As time passes, women experience a variety of changes to their bodies as a result of several factors, including the natural aging process, effects of the environment and hormonal fluctuations. Changes to the skin on your face are often the most noticeable, as they affect your outward appearance, so it’s easy to overlook the impact of age on other parts of your anatomy.
Aging causes changes in the elasticity of your skin – all of it. The collagen and elastin that keeps skin supple and youthful begins to decrease, and with that comes sagging or drooping. Rejuvenating areas of your face that show wrinkles or loss of volume or function are common topics among women, but you also need to consider that if the visible areas of your body are showing age, so are less visible areas, including the genitals.
Many women are too embarrassed or uncomfortable to talk about increased laxity in the skin of their labial and vaginal areas, as well as in the muscles of the vagina, but rest assured that you’re not the only one with these issues. In 2016, nearly 12,000 women chose to undergo a vaginal rejuvenation procedure – an increase of nearly 40 percent over the year before. At Cosmetic Gynecology and Aesthetics, we understand that discussing female sexual health can be a sensitive topic, which is why we pride ourselves on being a practice that is run by women with the goal of superior care for women. We can address your concerns about the aesthetic appearance of your vagina, as well as the reduced function or discomfort you may be experiencing.
There are a number of procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical, that can fall under the umbrella of “vaginal rejuvenation.” However, the vaginal rejuvenation procedure performed most often is known as a labiaplasty, which is a treatment designed to reduce the length of your labia minora, labia majora, or both.
Labia size and shape varies from woman to woman, and while it is incredibly elastic, two primary factors contribute to the labia getting longer or beginning to sag – childbirth and age. Multiple births can fatigue the vaginal muscles, so that each time the labia is stretched, the less able it is to snap back into the shape it was. This often causes a decrease in intimacy due to physical discomfort or embarrassment about the appearance of your vagina.
The purpose of a labiaplasty is to surgically shorten the labia, relieving pain and discomfort, while restoring both the function and the appearance of your vagina.
Depending on your anatomy and the results you are seeking from your procedure, there are a number of techniques for performing a labiaplasty. The two most common include:
Whatever procedure you choose, a typical labiaplasty takes up to two hours, and is performed using general anesthesia or local anesthesia paired with IV sedation.
The recovery process following a labiaplasty is not extensive, however, there are still some restrictions. We recommend that you take a few days off of work, as there may be some pain and swelling during the first week. This is temporary, and can be addressed with post op care instructions provided by your physician. Although it may take six weeks or longer for all of the swelling to go down, most women can resume sexual intercourse and their regular exercise program six (6) to eight (8) weeks after surgery.
As with any surgical procedure, a labiaplasty has some risks, but they are extremely minimal. Most post-surgery side effects are temporary, and may include swelling, bruising or light bleeding. As every woman is different, additional complications may include:
Again, these side effects are uncommon, and at Cosmetic Gynecology and Aesthetics our surgeons are experienced, skilled, and board-certified, helping to ensure superior results and a safe, comfortable procedure.
If you are experiencing discomfort, pain or embarrassment because changes to your labia, a labiaplasty might be the solution you are looking for. Call Cosmetic Gynecology and Aesthetics today at 904-384-8023 to schedule a consultation.
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