Labioplasty for Pain or Pleasure?

This week, the CBS show The Doctors featured a segment on Labial Redundancy. There are many reasons that women seek to reduce the size of the labial lips, or make other adjustments or enhancements to their vaginal area. Here is one story (click on photo below to launch video).



It has been my experience with the past 300 labia minora reductions or labioplasties I have done over the past 6 years that patients seek the type of surgery most commonly NOT for pain but for appearance. My typical patient is in her mid 20's to 40's, has very little pubic hair by choice (Brazilian waxing or landing strip) and dislikes the protrusion of the labia minora past the labia majora. It is surprising to me that patients in Southern California would seek out a plastic surgeon for a labioplasty for pain...Perhaps Boston girls are truly more concerned with appearance...Should Bravo create the Housewives of Beacon Hill instead of the Housewives of Beverly Hills? Hopefully the lips below the belt won't look like their facial lips....

Currently I am doing two studies for labia majora rejuvenation. One involves Thermage or radiofrequency skin tightening of the labia majora which may become loose and wrinkly due to aging and or hormone deficiencies and the other involves hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane or Juvederm) used in an off-label manner to puff up the labia majora: with the help of Dr. Jennifer Berman, a urologist with vast experience in women's sexual health, I have coined these procedures Labial Puffs. I agree with Dr. Stevens that aging of the vaginal area is similar to the face and should be treated in a similar fashion by tightening the skin envelope (facelift or Thermage) and volumizing the area (fat grafting or filler injections). Fat injections to the Mons pubis (bump over pubic bone) and the labia majora are effective in restoring the volume (rejuvenating the vulva) in patients interested in a more permanent result.

All in all the aesthetics of the vaginal area still needs exploration as well as the motivating factors that influence women to seek alteration of the natural appearance of their genitalia. I guess women have been increasing the size of their breasts for many years so what's the problem with making the vaginal area more youthful and sexy? Does the increasing interest in vaginal rejuvenation procedures represent a paradigm shift as women continue to express their sexuality in a more open manner? The pharmaceutical industry invests millions of dollars into the marketing and production of Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. What about the women?

I have anonymously surveyed over 200 men, lawyers, bankers, lawyers, business men, plastic surgeons, firemen... and have found that the appearance of the vaginal area is NOT particularly important. Men do prefer a groomed vaginal area and interestingly find a bit of labial show (protrusion of the labia minora beyond the labia majora) to be sexy! The appearance of the area is much more concerning to women but why? Perhaps since there is no pubic hair, and they now notice dangling of the labia minora beyond the majora (natural state in most women past puberty) when they stand nude in front of the mirror. Studies by sexual psychologist, Dr. Laura Berman, have shown that when women feel confident about the appearance of their genitalia they are more confident in the bedroom.

I am happy to see The Doctors continue to be on the cutting edge of plastic surgery and show such great surgeons as Dr. Grants and Dr. Berman helping a young women traumatized by the appearance and pain she experienced due to the elongated labia minora and scarred clitoral hood. Vaginal rejuvenation is just in its infancy and I feel will continue to grow as a field in plastic surgery. It is important to seek out a BOARD CERTIFIED plastic surgeon for safe optimal results in this delicate area. Please refer to Plastic Surgery Channel for more information.

Czech this out... Labioplasty, It's Not Just for Porn Stars

An interesting article was sent to me regarding cosmetic genital surgery in Czech Republic. The article, Wanderlust: Designer vaginas, anyone?, reports porn stars are coming in by the droves with photos of designer vaginas they desire. But did you know that the increasing interest in this beneath-the-belt area is all the rage here in conservative New England, as well (minus the porn stars of course!)? Women now get Brazilian waxing and want their genitals to be pretty, not saggy or uneven. The surgery, labioplasty, or reduction of the labia minora is one of the most popular for the 40-50 year old age group who are either re-entering the dating scene after divorce or just neatening up for a current mate. These patients are some of my happiest and feel their self confidence has been restored. Glad they are describing the same trends across the pond.

Cosmetic Surgery Trend: A Surge in Labioplasty

Spring must be in the air as the requests for labia minora reduction or labioplasty has increased substantially here in my practice. Most patients requesting this procedure report feeling uneasy in a bathing suit because of bulkiness in the vaginal area. Since the Allure magazine interview in the July issue, we have received a huge surge of interest and countless calls inquiring about this "Secret Surgery" and have done more than 170 actual labioplasties here in my Duxbury operative center.

We have received a lot of visits to our web site for pages with information on Labiaplasty, especially this page with animated demonstrations of 3 labia surgeries. They've been very useful in communicating with my patients and helping them understand the procedures.

Redundant labia minora seems to affect patients in their 20's. Most are very embarrassed to discuss the matter with loved ones, and are delighted to find that a simple surgical treatment is available to improve the appearance of the vagina area. The most common complaint is what is known as "hanging" labia. The surgery takes about 45 minutes under local anesthesia and the recovery is 4 to 5 days of rest and icing.

The procedure has also received attention having been featured on television shows such as "Dr. 90210" and "Nip Tuck" in the past year. Patients frequently tell me they did not realize such a procedure was possible until they read about it in the Allure article.

Allure Magazine Interview with Dr. Hamori on Labia Surgery

More on Dr. Hamori in the July issue of Allure: OK, just back from the newsstand, here's an update. You'll want to look for the July 2007 issue with Liv Tyler on the cover. If you're curious or interested in learning more about labioplasty, the "secret surgery," then you'll want to pick up this copy of Allure magazine (see page 112).

The article describes labiaplasty (aka genital enhancement) as "the most secretive and controversial surgery today" that is "quietly on the rise... even in in staid New England."

Click here for a preview glimpse of the article.

To learn more about the 3 labiaplasty surgeries Dr. Hamori performs, visit her web site at www.christinehamori.com.