Labia Majora Lifting: Aesthetic and Functional Solution for Hypertrophy and/or Flaccidity of Labia Majora

Abstract

Introduction: During recent years many women have been searching for an improvement in the appearance of their vulva. We present our experience to evaluate the efficiency and safety of lifting of labia majora and evaluate the level of satisfaction with the surgical technique. Materials and Methods: Between March 2004 and June 2011, a total of 60 patients diagnosed with flaccidity and/or hypertrophy of labia majora were selected for surgery at the Urogynecology and Vaginal Surgery Unit in Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. The patients were asked to assess the results of surgery in terms of the degree of satisfaction with the obtained results. Results: The primary indication for surgery was aesthetic factors (100%); 20 patients also considered functional factors (33%), and only 6 women (10%) also considered psychologic factors. For aesthetic reasons, hypertrophy and flaccidity were the primary indication, less frequent were asymmetry and previous scars. During the early postoperative period 6.7% of women had a minimal suture dehiscence with spontaneous resolution. A total of 80% of the women were very satisfied, 15% were satisfied, and 5% were unsatisfied. Four patients presented cellulitis (6.7%). Conclusions: According to our experience, the lifting labioplasty of labia majora is a feasible, safe, and effective surgical procedure, with aesthetic results and high levels of satisfaction in patients.