Want a designer vagina? Join the club. Labiaplasty is on the rise. The number of women opting to undergo the surgical procedure, which reduces the size of the labia, increased by 39 percent in 2016, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Specifically, a total of 12,000 women decided to go under the knife to improve the appearance of their vagina. The surge in the number of these procedures may be due to societal pressure to have what is considered the “ideal vagina” or the fact that more women are waxing their bikini area and don’t like how it looks down there.
Yet, the truth is that region is as varied on every woman as their nose and eye shape. Some women naturally have looser vaginal lips and extra tissue. They were simply born that way. Others have distended labia because of childbirth.
Still, there are some medical reasons that may lead a woman to consider labiaplasty.
- Sagging skin around the vagina can cause discomfort during sex. This condition, called Dyspareunia, is usually caused by medical issues associated with external area of the vagina.
- The extra vaginal tissue can chafe when rubbed against clothing, bikinis, and bathing suits.
- Labia enlargement, or hypertrophied labia, can be painful when women are playing sports or participating in other activities that require tight clothing.
- Labiaplasty can help alleviate pain caused from long periods of sitting.
- Some women suffer from chronic and painful urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Enlarged labia can lead to more bacterial infections because it’s sometimes difficult to thoroughly cleanse the area.
- Pain, discomfort, and itching.
While there are many medical reasons for the procedure, some women opt for the surgery for the same reasons that someone might choose a breast augmentation or rhinoplasty: they aren’t happy with the appearance of the body part.
Wondering if labiaplasty is right for you? Contact Dr. Ghozland’s office today to schedule a free consultation. For women living outside of the Los Angeles area, or for those who prefer a weekend, we also offer Saturday appointments.