Pretty Up Your Vagina with Labiaplasty

Fell more comfortable and confident with an improved vagina. Dr. Mary Gingrass describes the labiaplasty procedure, a great option to reduce the size of large labia minora. Often confused with vaginal rejuvenation, labiaplasty surgery addresses not the vagina itself, but the appearance of the labia minora, or outer lips that surround the vagina. For some women, the shape and size of their labia minora can trigger feelings of embarrassment. Other women may suffer from physical discomfort, and even functional problems, such as the issue negatively effecting forms of exercise. Within the privacy of their homes, women are turning to the Internet to research surgical options aimed at improving their most private parts. As a result, women today are more aware of the benefits of labiaplasty than ever before. The once taboo procedure is seeing a sharp rise in popularity. “A labiaplasty is really just reducing the size or the protuberance of the labia minora,” explains board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mary Gingrass of the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville. “For a lot of women, that’s something that makes them feel so much better about themselves.” AM I NORMAL DOWN THERE? Genetics play an important role in determining the size, shape and color of the labia minora. Additionally, pregnancy, childbirth, aging and weight fluctuations can all contribute to changes in the appearance as women age. “It’s an area that is surprisingly different from woman to woman,” says Dr. Gingrass, who points out that there is no real “normal” when it comes to vaginal aesthetics. Labiaplasty to solve self-confidence issues. While an elongated, enlarged or asymmetric labia is not unusual, it can certainly cause women to feel physical discomfort when exercising, or trigger feelings of self-doubt during intimate moments. By reducing the size of a woman’s labia minora, labiaplasty can empower women to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin. Making a consultation to discuss the shape and size of your labia minora can be nerve-wracking. “I do think that women are probably a little more likely to come to a woman for this procedure,” adds Gingrass. WHAT A LABIAPLASTY WILL DO, AND WHAT IT WON’T DO The benefits of labiaplasty are not limited to women whose vaginas have been stretched or disfigured by childbirth. Many younger women in their late teens or early twenties who have not had any children are also unhappy with the appearance of their vaginas. “Most often people want it fixed because of cosmetics. They feel self-conscious in bathing suits or in yoga pants. They feel like you can see a little wad of something down there,” explains Gingrass. “It can also be very uncomfortable, especially for someone who does a lot of biking or spin.”