Labia Majora Reduction

The vulva, or outside of the vagina, is made up of two folds of the skin. The labia minora and majora. The labia minora are the inner folds of skin that are attached to and contiguous to the clitoral hood. The labia majora are the outer folds or protrusions of skin and fat underneath this skin that extend from the mons pubis region and extend down to and merge with the perineum just under the opening of the vagina. When this area is enlarged and protrude or hang down more than a woman may desire it is called Labia Majora Hypertrophy (enlargement of the labia majora). This condition may affect a woman at any age and can cause bulging in tight fitting clothes such as bathing suits or yoga pants. Some women also call this a “camel toe” appearance. If there is an abundance of excess sagging skin in the area it can also cause discomfort with certain activities such as exercise or sexual intercourse. Some women may also suffer from external yeast infections in the folds of the majora if they are very large.

Types of Majora Enlargement

Labia Majora enlargement or hypertrophy can be caused by several reasons: 1. Excess fat in the majora region (Labia Majora Lipodystrophy) and 2. Excess skin in the majora region (Labia Majora Atrophy) or a combination of excess fat and excess skin.

The labia majora are made up of a fold of skin and then a pocket of subcutaneous fat. It is this fat pocket that makes the majora protrude out slightly. This is natural and its normal appearance gives the majora a plump and youthful appearance. Too much fat under these folds however can cause the majora to bulge out excessively and cause the problems described above. This can happen in all sizes of women and is genetic in nature. Some women will not have excess fat, but instead have excess skin in the majora region causing the majora to protrude and sag downwards. This can occur following childbirth and/or ageing. The fat pads actually can shrink with time, the skin becomes more elastic and the result Is sagging, wrinkled loose majora skin.

Treatment

Both types of Labia Majora enlargement can be treated with Labia Majora Reduction. This procedure may be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as labiaplasty of the minora, vaginoplasty, or mons pubis liposuction. Whether it is excess skin and/or excess fat in the majora region, the excess skin and fat must be removed with a surgical procedure. Liposuction alone does not work to reduce the size of the majora and if only liposuction is done, the result will then be sagging skin that hangs down still. An incision is made along the inner fold of the majora and the minora and then a crescent shaped wedge of the excess skin (and any excess fat if present) and then the incision then closed with several layers of absorbable sutures and skin glue on the final layer. Dr Miklos and Moore attempt to hide the incision as best possible in the fold between the majora and the minora. In some instances of an abundance of excess skin with no subcutaneous fat present, a skin reduction is completed and then autologous fat is transferred (labia majora augmentation) to plump up the area and make it appear more youthful. This may be done at the time of the reduction, or at a later date.

Results

The results will be a more youthful appearance of the labia majora without them protruding a large amount and with a reduction of any excess sagging or wrinkled skin. Recovery is quick and risks are minimal. In some instances, if necessary, the skin may be further tightened with non-surgical in office skin tightening procedures such as ThermiVa™ Radiofrequency.

Dr Miklos and Moore are world leaders in cosmetic vaginal surgery including labia majora reduction. They published the first scientific article in the worldwide literature on the combination of a majora and minora reduction and have developed many of the techniques that cosmetic surgeons utilize throughout the world. They also published the first chapter ever on Cosmetic Vaginal Surgery in the largest Female Urology textbook in print. They are award winning cosmetic surgeons and are asked on a regular basis to teach at major scientific meetings throughout the world. Please be sure that your surgeons have the expertise you deserve.