If you had to guess what was one of the fastest-growing cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, what would you guess?
Would you place your bets on breast augmentation? Nose jobs? The removal of male breast tissue?
While you wouldn’t be far off with these guesses, the actual answer might surprise you: it’s labiaplasty.
Yes, you read that right: this surgical procedure is dedicated to correcting aesthetic (and sometimes medical) concerns with the labia. For some women, the labia may not be proportionate, which might cause them to feel self-conscious about their appearance.
Other women find it difficult to enjoy an active and enjoyable sex life, as the labia minora – the skin that covers the clitoris and vaginal opening – might be too long. This can case the labia to “drag” during sex, which can be uncomfortable at best and extremely painful at worst. These are some of the main reasons why more women are interested in undergoing a labiaplasty.
Dr. Sean Doherty is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Boston and Brookline, MA .Dr. Doherty is highly experienced in labiaplasties, with a patient satisfaction rate between 94 and 100 percent.
Dr. Doherty’s goal during the procedure is to better define the appearance of the inner labia, which may involve trimming the labia minora to better “fit” within the labia major. This can help present a neater and more “attractive” appearance, which can help patients feel more confident during intercourse.
The best candidates for this procedure are women who are either experiencing sexual dysfunction, embarrassment, or pain because their labia are oversized or asymmetrical.
The surgery itself can be one or two hours long, depending on the patient’s desired results. The procedure can be done with or without general anesthesia; local anesthesia is used to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. After the procedure has been performed, patients can expect to experience mild discomfort and swelling; these side effects tend to disappear within one to two weeks. Patients can head back to work after three to five days of recovery.
For more information about a labiaplasty, schedule a consultation with Dr. Doherty at his, MA practice. Call (617) 735.8735 today.