WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for November, 2007: Re: GYNECOLOGIC: Inner Labia physiology and labiaplasty

Re: GYNECOLOGIC: Inner Labia physiology and labiaplasty

From: D. Ashley Hill, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:56:12 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: Benji: "GYNECOLOGIC: Inner Labia physiology and labiaplasty"

At Thu, 29 Nov 2007, Benji wrote: >
>Male posting...
>My fiancee was mentioning the other night about thinking about plastic
>surgery for her vagina. snip.

Benji- Some women are born with "labial hypertrophy" where one or both labia minorae are enlarged, sometimes dramatically. They can get pulled into the vagina during intercourse, causing pain, rub against clothing or gym clothes, or even hang out of the side of shorts or underwear, causing pain or embarrassment. Outpatient trimming of the labia, which requires a series of small sutures under anesthesia, solves the problem nicely.

Unfortunately (in my opinion) many women with normal-sized, and normal-appearing, labia want "vaginal rejuvenation" to change the shape of their vulvas. There is a huge variation in the appearance of external genitalia. While the vagina can develop hernias (for example, a cystocele or rectocele) after vaginal delivery, it's very uncommon for the vulva to change appearance dramatically after the healing phase of delivery is completed (about 6 weeks).

As an example, I saw a 17 year-old the other day with totally normal labia who was teased by several of her friends because they noticed she "looked weird down there" when they were changing after swimming. For that reason she wanted to undergo surgery, which can be painful. (I declined, and after showing her some photos of normal variation she seemed satisfied with her appearance). Perhaps you could find a gyn anatomy textbook, or accompany her to her gynecologist's office, for an unbiased explanation of the normal variation in female external genitals. Best of luck, and thanks for posting.

Ashley Hill

-- D. Ashley Hill, MD Division Director, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Florida Hospital Orlando Medical Director Loch Haven Ob/Gyn Group 235 East Princeton Street, #200 Orlando, Florida 32804 http://www.lochhavenobgyn.com

Please understand that due to time constraints I am unable to answer any personal emails, therefore they will receive no response.

These comments are general educational comments and should not be construed as specific medical advice. The best person to answer your health care questions is your physician or other health care provider. Thank you very much.

Next message: D. Ashley Hill, M.D.: "Re: MENORRHAGIA: Diagnostic Laparoscopy"
Previous message: Toni: "MISCARRIAGE: D&C GONE WRONG"
In reply to: Benji: "GYNECOLOGIC: Inner Labia physiology and labiaplasty"

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