Labiaplasty 101

There’s no question that labiaplasty is growing in popularity among patients and plastic surgeons. The question is, are you thinking about adding it to your practice?In the right hands, the procedure is safe, effective and ranks high in patient satisfaction, according to plastic surgeon Alexes Hazen, M.D., associate professor of plastic surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center.But there are best practices that help surgeons avoid complications and optimize outcomes, Dr. Hazen says.Labiaplasty, or labia minora reduction, is the most common procedure for women who are concerned with the appearance of their vulva areas. It’s usually performed by trimming the labia minora and, sometimes, the labia majora; then sewing them shut, according to Dr. Hazen.American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) statistics suggest demand for the procedure is increasing. In its 2014 national totals for cosmetic procedures, ASAPS reported surgeons performed 7,535 labiaplasty procedures. It ranked 19 out of the 20 most performed surgical procedures that year, up from a ranking of 20 in 2009. Labiaplasty increased by 49% in 2014, compared to the prior year, and nearly 90% of those patients were 19 to 50 years old.Read more at Cosmetic Surgery Times.