Female genital plastic surgery can help improve a woman’s confidence and comfort in her own body. There are numerous vaginal rejuvenation options available today including vaginoplasty, labia reduction, and hymenoplasty. While each of these procedures is different from the others, they have several things in common:
- They are all corrective procedures designed to restore the look and function of the vagina.
- They each address common issues associated with childbirth or menopause, such as vaginal looseness, lack of lubrication, and/or loss of sexual intimacy.
- In most cases, they are performed under general anesthesia by a gynecologist or plastic surgeon at an outpatient facility.
- As with any surgery, they have rare but potential risks, such as decreased vulvar sensitivity, chronic dryness, numbness, bleeding, and infection.
Let’s review vaginoplasty, labia reduction, and hymenoplasty to understand their differences and similarities.
Vaginoplasty
Vaginoplasty is a type of vaginal rejuvenation surgery that is performed to repair or create proper function of the vagina or to tighten the vagina. Its purpose can be either reconstructive or cosmetic, typically to reverse the changes that occur as a result of vaginal childbirth or aging.
Reconstructive vaginoplasty is often performed to address bladder control problems or sexual dysfunction, as well as to correct congenital (present from birth) abnormalities of the vagina. Since they repair physical problems, these types of gynecological surgeries are normally covered by health insurance.
Cosmetic vaginoplasty, on the other hand, is done to tighten a vagina that is otherwise functioning normally. As such, it is elective surgery. What happens is that vaginal muscles tend to expand with age or childbirth, making the vagina feel loose. During surgery, the vaginal muscles are tightened and excess skin is trimmed, thereby narrowing the vaginal canal.
Labia Reduction
Also known as labiaplasty, labia reduction is performed on the labia to change its appearance, size, or shape either to correct function or provide a smaller, more aesthetically appealing appearance. Labiaplasty can also increase sexual comfort, enhance sexual pleasure, provide comfort during exercise, enhanced appearance in tight clothing and swimwear, and improve a woman’s hygiene and confidence.
There are several types of labiaplasty. One is the trim procedure, in which the excess part the labia minor a (the inner folds that surround the opening of the vagina) are removed and sutured so that it is symmetrical with the labia majora (the outer folds).
Another type is the wedge procedure, in which a partial thickness wedge is removed from the thickest part of the labia majora, leaving the submucosa (layer tissue beneath a mucous membrane) intact. As a result, the vagina retains a natural look.
Hymenoplasty
Hymenoplasty is the cosmetic repair, restoration, or construction of a woman’s hymen (ring-like tissue that partially or completely covers the vaginal opening). This procedure is often requested by women for physical, psychological, cultural, or religious reasons. It involves restoring the hymenal ring by taking a thin layer of tissue from the vaginal wall and placing it in the location of the torn hymen.
Vaginal Aesthetic in Miami, Florida
At Levin’s Women’s Health & Wellness Center, we realize that vaginal rejuvenation can be a delicate issue for many women. Accordingly, we treat our patients with sensitivity and genuine care, offering minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
If you’d like to learn more about our vaginal rejuvenation procedures and which might be best for you, speak with one ofour board-certified gynecologists. We treat women of all ages, and can communicate with patients who speak English, Spanish, French, Hungarian, German, and Hebrew.
To schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (305) 981-0231. Or, if you prefer,fill out our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to helping you look and feel your best!