Labiaplasty: A labiaplasty is surgery to reduce the size of the labia minora – the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening.

Overview

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure usually done to reduce the size of your labia minora — skin folds that surround your urethra and vagina. Excess skin can get twisted and pinched, causing discomfort during exercise, physical activities and intercourse. You may also have labiaplasty for cosmetic reasons or as part of gender-affirming surgery.

Your labia are the folds of skin around your vagina opening. You have two folds of skin there. The outer folds are called the labia majora, which means large lips. These are the larger fleshy folds that protect your external genital organs. They’re covered with pubic hair after puberty. The inner folds are called the labia minora, which means small lips. These skin folds protect the opening of your urethra (where your pee leaves your body) and vagina.

What is Labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty – vaginal rejuvenation. Labiaplasty is a surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedure that aims to improve the size and shape of the inner labia. It involves trimming off the excess tissue of the labia minora, leaving the labia majora (outer labia) intact.

Woman usually get this procedure to reduce physical discomfort or as part of gender-affirming surgery. Sometimes, you might want it for cosmetic reasons, but there’s a wide range of normal labia. Everyone’s labia are unique and there’s no ideal or “normal” way for them to look.

Why would someone consider labiaplasty?

Women consider labiaplasty for functional and aesthetic reasons. For some, having an enlarged labia makes physical activities and wearing tight clothing uncomfortable. This discomfort can range from mild irritation to significant pain.

Labiaplasty reduces the size of your labia minora so the tissue doesn’t pass beyond the edges of the labia majora. Excess or sagging labial tissue hangs down, and it can twist, turn, become pinched, and/or cause physical discomfort during exercise (e.g., bike riding or jogging) and intercourse.