From the Blog
Why Women Are Choosing Labiaplasty After Childbirth
Being a mom is hard. Managing the physical shifts your body has made during pregnancy and childbirth often makes it harder.
After childbirth, many women notice intimate physical changes that can affect both their comfort and confidence.
Image courtesy Shutterstock
One of the most common concerns is the alteration of the labia, the skin folds surrounding the vaginal opening. Especially during the birth of their first child, this delicate tissue can tear, leaving lacerations that scar or even pieces of the labia that longer completely attach to the body.
Even “easy” vaginal deliveries can stretch and change the shape of the labia, leaving women in discomfort, feeling self-conscious and frustrated. This is where labiaplasty – a procedure designed to reshape or reduce the size of the labia – can provide both physical and emotional relief.
Dr. Courtenay Poucher, OB/GYN and the owner of Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles, often sees patients seeking labiaplasty after childbirth. “Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for women to feel pain after giving birth, both physically and emotionally,” Dr. Poucher explains. “While our culture often discusses the changes they see in women’s breasts, stomachs and thighs after pregnancy, we rarely talk about how childbirth can impact the labia, vagina and other intimate areas.”
Trauma to the labia during childbirth can later cause discomfort, chafing, itching and even bleeding during exercise, intimacy or day-to-day activities. Labiaplasty can help restore both function and aesthetic appeal to the intimate, allowing women to feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin.
Feel “different down there” after giving birth? You’re not alone. Physical changes caused by childbirth can range from mild to significant. Some women notice that their labia becomes elongated, asymmetrical or “loose.” It’s possible that, due to a significant tear during childbirth, part of the labia may even dangle – causing the sensation of pulling. These changes can make women feel self-conscious wearing certain types of clothing – like a bathing suit or leggings – and make intercourse painful, too.
Labiaplasty offers an effective solution to these concerns. By trimming or reshaping the labia during a minimally-invasive in-office procedure using local anesthesia at Labiaplasty Center of Los Angeles, Dr. Poucher can restore a woman’s comfort and confidence.
“Labiaplasty is a highly-personalized procedure,” explains Dr. Poucher. “Our entire all-women staff works closely with each patient to understand their specific concerns and desires so that we can deliver results that are beyond their expectations. The goal is always to improve quality of life, whether that’s through alleviating discomfort, enhancing appearance or simply helping women feel like themselves again after the physical changes of childbirth.”
If you’re considering labiaplasty, it’s important to speak with a board-certified surgeon who can guide you through the process and help you determine what’s best for your body and your overall wellbeing.