal tightening through heating tissues with radiofrequency waves or laser. Patients with significant laxity may not experience a benefit from these treatments and may be better candidates for surgical tightening with vaginoplasty.

Reasons patients want a vaginoplasty:

After childbirth, women may complain of vaginal laxity, resulting from stretching of tissues and separating of muscles, sometimes to the point that a tampon falls out, and this lack of tone can contribute to sexual dysfunction.

What does a vaginoplasty do?

A vaginoplasty brings the separated muscles together, and the extra mucosa skin from the back side of the vagina is removed. The external skin can also be removed for a more aesthetic appearance.

What are the results of a vaginoplasty?

This procedure typically results in a tighter vaginal canal, which can help enhance sexual satisfaction.

LABIAPLASTY

The term labiaplasty refers to a procedure that reduces the length of the labia minora. It is the most commonly performed female genital plastic surgery procedure and it can relieve symptoms women experience from twisting and tugging of the labia.

Reasons patients want a labiaplasty:

Women opt for surgery for a variety of reasons, including pain from twisting and tugging of the labia when riding a bike or during intercourse, itching and irritation, and self-consciousness.

What does a labiaplasty do?

The goal of the procedure is to reduce the labia minora so that they don’t hang below the hair-bearing labia majora. A labiaplasty may be performed to reduce asymmetry when one is longer than the other, or, more commonly, to reduce the length of both labia so that the labia no longer twist, tug, or fall out of a bathing suit.

Labiaplasty procedure

The most common type of labiaplasty is the trim procedure, in which the extra tissue is removed and sewn up directly. Next in popularity is the wedge procedure, which maintains a natural border after a pie-shaped piece of tissue has been removed. Extra folds of the clitoral hood can also be reduced at the same time. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

What are the results of a labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty typically results in shorter labia that no longer hang down below the level of the hair-bearing labia majora. Most patients who experienced symptoms from twisting and tugging of their labia generally find relief after surgery. According to multiple studies, labiaplasty surgery is associated with a high satisfaction rate of over 90 percent.

CLITORAL HOOD REDUCTION

Excess folds of the clitoral hood, or prepuce, can be reduced with a clitoral hood reduction. The procedure is most commonly done along with a labiaplasty.

What does a clitoral hood reduction do?

The extra folds can create a bulge that is exaggerated when the labia minora are reduced, and a clitoral hood reduction can improve the balance in appearance of the female genitalia.

Clitoral hood reduction procedure:

The excess tissue is marked according to the individual’s anatomy. There is a wide variation in the shape and extent of folds. In some patients the excision is performed as a “Y” extension off the labiaplasty. Closure is usually done with abs.

What are the results of a clitoral hood reduction?

In some patients with a heavy clitoral hood, a labiaplasty without a clitoral hood reduction can result in a top-heavy look. A clitoral hood reduction can lend balance to a labiaplasty in such patients. Clitoral hood reduction is generally performed with labiaplasty, which has a high satisfaction rate of over 90 percent.

LABIA MAJORAPLASTY

A labia majoraplasty is a procedure designed to surgically reduce the size of the outer, hair-bearing labia majora.

Reasons patients want a labia majoraplasty:

Patients who feel their labia majora are too large or hang down may feel discomfort from such activities as cycling, or they may be embarrassed by the fullness.

Labia majoraplasty procedure:

The plastic surgeon removes two slight crescents of skin from the inner portion of each labium. The amount to be removed depends on the amount of excess tissue. In some cases, when there is atrophy of fatty tissue, a small amount of fat can be transferred from another area of the body after liposuction. Closure is usually done with absorbable sutures.

What are the results of a labia majoraplasty?

This procedure typically results in smaller, tighter labia majora. In patients with excess skin, drooping of the labia majora when the patient is standing is usually improved. In patients with excess volume, this procedure can result in a lower profile.

MONSPLASTY

A monsplasty is a procedure designed to reduce bulging of the mons.

Reasons patients want a monsplasty:

Some women struggle with a bulge of excess skin and fat in the mons, the upper part of the hair-bearing part of their vulva. The bulge can result in women feeling too embarrassed to wear a bathing suit or tight pants.

What does a monsplasty do?

The purpose of a monsplasty is to reduce the amount of fatty tissue and/or skin, depending on the cause of the bulge.

Monsplasty procedure:

Sometimes the amount of skin removed can be extensive, while in others, liposuction is sufficient.

What are the results of a monsplasty?

This procedure results in a lower profile mons that typically projects less in clothing. In some patients with a mons that hangs, removal of excess skin can result in less hanging.