What to Expect

Large labia can cause chafing and cause tugging or irritation during exercise, intercourse, or everyday activities. While some patients choose to undergo labiaplasty to improve the appearance of the vulva, others seek to relieve chronic discomfort. Enlarged labia are common and may be due to childbirth, aging, or genetics.

There are several approaches to performing labiaplasty including:

• Trim (curved linear resection) procedure: A widely used technique that involves trimming excess tissue from the labia minora, making it flush with the outer labia majora. The trim approach removes the edges of the labia and is preferred by patients who want their labia to look small and symmetrical.
• Wedge procedure: The wedge approach uses a V-shaped incision that maintains the natural contours of the labia. The widest section of the labia minora is resected, leaving the top and bottom sections intact.

While both procedures are safe and effective, the V-wedge resection is slightly less commonly performed than the curved linear resection.

The procedure usually takes under an hour and is typically performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia based on the treatment plan. We perform labiaplasties as outpatient procedures at our accredited ambulatory Northern Arizona SurgiCenter in Flagstaff, AZ.

Medical Review: This procedural information has been medically reviewed by plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Brian A. Cripe, M.D.