in simplest terms, a labiaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure that changes the size or shape of the labia minora and/or the labia majora. the labia, latin for lips, are fleshy folds of tissue around a female’s genitals. according to the merck manual , literally meaning large lips, the labia majora enclose and protect the other external genital organs and contain sweat and sebaceous glands, which produce lubricating secretions. the labia minora can be very small and are just inside the labia majora, surrounding the openings to the vagina and urethra.
advertisement
advertisement
according to the american society of plastic surgeons (asps), those seeking labiaplasties have grown since the organization began keeping track in 2015, while the 2016 asps statistics report showed a 39 per cent increase in the number performed that year. on average, 10,000 to 12,000 of these procedures are performed annually. in fact, according to the international society of plastic surgeons , labiaplasty is the fastest growing cosmetic surgery procedure.
“it is certainly becoming more requested and i think some of that popularity relates to increasing transparency and discussion across online forums and platforms as well as education through social media,” says toronto plastic surgeon dr. jacqueline rose makerewich, plastic and reconstructive surgery at the toronto cosmetic surgery institute . “our clinic has certainly seen an increase in demand over the last five years. women are gaining a better understanding of what the procedure has to offer and feeling less shy about researching it.”
advertisement
advertisement
a 2014 study in the international urogynecology journal found that 91 per cent of people who had the procedure felt “more satisfied” with their genital appearance afterwards and found that “labiaplasty is effective in improving genital appearance and sexual satisfaction.”