Is Labiaplasty Surgery Worth it?

Deciding to undergo any type of elective surgery is a big decision. In addition to the out-of-pocket expense, patients must take into consideration what the recovery period will be like and how much “downtime” will keep them away from work or daily activities.

And, labiaplasty surgery can feel like an even bigger decision – since it involves a very sensitive and personal area of the body.

Renowned Birmingham, MI plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of successful labiaplasty surgeries, so he understands the many questions and concerns labiaplasty patients may have before surgery. One of the biggest questions he is routinely asked is: “Is labiaplasty surgery worth it?”

In this article, we present some actual scientific data that attempts to answer the question “Is Labiaplasty surgery worth it?” with clinical facts and statistics.

Study on Labiaplasty Surgery Satisfaction

In 2020 a new clinical research study was released that explored women’s quality of life before and after labiaplasty. The study was featured in the September 2020 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Dr. Heather Furnas, MD, FACS, and her colleagues measured the degree of change or improvement in the symptoms, functioning and appearance of the genitalia before and after a labiaplasty surgery.

In the study 62 women (ranging from age 17 to 61 with an average age of 33) who had undergone labiaplasty completed a detailed questionnaire about the symptoms related to excess vaginal tissue before labiaplasty surgery in 2016-17, and then again following labia reduction surgery in 2019.

Before labia surgery, all of the women in the study had one or more of the 11 symptoms that are most commonly reported by patients who elect to have labiaplasty. The most common reason for labia surgery was feeling self-conscious about their appearance (93.5% of the women) – followed by painful  tugging during intercourse (66.1%); and interference with clothing, such as twisting and discomfort in tight pants (58.1%).

Other common symptoms included urinary tract infections, personal hygiene issues, pain during intercourse (dyspareunia), pain during exercise, exposure of the labia in clothing or bathing suits, and crooked urination. Overall, most of the women in the study reported on average of 6.5 symptoms per patient.

After labiaplasty surgery, 58 of the 62 patients in the study (93.5%) were completely symptom-free – which is an amazingly high success rate for any type of medical procedure.

Other results of the labiaplasty satisfaction study indicated that:

  • 9% of patients had intimacy problems before surgery – that dropped to 0% after labiaplasty
  • 1% had twisting in clothing – which dropped to 3.2% after surgery
  • 8% had labia visibility in tight clothing – which dropped to 1.6% after labiaplasty
  • 5% experienced pain with intercourse – that dropped to 1.6% after surgery
  • 7% noted labia exposure in a bathing suit – that dropped to 1.6% after labiaplasty

Additionally, no major complications occurred in any of the 62 labiaplasty participants in the clinical study. Only two of the 62 patients felt their labia were still too long after surgery – but even they opted to undergo a second revision surgery.

“Our paper establishes the dramatic quality-of-life benefits of labiaplasty,” the study’s author Dr. Heather Furnas stated. The authors of the study concluded that “labiaplasty is a safe procedure that yields significant improvement in quality of life.”

Patient Reviews on Whether Labiaplasty Surgery is Worth It

On the patient reviews on RealSelf, a popular website where patients can share their experiences and rate the effectiveness of cosmetic treatments, the majority of women who have undergone labiaplasty surgery consider the results to be worth the discomfort and expense. 92% of almost 2,000 patients give labiaplasty a “worth it” rating – with many of the reviewers extolling how labia reduction surgery changed their lives. Many patients reported increased confidence and satisfaction with their appearance, as well as improved sexual function and reduced discomfort during physical activities.

And according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 93% of women who underwent labiaplasty surgery reported satisfaction with the results.

Of course, as with any surgery, patient satisfaction will vary based on a number of factors such as the specific technique used, the individual patient’s health and original condition, and most importantly the plastic surgeon’s skill. But, the vast majority of patients in our Birmingham, MI practice, on RealSelf, and in clinical studies all agree that “Labiaplasty surgery is worth it.”

Labiaplasty Surgery | Birmingham, MI

AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham, MI is one of the only practices in the entire Detroit area to offer both labiaplasty surgery and non-surgical Viveve labia remodeling.

If you are suffering from the pain or discomfort of a large, distended labia, or you are dissatisfied or self-conscious about the appearance of your labia, schedule a discreet and confidential consultation at AMAE in Birmingham, MI and see if either of these life-changing treatments are right for your needs.

Labia Reduction Consultation | Birmingham, MI:  248-335-7200