Surgery Plastic Surgery More Body Procedures Why Women Decide to Get a Labiaplasty By Millicent Odunze, MD Millicent Odunze, MD Facebook Millicent Odunze Geers, MD, MPH, is a plastic surgeon with Dignity Health Medical Foundation. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 06, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Maria M. LoTempio, MD Medically reviewed by Maria M. LoTempio, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Maria M. LoTempio, MD, is double board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology. She is an associate clinical professor at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure done to reshape the labia minora—the inner "lips" of the vulva. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of people seeking to alter the appearance of their labia has been increasing since the organization began keeping track in 2015. The 2016 ASPS statistics report showed a 39% increase in the number of labiaplasties performed that year. News reports about the growing popularity of labiaplasty might have you believe women are having it done for cosmetic reasons, based on a desire to conform to what they've come to believe is normal or more attractive. This likely is far from the main reason most labiaplasties are performed, however. JGI / Tom Grill / Getty Images Why Have a Labiaplasty? Labia size and shape is as individual as eye color, and the range of what's "normal" is wide and deep. However, when a person's labia are especially elongated, the excess tissue can cause discomfort or get in the way of normal function. An athlete whose labia is long may find that the tissue sticks to their leg during physical activity, for example. Labial tissue that protrudes can make sitting on a bicycle seat uncomfortable. And yes, there are people who decide to have a labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons, but they're rarely influenced by some supposed beauty norms, according to the ASPS. Some who view their inner labia as abnormally long may feel self-conscious about the outward appearance of their genitalia, causing them emotional or psychological distress during sex or while wearing a thong or swimsuit. The labia can be obvious in tight-fitting yoga pants as well. Study In a very small study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2016, in which 14 women who'd undergone a labiaplasty were asked what had motivated them to have the surgery, some did mention improved appearance or sexual well-being, but issues of physical comfort were just as common. And in fact, the ASPS reports that most women who have the procedure, which is fairly straightforward and simple, choose to do so for practical reasons. What to Expect From Surgery To do a labiaplasty, a surgeon simply trims the excess tissue to allow the lips of the labia minora to sit tucked neatly within the labia majora—the outer lips of the vulva. It can be done under local or general anesthesia and recovery typically is swift and uncomplicated. Pain medication is usually required afterward, but only for a few days. For most people, recovery is swift and uncomplicated. The ASPS recommends taking a week off from work to relax and heal from labiaplasty, wearing loose, comfortable pants, and a mini-pad to absorb minor bleeding. If you have this procedure, your healthcare provider also may instruct you not to use tampons during your first period afterward. Within a month you should be back to your normal activities. What You Should Expect 3 Weeks After Labiaplasty Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Stats show labiaplasty is becoming more popular. April 25, 2017. Sharp G, et. al. Motivations, expectations, and experiences of labiaplasty: A qualitative study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016;36(8) 920–928. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw014