From the Blog
“Is This Normal?” 6 Signs You Might Be a Candidate for Labiaplasty
You’ve Googled. You’ve compared photos (Don’t worry, we’ve all done it.). And maybe, just maybe, you’ve silently asked yourself, “Is this… normal?”
Spoiler alert: There’s a wide, beautiful range of what’s normal when it comes to your vulva.
And: There’s also a difference between “what’s normal” and “what’s comfortable.” If your labia are getting in the way of your workouts, wardrobe or confidence, labiaplasty might be something to consider.
Here are six signs you might be a good candidate for labiaplasty – because no, you don’t have to “just live with it.”
Image courtesy Shutterstock
1. Your Labia Tug, Rub or Pinch
If you’ve ever adjusted your leggings 17 times during yoga class or needed to discreetly untuck yourself from your swimsuit, you’re not imagining things. When the labia minora extend past the outer labia (labia majora), they can easily get caught or rubbed in ways that are, frankly, annoying. “Using a laser about the width of a human hair, I’m able to precisely remove excess tissue that can cause discomfort or pain,” explains Dr. Courtenay Poucher, board-certified OB/GYN and chief surgeon of Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles.
2. You Experience Discomfort During Sex
Sex should be pleasurable, not painful. But for some women, excess labial tissue causes irritation or a pinching sensation, or gets pulled in during intimacy. If that sounds familiar, labiaplasty can help by reshaping and reducing the tissue causing issues.
“There’s a common myth that labiaplasty is primarily an aesthetic procedure – and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Most frequently, women opt for this in-office procedure to restore ease and comfort – or experience that for the first time,” says Dr. Poucher. “So many of our patients tell us that they’ve never enjoyed intercourse – until after their labiaplasty! Being physically comfortable is a huge bump to the libido.”
3. Certain Clothes are just… not an Option
Tight jeans? No thank you. Swimsuits? Only with a cover-up. Thongs or lace panties? Not an option. If you’re constantly avoiding certain clothes because of how your labia feel or look, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a solution. “We had a patient who was a competitive volleyball player,” recalls Dr. Poucher. “Those shorts they have to wear during matches are tight – and tiny! She wasn’t just embarrassed that you could see the ‘line’ of her labia minora if you looked closely – she was constantly worried they’d actually ‘pop out.’ After her procedure, she was able to do what she loved with complete focus on the game – not her intimate anatomy.”
4. You Feel Self-Conscious About the Way You Look “Down There”
Again, variation is normal, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept feeling insecure. If you find yourself avoiding intimate moments because of how you feel about your labia, labiaplasty may help restore your confidence. “One of our patients told us she never made love with the lights on before her procedure,” says Dr. Poucher, “and another shared that she stayed in a bad relationship too long out of fear that she’d be too embarrassed to be with another partner in the future. Labiaplasty can have a massive positive impact on not just your physical comfort, but your emotional health, too.”
5. You’ve Had a Baby (or Two) & Things Feel… Different
Childbirth can absolutely change the way your labia look and feel. Many of our patients come in after having kids, looking to restore the balance and comfort they had before.
6. You’ve Been Thinking about this for a While
If you’ve already read half the internet, followed hashtags and talked yourself in and out of it a dozen times, you’re probably ready to talk to someone who actually gets it.
At the Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles, we offer warm, honest consultations so you can get real answers and decide if this is right for you.