Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty is an article that aims to give you all the information you do not know about Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty and more. We kindly shared the main headings with you;

What is vaginoplasty?

Construction or repair of the vagina is known as vaginoplasty. It treats various medical conditions, such as problems from pelvic floor disease and vaginal damage brought on by childbirth. In order to help people obtain their ideal gender identity, it is also used to create a transgender vagina.

 

What is the difference between vaginal rejuvenation and vaginoplasty?

Vaginal rejuvenation is a medical term used for the procedure that improves the appearance or the vagina’s function. One operation to enhance the function or look of the vagina is vaginoplasty. Additional techniques for vaginal rejuvenation include:

  • Labiaplasty, which equalizes or reduces the labia, the fleshy lobes of the vagina, in size.
  • Vulvoplasty, which is a procedure that reshapes the vagina’s exterior.

Who are the ideal patients for vaginoplasty?

  • People who are looking to improve their sexual function after suffering from birth abnormalities or trauma
  • Women who require vaginal reconstruction following radiation treatment or vaginal excision to treat cancer or other diseases
  • Surgery for gender affirmation is performed on transgender people
  • Women with birth defects that impact vaginal development, who are congenitally defective (problems present from birth)

What to expect before vaginoplasty surgery?

You go through evaluations and testing in order to get ready for surgery. These tests involve:

  • Examination to evaluate your health and find out more about your medical background 
  • Patient education of dangers, advantages, and postoperative care needs
  • Recommendations, such as giving up smoking, that reduce your chance of problems
  • Special pre-operative requirements for transgender women getting vaginoplasty for gender affirmation, including removing genital hair

What is the vaginoplasty procedure?

The surgery typically lasts between 7 and 10 hours. There are different procedures depending on the aim of the surgery. Thus, the process varies according to whether you undergo vaginoplasty due to your childbirth injuries or as a part of gender affirmation.

When vaginoplasty is used to treat birth-related defects, the following steps are taken:

  • Removing excess skin.
  • Stitching of complete or partial depth of your vagina to keep any loose tissue in place.
  • Reducing the opening size of the vagina.

 

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty

The process of eliminating congenital malformations, which are the problems you have from birth, that can be fixed by vaginoplasty may include:

  • Making a functional vagina.
  • The elimination of extra tissue or aberrant structures.
  • Keeping blood from accumulation during the menstruation period.

As a part of gender affirmation surgery:

  • Male external genitalia is partially removed and reconfigured.
  • A vaginal canal and labia are made from the skin of the penis and scrotum.

What is the recovery process of vaginoplasty operation?

Depending on the complexity of the procedure, recovery could take a few weeks to a few months. The type of vaginoplasty performed determines the required postoperative care. The use of a dilator may be advised by your doctor. In order to preserve the depth and diameter of your vagina, this gadget softly expands the interior of your genitalia. Following a vaginoplasty operation, you might or might not need to utilize a dilator.

Each patient recovers at a little different rate because every woman’s body is unique. When anesthesia goes off, many patients can begin to walk. In the first 24-48 hours after surgery, ice the incision site. The majority of patients can resume their regular activities (non-strenuous work) after 48 to 72 hours, but they must wait a full 6 to 8 weeks to engage in sexual activity. Follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions to speed up your recovery.

In order to monitor your recovery, your care should include follow-up appointments. If you encounter problems as follows, get in touch with your doctor right away:

  • Dressings that are blood-soaked, which may indicate severe bleeding
  • Infection-related symptoms, such as fever or a yellowish discharge from the wound
  • Pain that is not relieved by drugs
  • Blood clot symptoms, such as unusual swelling in your lower thigh or groin

Patients occasionally experience complications after vaginoplasty such as fistula or a constriction of the vaginal canal (an abnormal connection between the new vagina and the rectum or bladder). To address these issues additional surgeries may be required.

What to pay attention to regarding hygiene purposes after the vaginoplasty operation?

You may start douching eight days after surgery (cleansing the vaginal canal). Actually, cleaning the area thoroughly is crucial to preventing infections. Use soap and water to gently cleanse the area. Never scrape the surgical site or allow water to be sprayed there. You must use an unscented vaginal douche when douching. Depending on how much vaginal discharge you are having, you should douche at least once each week. Keeping the external genital area dry is also crucial. Place an absorbent pad between the outer lips (labia) if the area appears excessively red and wet as if you spent too much time in the tub. This will help to wick away extra moisture.

What are the advantages of vaginoplasty?

After-surgery advantages could include:

  • Enhanced sexual pleasure and self-esteem
  • Relief from gender dysphoria (state of feeling unhappy)
  • Improved consistency with their gender identity
  • Improved mental health and quality of life

What are the risks of vaginoplasty?

The risks of the surgery vary according to the type of vaginoplasty performed.

The following are possible risks following vaginoplasty for birth injuries:

  • Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
  • Sensation loss or numbness.

Among the potential risks of vaginoplasty for gender affirmation are:

  • Vaginal stenosis
  • Insufficient depth of the vagina
  • Vesicovaginal fistula (an improper connection between the vagina and the urine tract) or rectovaginal fistula (an abnormal connection between the vagina and rectum)
  • Nerve damage
  • A poor cosmetic outcome

What to do if the result of the vaginoplasty surgery is unsatisfactory?

Before the recovery process is fully complete, the patient cannot appreciate the benefits of her vaginoplasty. A woman’s perception of her postoperative outcomes may be impacted by tenderness, edema, and a variety of other circumstances. To give the surgical site time to completely recover and the vaginal muscles time to adapt to their new, permanent state, waiting for 6 to 12 months following the surgery is advised. Ask your surgeon about a labiaplasty or a follow-up treatment if you’re still not satisfied with the outcomes of your vaginoplasty.

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty

What is labiaplasty?

The skin folds that surround your vaginal opening are known as your labia. There are two folds in your skin. The term labia majora, which translates to large lips, refers to the outer folds. At puberty, pubic hair grows in over these larger, fleshy folds, which protect your external genital organs. The term labia minora, which translates to little lips, refers to the inner folds. These folds of skin guard the openings of your vagina and urethra, which is where your urine leaves your body.

Labiaplasty, or vulval surgery, is a surgical operation typically used to reduce the size of the labia. During exercise, physical activity, and sexual activity, extra skin can twist and get pinched, creating discomfort. Labiaplasty is additionally carried out both for aesthetic purposes and as a component of gender-affirming surgery.

If you want to learn more about Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty continue reading.

What are the reasons to undergo labiaplasty?

There are several reasons that a woman would want to undergo labiaplasty surgery. However, it is important to keep in mind that girls under the age of 18 shouldn’t have it done because the labia continue to expand through early adulthood after puberty. The reasons why to get a labiaplasty surgery are as follows,

  • Labia minora should be made smaller so that it won’t protrude past the margins of labia majora. During exercise, physical activities (like cycling or jogging), and intercourse, extra labial tissue can twist, turn, get pinched or twisted, and create physical discomfort.
  • To promote better hygiene and wellness since too much tissue can clog up drains and harbor germs that can cause urinary tract infections.
  • Regain a more youthful appearance following childbearing or aging.
  • Minimize the labia minora or labia majora’s asymmetry (uneven shape), which occurs when one side is longer or formed differently than the other. The reasons why labia may get oversized include pregnancy, childbirth, weight changes, genetics, and age. Especially the tissue of the labia majora might become thinner due to menopause or other hormonal changes, allowing the labia minora to protrude beyond the labia majora.
  • To boost confidence and get rid of the “camel toe” appearance or visual lines when wearing body-conforming pants or leggings. If there is too much tissue in the labia, wearing tight clothing might be physically uncomfortable.
  • To increase sexual well-being, comfort, and confidence over how your genitalia looks during close contact.
  • Labia can be generated using genital tissue if surgery is a part of a gender-affirming procedure. It can be done either ahead of or following other reconstructive procedures.

What to expect before labiaplasty surgery?

Your surgeon will first talk about why you wish to have a labiaplasty. You’ll talk about the hazards of the procedure as well as your objectives and expectations. A psychological examination could involve questions regarding your anxiety and depression. The specifics of your procedure, including where incisions will be made and what to anticipate in terms of changes to the size and form of your labia, will then be explained by your surgeon.

Preoperative exams such as a chest X-ray, urine, and blood testing may be required. You’ll receive instructions on how to dress for the procedure, when to stop eating and drinking, when to change or temporarily stop taking certain medications, and other details on how to get ready for the operation.

What is the labiaplasty procedure?

You’ll put on a surgical gown after you’ve reached the hospital. A medical professional will take your vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level, breathing rate). You might undergo more urinalysis and blood tests. Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure and the operation time is less than two hours. It would take longer to do gender-affirming surgery.

The procedure steps are as follows,

  • An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into your arm or hand, and a urinary catheter may be inserted into your urethra.
  • Your doctor will then clean the skin around your labia and shave your pubic area if necessary.
  • Then anesthesia will be given to you. Depending on the operation you’re having, you can have local or general anesthetic along with IV sedation. During the planning phase of your surgery, your doctor will discuss the best anesthesia option for you.

Depending on whether your labia (labia majora and/or labia minora) will be resized or reshaped, your doctor will decide which surgical approach to use. They typically use a scalpel, scissors, or laser to carry out this procedure.

After the operation, all wounds are stitched using absorbable sutures, which don’t require removal after a certain amount of time. A surgical dressing will be applied to your surgical site.

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty

What are the procedure types of labiaplasty?

Depending on your doctor’s surgical expertise or the outcome you’re looking for, your surgeon may have different preferred procedures. Together, you and your surgeon will decide on the surgical strategy that will best serve your objectives and address your concerns. The procedure types are as follows,

Reduction procedures

There are two general methods to decrease your labia (labia minora and/or labia majora):

  • Trimming: With this technique, your surgeon trims away extra tissue from the labia minora’s outer edges so that they are flush with or slightly offset from the labia majora’s edges.
  • Wedging: The inner regions of one or both sides of your labia minora are exposed, and your surgeon uses this technique to remove a wedge- or pie-shaped piece of tissue. To ensure that the labia’s wrinkled edge is preserved when stitched (sutured), they leave the submucosa unaltered. For the labia minora, it maintains a more natural appearance. Similarly, if you’re having surgery to minimize the labia majora, an inner piece of each labium may also be removed.

Enlarging procedure

Your surgeon will perform a liposuction operation to remove a little quantity of fat from another body part, such as your thigh or abdomen, and then inject it into your labia majora to increase its size. An approach is to inject hyaluronic acid into your labia majora.

Gender affirming surgery

Your labia can be made from tissue from the penis. The procedure of gender-affirming reconstructive surgery includes labiaplasty as one of the steps.

What to expect after labiaplasty?

After surgery, your healthcare professional will remove your urinary catheter (if you had one), and as the anesthesia wears off, you’ll start to feel more aware. There will be a bleeding check on you. You will be provided with advice on how to take care of your wound as it heals before being discharged. Also, your healthcare professionals will go over pain management with you and advise you about activity limitations and follow-up consultations.

What is the recovery process of labiaplasty operation?

  • You will have some swelling, irritation, and pain, but these symptoms are typically simple to control with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a specific prescription drug. Be sure to contact your surgeon if your discomfort is not effectively controlled by the prescribed drugs. Home remedies like an ice pack or cold compress are also beneficial.
  • You might bleed for a few days to a week or more. To stop this small amount of bleeding, you can wear a mini-pad.
  • To avoid infection, you can be prescribed an oral antibiotic or a topical antibiotic to apply to your surgical incision.
  • Wear comfortable undergarments and loose-fitting pants while you’re recovering. Wearing underwear or clothing that is too tight can rub against the wound and impede or delay healing.
  • Just like for vaginoplasty, it is also crucial to follow the hygiene rules after labiaplasty, Therefore, showering is essential. However, be gentle with your surgical site and use only moderately warm water without soap.

Within the first couple of weeks following surgery, the initial swelling, discomfort, and temporary discoloration fade. After six weeks, most swelling will subside. You might not notice the full effects of your labiaplasty until four to six months after surgery, which is the time period for the swelling to totally subside. Usually, there are little to no scars.

After a few days, you should be able to resume work and other simple tasks. You may have to spend more time at home if your profession requires lifting or strenuous labor. For four to six weeks, or until your surgeon gives the all-clear, avoid sexual intimacy. Be aware that early resuming of the activities like jogging, swimming, or cycling increases the risk of wound pressure, torn stitches, and delayed healing.

What are the risks of labiaplasty?

Problems are uncommon but can occur and include:

  • Too little or too much tissue removal
  • Bleeding
  • Bruising (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Scarring
  • Loss of sensitivity, ongoing pain, or pain during intercourse

How long-lasting is labiaplasty?

Labiaplasty done as a reduction technique is intended to be a one-time, permanent procedure. You might never require this procedure again if issues don’t arise. Fat or filler injections during enhancement labiaplasty may require further “touch-ups” in the future. It’s important to understand that your labiaplasty might not be as effective if you decide to have children after your treatment. Many people decide to postpone their surgery until after they have completed their families.

Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty: Cost

If you want to compare Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty in terms of price, we are here for you. Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty cost is as follows,

In the scope of Vaginoplasty vs Labiaplasty, vaginoplasty is a more expensive surgery in contrast to labiaplasty because it involves a more complex procedure. The price starts from $4,000 and may increase to $9,000 for vaginoplasty whereas the average cost of labiaplasty ranges between $3,000 and $6,000. Unfortunately, most medical companies do not cover insurance for either of the surgeries.

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