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By Dr. Courtenay Poucher, MD, FACOG, certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the National Society of Cosmetic Physicians

It’s completely understandable to feel nervous about labiaplasty – especially when the surgery involves such an intimate, sensitive area. You’re asking exactly the right questions.

Let me get to your most pressing question first: Is labiaplasty safe?

When performed by a formally-trained, experienced labiaplasty surgeon, labiaplasty is considered a safe procedure with a low complication rate. In fact, in my practice – Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles – our complication rate is well below industry standards.

I perform minimally-invasive labiaplasty using only local anesthesia – so you don’t have to worry about complications that can come with general anesthesia, either.

All that being said, no surgical procedure is ever “zero risk,” and it’s important to be honest about that.

Next, let’s talk about how labiaplasty could affect sensation or sexual health. The vast majority of our patients report improvement in comfort during intimacy – especially if excess tissue previously caused irritation, pulling or pain. Because the surgery is performed on the labia minora, not the clitoris or clitoral nerves, your ability to reach orgasm should not be affected. In fact, if excess tissue is limiting access to the clitoris, you may experience more pleasurable sensation post surgery.

Knowledgeable labiaplasty surgeons are very careful to preserve nerve-rich areas and avoid aggressive tissue removal. When done properly and with precision, like we do in my practice, normal sensation is maintained. Temporary changes in sensitivity can occur during healing, but these resolve as swelling decreases and tissues recover.

To your question about nerve damage: Permanent nerve injury is very rare, but it is a known risk – as it is with any surgery involving skin and soft tissue. The likelihood depends heavily on surgical technique, how much tissue is removed and the surgeon’s experience with vulvar anatomy.

This is why surgeon selection is critical. Over-resection or poor technique increases the risk of complications, including changes in sensation or cosmetic dissatisfaction.

Here’s the question only you can answer: Is labiaplasty surgery worth the risk? Only you can decide that – but most patients who choose labiaplasty do so because the physical or emotional discomfort of living with the issue outweighs the low surgical risk. If it helps, it might be worth noting that at our Los Angeles labiaplasty clinic, our most frequent post-op feedback from patients is, “I wish I did it sooner!”

My strongest recommendation is to consult with a surgeon who has extensive experience specifically with labiaplasty – not just general cosmetic surgery. During your consultation, or via their website, review their before and after photos and read up on their reviews in places like RealSelf, Google and Yelp. During your chat, be very open with your goals and concerns – and pay attention to how you feel in their office, with their staff and with their bedside manner.

You should never feel rushed or pressured into surgery – so take all the time you need to get your questions answered to your satisfaction.

Do you have a question about non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation, labiaplasty or other intimate surgeries you’d like answered by Santa Clarita labiaplasty specialist Dr. Courtenay Poucher? Use our contact form to connect with us. We will answer as many questions via our blog as time allows.