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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

Before I answer your question, I want to applaud you for your self advocacy. This has been bothering you for decades – and you’re ready to take the necessary steps to feel more confident and comfortable in your body. That’s worth celebrating!

Now, to your question. The area you are describing is called the perineum, which is the tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus. Some women naturally have extra or slightly elongated perineal skin. This can sometimes appear like a small fold or “tail” of tissue.

In most cases, this is simply a normal variation of anatomy and is not harmful. However, if the appearance is bothersome or causing embarrassment, it can often be improved with a minor surgical procedure called perineal skin resection.

This is different from perineoplasty, which is designed to reshape and tighten the perineal tissue, removing excess skin and improving the contour of the area between the vaginal opening and the anus. The procedure can provide a smoother and more balanced appearance while maintaining normal function by addressing both skin and muscle tightening.

In contrast, a perineal skin resection just addresses that extra skin that you describe here.

A consultation with a board-certified surgeon would be necessary to confirm exactly what you are seeing and determine whether a small perineal revision procedure would be appropriate.

Do you have a question about non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation, labiaplasty or other intimate surgeries you’d like answered by Los Angeles 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.