Washington Women’s Health 2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite 3C Fremont, California 94538 Phone: 510-248-1470 Fax: 510-796-5198

Stacey Barrie, MD Siobhan Calhoun, MD

Jing Dai, MD Elizabeth Kurkjian, MD

Victoria Leiphart, MD Jelriza Mansouri, MD

Stacie Macdonald, MD Sudeepthi Prasad, MD

Jenny (Hanh Thi) Tran, DO

Diplomates of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

LabiaReduction(Labiaplasty) Somewomendevelopenlargedorasymmetricallabiaminora(theinnervaginallips)duringpubertyorwithaging.Othersdevelopthisfromhormones,childbirth,orperhapschronicirritation.Theappearanceofthelabiavariesgreatlyfromonewomantoanotherandmostshapesandsizesarenormalvariations.Sometimesthesizeorasymmetryofthelabiamaycauseawomantoexperiencediscomfortduringcertainactivitieslikeexercise,sex,orwearingtightfittingclothing.Labiaplastyisasimpleminorproceduretodecreasethesizeofthelabia.Thegoalistoalleviatediscomfortassociatedwithlabialsize.

WhenisthebesttimetohaveaLabiaplastyperformed?

Itisrecommendedthatawomanwaituntilshehascompletedpubertybeforeundergoingalabiareduction.However,shedoesnothavetowaituntilaftercompletingchildbearingtobeacandidateforalabiaplasty.

Howislabiareductionperformedandisalasernecessary?

Asyouconsideranyoperation,yourconcernshouldfocusonasurgeon'sskills.Nophysicianhasgreaterexperiencewithfemalegenitaliathangynecologists.AtWomen’sHealthSpecialistsweareallboardcertifiedgynecologicsurgeons.

Let’salsoclarifyamisconception.Manysurgeonstrytoenhancetheirmarketingtothepublicbyimplyingthatusingalaseristhebestmethod.Alaserissimplyatoolthatcutsskin,nobetterorworsethanascalpelorfinescissors.Thecosmeticresultsandrecoveryaresimilarwithallmethods.

Mostimportantly,thespecifictechniqueandincisionswillbecustomizedtoexciseexcesstissueandreconstructyourlabiaminora.Preferencesvaryandyoursurgeonwillworkwithyoutodeterminetheoptimaldegreeofcorrection.

HowlongdoesaLabiaplastytaketoperform?

Itgenerallydependsontheextentoftheprocedure,butusuallytakesaboutonehouranddoesnotrequireahospitalstay.Avarietyofanesthesiachoicesareavailable.

Washington Women’s Health 2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite 3C Fremont, California 94538 Phone: 510-248-1470 Fax: 510-796-5198

Stacey Barrie, MD Siobhan Calhoun, MD

Jing Dai, MD Elizabeth Kurkjian, MD

Victoria Leiphart, MD Jelriza Mansouri, MD

Stacie Macdonald, MD Sudeepthi Prasad, MD

Jenny (Hanh Thi) Tran, DO

Diplomates of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Whatisrecoverylike?

Aswithanytypeofsurgery,thereisaperiodoftimeneededforthebodytoheal.Aftersurgery,anypainordiscomfortyoumayexperiencecanusuallybecontrolledthroughmedication.Sitzbathsorsoakinginwarmwater,afewtimeseachdaycanbequitesoothing.Forthefirstweek,mildsorenessandswellingiscommonandconsequentlyactivitiesarelimited.Wedonotrecommendvigorousexerciseforabout2weeksoruntilitcanbecomfortablyperformed.Likewise,youshouldabstainfromsexualintercourse(oranytypeofvaginalpenetration)for6weeks.

HowsooncanIreturntowork?

Itdependsgreatlyontheprocedureandthenatureofyourwork,butonaveragemostpatientsreturntoworkwithin7days.Ifcomplicationsarise,additionaltimeawayfromworkmayberequired.

Willtherebescars?

Yourdoctorwillmakeeveryefforttokeepincisionsasminimalaspossible.Inmostcasesthescarsarevirtuallyundetectableaftercompletehealingwithpatientsinfollow-upbeingextremelypleasedwiththeresults.Thefinalresultscanusuallybeappreciatedafewmonthsaftersurgery.

Washington Women’s Health 2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite 3C Fremont, California 94538 Phone: 510-248-1470 Fax: 510-796-5198

Stacey Barrie, MD Siobhan Calhoun, MD

Jing Dai, MD Elizabeth Kurkjian, MD

Victoria Leiphart, MD Jelriza Mansouri, MD

Stacie Macdonald, MD Sudeepthi Prasad, MD

Jenny (Hanh Thi) Tran, DO

Diplomates of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Whatarethepotentialrisksandcomplications?

Aswithanyoperationthereareriskssuchasbleeding,bruising,infection,andscarring.Theseeventsoccuronoccasionandusuallyresolve.Rarelypainwithsexpersists.Thesewillbediscussedduringyourconsultation.

Willinsurancecoverthecostoftheprocedure?

Labiaplastyisconsideredcosmeticsurgeryandhealthinsuranceplansdon'tcoverit.Thereisusuallyaphysician’sfee,afacilityfeeandananesthesiafee.Theexactamountswillvarydependingonthespecificsofyoursurgeryandthetypeofanesthesianecessary.Ourofficewillgiveyoumoredetailedinformationregardingcostsasyouplanforyoursurgery.