Email: drsusan@drsusan.com

Why Would Anyone Want A Labiaplasty

I have been performing labiaplasty surgeries for over 12 years, and after well over 500 procedures can claim to be one of the most experienced surgeons in the country. I was drawn to learning how to help women who were complaining of excessively long or asymmetric labia minora because I have this problem myself, and would always find it annoying and irritating when I was running or biking or in tight-fitting clothes. I also saw and helped many patients with aesthetically unacceptable results after surgery performed by someone else, so I knew there had to be a better way and I set out to find it.

I grew up with a mother who was an expert seamstress, and by age 14 I was designing, sewing and selling my own clothes. My mom also taught me needlepoint, knitting, and crochet, and I gravitated towards fine work that required an eye for perfection and creating solutions to make things fit when that didn’t seem possible.

I often joke that being a cosmetic surgeon is just sewing with different fabric. The basic skills of measuring, marking, tacking, knowing how to manage stretch fabric (skin), and meticulously sewing, are basically the same. The process from imagination and then to design and construction of the finished outcome is no different with a cloth and human skin. A labiaplasty involves removing skin meticulously to create a tighter garment for the client without anyone knowing that it has been done. The system of making measurements, markings and darts are the same as a tailor would use taking in an expensive suit for a client who needs an alteration.

I have spoken and written extensively on the subject of labiaplasty, and whether one SHOULD have one. Bottom line is that I firmly believe that women should have control over their own bodies and if they are not mentally incapacitated, who can tell us what we should or should not do with our own body?

I often tell patients that I had twins at age 37 and while being thin and fit, my skin never returned to its old size. I had a large fold of skin after losing 60 pounds in the first 3 months after they were born, which literally would hang out of my jeans. I would have to wear special underwear to hold it in and feared at all times that it might fall out. I began planning vacations around it since I was afraid to wear a swimsuit, and would not be seen naked. One day I was driving wearing low cut jeans and looked down and saw this flap of skin sitting on my thighs like a pancake. After drying my tears I decided that day to have an abdominoplasty. Twelve years later I am so happy I made that choice. I can go where I want, wear what I want, and I simply don’t think about it. I am free. Patients requesting a labiaplasty often tell a similar story,

Will a labiaplasty make you richer, thinner or taller? NO! But it may make you more comfortable doing normal activities that you currently fear, be it bike riding, yoga, sex, or being naked in front of other men or women. To me, that freedom is priceless. I tell all my labiaplasty patients that a year after the surgery I doubt they will actively think how great their labia look- they will simply just not think about it anymore. That’s freedom.

Since I am a doctor, I like science and was involved in a landmark study published in 2016 which showed that body image and sexual satisfaction actually DO improve after labiaplasty. Importantly, this is not because any clitoral function is altered but simply because we feel better and more confident about our bodies, which makes us feel sexy. I have also published several articles about labiaplasty and have spoken nationwide on the subject. Suffice to say, I am well versed in the pros and cons of this procedure, and if you are happy the way you are, I am happy for you too. I would NEVER tell a woman that she needs this surgery. No one NEEDS this surgery. Just like no one needs breast augmentation. It’s a personal choice that is between you and yourself- no one else.

I have literally thousands of before and after pictures of labiaplasty, some of which you can view here. You’ll see samples of different normal labia shapes and how they can be altered with labiaplasty surgery. Remember, no two women are alike, and each surgery is addressed as a unique situation that no one else in the world will ever share. I can share many more photos with you when you come to visit me in the office. 

If you have questions about labiaplasty or want to schedule a consultation I invite you to email me at drsusan@drsusan.com and let’s chat! Many of my patients come to me from outside of Houston or outside the country and we can help you to manage that too. Just don’t be afraid to take the first step towards freedom!

Best wishes, Dr. Susan