The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery predicts that the labiaplasty procedure will increase in popularity again this year.
In 2016, 12,000 labiaplasty procedures were performed in the U.S., a nearly 40 percent increase over 2015.
The labiaplasty procedure is used to correct misshapen or elongated labial tissue. The majority of labiaplasty procedures involve the labia minora, or the inner folds that protect the vagina, but in some cases, women seek out labiaplasty to correct problems with the labia majora, too.
Women can be born with misshapen, asymmetrical or elongated labia, but for many patients, the labia can become damaged or torn during natural childbirth.
Researchers attribute the increased demand for labial surgeries to patients’ ability to access information about the procedure online more readily than ever before.
“Many women wonder if their labia look normal, and because of that, they go online to search out information about what labia should look like. Their search may then lead them to queries about how to correct misshapen labia, and then that search leads them to find a doctor to perform the labiaplasty procedure,” said Dr. Christy Walker.
Walker is one such doctor. She is a dual board-certified gynecologist and cosmetic surgeon serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Common motivations for the labiaplasty procedure that Walker hears from her patients include feelings of embarrassment or self-consciousness about the appearance of their labia in tight clothing such as yoga pants, leggings and swimsuits.
Other women are motivated to have the labiaplasty procedure because they feel that potential partners may be turned off by how their vagina looks.
“If a woman does not like the appearance of her genitals, she may be afraid her partner won’t either,” Walker said.
Still, other women end up visiting Walker to find out more about the labiaplasty procedure because their elongated or misshapen labia cause them physical discomfort during intercourse or exercise.
“Some women complain of pain or burning during intercourse or friction from clothing causing irritation when working out,” Walker said.
Labiaplasty can be performed with a surgical approach that uses scalpels to remove excess tissue or using non-surgical methods that utilize lasers to reshape the labia. Labiaplasty can also be coupled with dermal fillers and fat grafting to restore areas that may have lost volume.
“Non-surgical labiaplasty is increasingly popular with many women because it takes less time to perform than the surgical procedure. Laser labiaplasty does not require general anesthesia and takes less time to recover from than surgery. Patients can have their procedure and return to normal routines rather quickly,” Walker said.
There is also less risk of complications when using lasers versus scalpels.
“Lasers minimize the risk of infection,” Walker said.
Some patients also choose to combine their labiaplasty procedure with the vaginoplasty procedure, also known as vaginal rejuvenation.
Other procedures ASAPS predicts will be in demand this year include the “Laser Bra Lift.”
This procedure is a noninvasive breast-lift that uses lasers to tighten connective tissue in the chest to pull up the breasts.
“The aging process, pregnancy, breastfeeding and significant weight loss can impact the breasts and cause them to sag,” Walker said.
ASAPS also predicts that 2018 will usher in new uses for dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane. New uses for these popular anti-aging treatments could be focused on reshaping the eyes.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic Surgery Statistics 2016. ASPS.
Allure. The 4 Biggest Plastic Surgery Trends for 2018. Allure. 22 December 2017.
