How Does Labia Minora Labiaplasty Surgery Impact Patients' Perceptions of Their Genitals? [20B

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Labia Minora Labiaplasty (LmL) surgery is sought after for comfort, function and appearance concerns but little is documented on how these surgeries affect women's perceptions of their genitals. METHODS: The impact of LmL on patients' perceptions of their genitals was evaluated using the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS). Patients who underwent LmL were asked to fill out the FGSIS before and after surgery from August 2011 to May 2019. The Scores ranged from 7 to 28. The higher the score the more positive the perception. Pre- and Post-op scores were directly compared. Testimonials were collected. RESULTS: N=231 underwent LmL surgery and filled out the Pre-Op Questionnaires (Qs). The pre-op scores ranged from 7 to 26, mean score equaled 15.02 and the median pre-op score was 15. For N=217 who completed the Post-Op Qs, post-op scores ranged from 14 to 28 with mean post-op score of 25.45 and median score of 27. Twenty-one patients required a second procedure with higher FGSIS scores after the second procedure. The difference between the pre-op (CI 14.51, 15.52) and post-op (CI 25.02, 25.95) scores was strongly statistically significant (on the average 10 points higher) with a P-value=2.2 × 10−16. CONCLUSION: Labiaplasty surgery appears to have a positive impact on patients' perceptions of their genitalia using the FGSIS and testimonials. Labiaplasty surgery improves quality of life for women of all ages. The FGSIS can be a useful tool for practitioners to assess the success of LmL surgery.