Women have already nipped, tucked, implanted and vacuumed every other part of their bodies, and are now exploring a new frontier, genital plastic surgery ie. vaginal rejuvination (labiaplasty). Fashion influences like flimsier swimsuits, the Brazilian bikini wax and more exposure to nudity in magazines, movies and on the Internet are driving attention to a physical zone still so private that some women do not dare, or care, to look at themselves closely.

Labiaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure of the outer and inner lips (labia majora and minora, respectively), which are both external folds of skin surrounding the vulva (opening of the vagina). Labiaplasty involves the reduction and reshaping of an elongated lip. A hoodectomy may also be performed at the same time exposing the clitoris in an effort to increase sexual stimulation.

Most women complain that their inner labia are either too big, too uneven or unsightly. These women feel undesirable or unpretty. Even if nobody sees it, they see it. Over the last few years, labiaplasty is growing in popularity. Most patients request labiaplasty for functional or cosmetic reasons. They cite “impingements on lifestyle” as the chief reason for their decision to have their lips redefined. These impingements usually include the inability to wear tight clothing or “thongs”, a reluctance to take communal showers, and the inability to ride a bicycle comfortably or sit for prolonged periods of time. In some extreme cases of overdeveloped labia, women aren’t able to engage in certain sexual practices. Read more…