Labiaplasty After Childbirth

From conception through to childbirth, your body goes through many changes to accommodate bringing a child into the world. The vagina is one area that undergoes significant change, which can cause aesthetic issues and ongoing discomfort even after childbirth. A labiaplasty is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure for vaginal rejuvenation because it addresses these concerns by altering the shape or size of the labia minora (the skin of the vaginal folds). 

How Pregnancy and Childbirth Change the Labia

Changes to the vagina during pregnancy are common, particularly later in the pregnancy, where swelling and pressure are more pronounced. This is because pelvic blood flow increases to ensure the baby gets sufficient nutrients from the mother. In addition, it is normal for the vagina to get ‘longer’ as the labia become looser and softer to prepare for childbirth. 

As the baby passes through the birth canal, there is a large amount of strain on the vagina, both inside and out. This can cause stretching and tearing of the labia that may result in long-term discomfort or unhappiness with its appearance.

Benefits of Labiaplasty

A labiaplasty is ideal for women who wish to reduce the size of their labia after childbirth. Women who have struggled with ongoing pain and discomfort from excess tissue or have aesthetic concerns about their labia can benefit from the surgical procedure.

Reduced Discomfort

After childbirth, many women report discomfort as a result of friction from the excess tissue. By reducing the size of the labia, this friction is minimized, and discomfort is significantly lessened. This can help women feel more comfortable and confident wearing tight clothing, playing sports and exercising, and having sexual intercourse.

Improved Health

There are several health benefits of undergoing a labiaplasty procedure. By removing the excess labia tissue, there is less discomfort and pain caused by the long labia catching or rubbing against underwear or during intercourse.

Enhanced Aesthetic Beauty

Many women may seek to remove excess tissue with a labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons. This may be to achieve a neater ‘tucked in’ appearance or to improve the symmetry between the vaginal lips. As a result, women often report feeling less self-conscious and more sexually confident after a labiaplasty. 

Before and Afters

When to Get a Labiaplasty After Childbirth

You will usually have to wait at least six months after giving birth to have a labiaplasty procedure. This gives your body time to heal and for any inflammation to dissipate. After this, you should have a better idea of whether labiaplasty is right for you.

Labiaplasty Procedure

A labiaplasty is an individualized surgical procedure, and the surgical techniques used can be tailored to a patient’s needs. Typically, a labiaplasty is carried out under local anesthesia. Once this has been administered, your surgeon will use a scalpel to remove the excess tissue of the labia minora. After this, the remaining tissue will be tucked neatly beneath the labia majora (the external tissue of the vaginal lips). Finally, your surgeon will use dissolvable stitches to close the incisions.

Recovery

Following your cosmetic surgery, you may notice some swelling, soreness, and bruising around the vagina. Your surgeon will supply you with a comprehensive aftercare plan and any necessary pain medication to manage such side effects and make your labiaplasty recovery as smooth as possible. 

Patients are usually able to recommence most of their daily tasks, including returning to work after two weeks. However, full healing may take up to 6-8 weeks, and, as such, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise, sexual intercourse, and tight clothing in the meantime.

Results

After 6-12 weeks, any swelling from cosmetic surgery should have subsided, and you will be able to see the full results of your labiaplasty. After this, you can fully enjoy both the permanent aesthetic and functional benefits of your labiaplasty.

Schedule a Consultation With CREO Clinic Today

If you are looking to reduce the size or change the shape of your labia after giving birth, a labiaplasty may be right for you. Here at the CREO Clinic, our double-board certified plastic surgeon Dr Tillo has mastered the clinical and artistic skills necessary to carry out this specialist procedure. Dr Tillo is able to combine a range of surgical techniques in accordance with each patient’s individual needs to produce optimal results. 

We know that a labiaplasty is an intimate procedure and understand that you could have reservations about being seen by a male surgeon. That is why we are committed to an ethos of strict confidentiality for patients and offer additional chaperoning services to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Overall, we believe that the results speak for themselves, and we are happy to discuss any concerns you may have throughout your time at our clinic. 

To book a 1-to-1 consultation with Dr Tillo, contact the CREO Clinic today and find out if labiaplasty is a suitable vaginal rejuvenation for you and your body’s needs.