Labiaplasty in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece

Labiaplasty is the surgical correction of the labia minora or labia majora and of the skin over the clitoris. Its most common form is reduction of the labia minora when they protrude markedly. The aim is a natural appearance and relief from rubbing and irritation.

The shape and size of the vulva vary a great deal from woman to woman, because of hereditary, hormonal and other factors. The proportions of the labia minora to the labia majora differ, as do the skin over the clitoris and the thickness of the labia majora. All of these forms are normal.

When the labia minora protrude excessively (labial hypertrophy), they may show through a swimsuit, rub when walking, cycling or riding, cause pain during intercourse (dyspareunia), and lead to a feeling of moisture and difficulty with hygiene.

Labiaplasty can also address excess skin over the clitoris (the clitoral hood) or labia majora that are deflated or overly full. Urinary incontinence and prolapse belong to a gynaecologist (gynecologist) or urologist; laxity of the perineum I assess together with an experienced gynaecological surgeon.

Labiaplasty suits healthy adult women who have real discomfort from the labia minora or labia majora, whether functional or cosmetic, and who have realistic expectations. Variation in the shape of the vulva from woman to woman is normal and is not, on its own, a reason for surgery. The decision is made after the examination.

Preparation starts with a consultation, where we discuss what bothers you and I examine the area. With local anaesthesia, basic blood tests are usually enough. Stop smoking 4 weeks before and after surgery, tell me about any blood thinners, and we schedule the operation outside your period.

What happens at the consultation?

We talk about what bothers you: rubbing, pain, hygiene or appearance. At the examination I check whether the excess involves only the labia minora or the clitoral hood as well, and whether the labia majora and mons pubis are normal. We choose together between wedge and trim (longitudinal) resection. If there is laxity of the vagina or perineum, we assess it with a collaborating gynaecological surgeon. You leave with a written plan.

What tests and instructions apply before surgery?

With local anaesthesia, basic blood tests are usually enough; with general anaesthesia, a full pre-operative work-up is done. A recent gynaecological check-up is recommended. Stop smoking 4 weeks before and after surgery, because it delays healing. If you take anticoagulants, tell me; whether to stop them is decided by the doctor who prescribes them. The operation is scheduled outside your period.

Labiaplasty is usually done under local anaesthesia, with light sedation if you wish, or under general anaesthesia when combined with other procedures. For the labia minora I use wedge or trim (longitudinal) resection, chosen together. The clitoral hood is usually corrected with a V-Y technique. The stitches are absorbable.

The operation takes about 1 hour, longer if other areas are corrected as well. The local anaesthetic prevents pain. I mark out the resection before I start, for symmetry and so that a natural labium minus always remains.

Wedge resection

A wedge of excess tissue is removed from the lower and middle third of the labia minora, and the edges are joined. The advantage is great precision: it corrects asymmetry very well, keeps the natural edge of the labium minus with its colour and texture, and the scar is hard to see after a few weeks. I use it in most cases.

Trim labiaplasty (longitudinal or edge resection)

In more marked hypertrophy, and when you want a “cleaner” look in which the labia minora barely show, the excess is removed along the length of the labium, from the bottom up to the clitoris, leaving a 1 to 1.5 cm remnant. It is a more radical technique and I choose it only in specific cases. The scar also becomes almost unnoticeable, though not as well as with wedge resection.

Clitoral hood reduction

Sometimes the excess skin that continues from the labia minora and covers the clitoris needs to be removed. There is no single standard operation; the correction is tailored each time. The most common method is V-Y reduction, which removes the excess and also lifts the underlying skin. Clitoral sensation and function are not affected, because the nerves lie much deeper, where no surgery takes place.

Labia majora and mons pubis

When the labia majora are very deflated, they can be filled with fat transferred from another area of the body; how much fat survives is not predictable. When they are overly full, liposuction or surgical removal of the excess is done. A mons pubis with local fat is improved with liposuction; see the liposuction page.

Incisions and stitches

The incisions lie on the edge or the inner surface of the labia minora and in the natural folds around the clitoris, where they heal well. The scar fades over time so that it causes no cosmetic or functional problem. The stitches are absorbable and do not need to be removed.

Combined procedures

Labia minora reduction is often combined with clitoral hood correction, and sometimes with fat transfer or liposuction to the labia majora. In mild vaginal laxity, fat injected inside the vagina can give a small improvement; in more marked laxity, perineoplasty is performed, that is, surgical tightening and repair of the perineum and vagina, together with a gynaecological surgeon.

Hospital stay

No overnight stay is needed. You go home the same day and rest at home for the first 24 hours. If the operation is done under general anaesthesia, you need someone with you and you must not drive.

Full recovery after labiaplasty takes about 3 to 4 weeks. Pain is usually mild and controlled with painkillers by mouth. The first 24 hours call for rest, to avoid bleeding or a haematoma (hematoma). Sex is put on hold for 3 to 4 weeks, until healing is complete, and office work is usually possible after 3-5 days.

Labiaplasty needs no hospital stay: you go home the same day and rest for the first 24 hours. Patients from abroad plan a stay of 10 to 15 days, and you can usually fly from day 10 after the operation, keeping flights to 3 hours at most in the first weeks.

The stitches are absorbable, so there is no appointment to have them removed; they fall out on their own during weeks 2 to 3. Before you leave, I see you for a check-up the day before your flight. Plan to rest for the first 24 hours and to keep the first week quiet, with gentle walking only.

Follow-up after you return home is by video call at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year. The key review is at 3 to 4 weeks, when healing should be complete and you can return to sex; I can assess this by video or with photos you send.

At home, arrange loose cotton underwear, cold packs and painkillers you can take by mouth, and plan around office work after 3-5 days. Avoid swimming in a pool or the sea until healing is complete, and leave cycling, horse riding and tight clothing until 6 weeks. If anything worries you after you leave, you can contact me directly: message the practice on WhatsApp and you receive a reply the same day; in an emergency, call us, and for an acute problem go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

After labiaplasty the labia minora no longer protrude, rubbing against clothes and during sport is reduced and hygiene becomes easier. In most women sensation and sexual function are preserved. The result is permanent, although childbirth and age change the area over the years.

For some women intercourse becomes more comfortable, because there is less mechanical irritation. Wedge resection keeps the natural edge, while trim resection gives a slimmer line; the choice depends on what you want to achieve. Fat transfer to the labia majora may need to be repeated, because fat survival is not predictable.

Like any operation, labiaplasty carries risks. The most common are swelling and a small separation of the wound, which usually heals on its own. Bleeding, haematoma and infection are rare. Careful planning, rest in the first 24 hours and good hygiene keep most problems away, and I explain the risks for your own case at the consultation.

Smoking. Stop for at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after the operation; smoking increases the risk of wound separation and delays healing.

Blood thinners. Tell me if you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines. They are always stopped in agreement with the doctor who prescribes them.

We do not publish prices, because the cost is set after the clinical examination and depends on which areas are corrected, the technique, the anaesthesia and any combined procedures. You receive a written quote after the consultation, once we have agreed the plan together. The main factors are listed below.

• Which areas are corrected: labia minora, clitoral hood, labia majora.
• The technique: wedge or trim resection, V-Y for the clitoral hood.
• The anaesthesia, local or general.
• Combination with fat transfer, liposuction or perineoplasty.