Cosmetic Gynaecology
Cosmetic gynaecology has become more popular over recent years as women have become aware that it is possible to correct potentially embarrassing problems with protruberant labia or prominent pubic mounds. These can be emphasized with wearing tight clothing or swimwear which can enhance rather than conceal these problems. Women can now undergo labiaplasty to reduced prominent labia (or inner lips around the vagina), or liposculpture to reduce and recontour a prominent pubic area.
Labial Reduction
What is labial reduction (labiaplasty) and why is it performed?
Many women are born with large or unequal labia, while others develop this condition with childbirth or age. Labial reduction is a surgical procedure to shorten the inner lips (labia) of the vagina. It is popular with women who are dissatisfied with their long protuberant labia to the point of causing embarrassment and/or discomfort and may lead to difficulty with sexual intercourse.
Who requests this procedure?
Labial reduction is suitable for those women who dislike the large protruberant appearance of their labia. Some women are born with large labia; others develop this condition with childbirth or age.
What does the procedure involve?
Reduction of the labia minora is performed usually under general anaesthetic with care taken to obtain as natural a result as possible. Care is taken to avoid over-resection of the labia and to avoid interference with the clitoris or urethral opening. The procedure can be carried out in one of two ways depending on where the excess labial tissue lies. It may involve trimming of the inner folds along the prominent edge so that they no longer protrude, or by removing a 'V' shape wedge of tissue and sewing the remaining edges back together, thereby reducing the overall length of the labia. In severe cases, a combination of both methods may be used.
Scars are usually minimal and normally visible only to the trained eye.
What is the recovery period like?
After surgery, women may experience some mild discomfort and swelling, which usually disappears completely after 1-2 weeks. The labial incisions usually heal quickly and are rarely noticeable. After the procedure, there may be some spotting of blood, and you will therefore need wear a panty liner until this settles. The sutures dissolve naturally, so there is no need for their removal afterwards. You are advised to avoid vigorous exercise for 2 weeks and vaginal intercourse for 4 weeks. A daily bath or shower ensures rapid healing which is usually complete within two weeks.
Are there any risks involved in labiaplasty surgery?
All surgery involves an element of risk from developing complications. However, cosmetic surgery is usually undertaken voluntarily and only when the patient is in good health. Therefore, the probability of experiencing complications following this kind of surgery is substantially lower than for those who undergo surgery due to ill health.
Risks such as bleeding, infection, asymmetry, alteration in sensitivity and scarring will all be discussed openly at consultation.
What next?
The importance of a thorough pre-operative consultation with the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who will actually perform your operation cannot be over stressed. At Methley Park Hospital, each consultation is tailored to an individual's needs. The process will always involve a thorough evaluation of your past and present medical history and a physical examination of the area of concern.
Your surgeon will take time to listen to your concerns regarding your labia, and will take care to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of what can be done to help, the procedure itself, the recovery stages and a clear explanation of the risks involved. You will need to consider all of these factors before making a decision regarding labial reduction.
How to arrange a consultation with a fully qualified Consultant with GMC specialist registration
Please feel free to call our Customer Service Advisory Team at Methley Park Hospital who will be pleased to answer any queries, or make an appointment for you to meet with a Consultant Surgeon who has specialist skills and experience in labial reduction.
Our Customer Advisory Service is personally manned between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. We will also be happy to discreetly return your call if you leave a short message, forwarding name and telephone number on our confidential answer phone after office hours.
Pubic Mound Reduction
The pubic mound is the area of the hair bearing skin at the lower end of the abdomen (tummy). Some women have an excess of the fat pad in this area, making it appear prominent, which may be visible through tight clothing, swimwear and lingerie. This may lead to embarrassment and lack of self esteem. This can be corrected with liposculpture to contour and reduce the prominence.
Liposculpture of the Mons Pubis is carried out usually under general anaesthetic as a day case procedure. Fat removal techniques such as liposculpture and liposuction are most suitable for the reduction or removal of stubborn areas of fat that have previously proved resistant to normal diet and exercise regimes. The ultimate objective of liposuction surgery is to produce a well contoured and permanently slimmer profile on the area treated. The aim of the surgeon is to create a new shape that will complement and work in harmony with the other proportions of a patient's body
How is a fat removal procedure performed?
A liposuction procedure involves the surgical removal of surplus fat through a slender tube called a cannula. This cannula can be either connected to a large syringe or a special surgical vacuum device, through which, excess fat cells are carefully removed.
The surgeon injects the selected area with a clear solution that limits bleeding and bruising and numbs the surrounding tissue. This solution will be absorbed in part by the body and the remaining solution will leak out of the tiny cannula incisions for several days after surgery. This is a normal process and patients should not be alarmed by such leakage.
Following surgery the small keyhole incision sites left after the suction surgery are either sutured together with a tiny single stitch, or closed with a simple Elastoplast dressing. Patients are then dressed in a firm support garment, which must be worn at all times for 4 - 6 weeks following surgery. This support garment is important, as it adds pressure to the newly formed shape and assists with the early reduction of swelling and tissue healing.
How will you feel after fat removal surgery and what is the recovery period like?
Whilst fat removal procedures are usually considered reasonably minor, the operated area is often quite tender, bruised and painful for several weeks following surgery. Analgesic tablets (pain killers) are always provided for any discomfort and patients are encouraged to stay as mobile as possible during the early recovery stage to help improve their circulation. This in turn will help diminish residual swelling and bruising and aid a more speedy recovery.
In the early days following discharge, patients are strongly advised to avoid any excessive level of activity that would put undue strain on the operated areas. In order to help the newly shaped fatty tissue and skin bond firmly together, patients are usually advised to wear an elastic support garment day and night for one week and then for a minimum of another three weeks during the daytime.
It is usual for patients to take around 7 days away from work, dependant on the nature of the patient's work and the volume of fat removed.
Are there any risks involved in fat removal surgery?
All surgery involves an element of risk from developing complications. However, cosmetic surgery is usually undertaken voluntarily and only when a patient is in good health. Therefore, the probability of experiencing complications from this kind of surgery is substantially lower than for those who undergo surgery for ill health reasons.
Risks such as bleeding, infection, alteration in sensitivity, irregularity and scarring will all be discussed quite openly at consultation, as well as our scrupulous efforts to manage and minimise these risks to their lowest possible potential.
This procedure can involve the removal of reasonably large volumes of fat. The elasticity of an individual's skin will determine how moderate or dramatic the shape change can be. Although in the majority of cases, loose skin following surgery is not a significant problem it is worth bearing in mind that not everyone is suitable for this procedure for this reason. A careful assessment of an individual's skin condition will always be made by the surgeon before any decisions are made about a patient's suitability for this procedure.
The surface contour over the treated area/s can sometimes be irregular particularly if a lot of fat has been removed. However, if an appropriately skilled surgeon carries out this technique these irregularities are usually very minor. Dimpled skin (cellulite) will not usually be improved by undergoing a liposuction procedure.
The loss of superficial skin sensitivity following liposuction surgery varies from patient to patient. Sometimes it can take several months for skin sensitivity to completely recover and on very rare occasions, a treated area may remain permanently numb.
Typically, the keyhole incisions made during a procedure are very small (a few millimetres across). However, the appearance of scars, (which generally fade progressively after surgery) are a highly individual matter. Usually these extremely small scars mature, soften and fade to a negligible level by 6 months following surgery. Very occasionally however, patients can develop discoloured, unsightly firm scars, known as hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which may require further corrective treatment.
What next?
The importance of a thorough pre-operative consultation with the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who will perform your procedure cannot be over stressed. At Classic Hospitals, each consultation is tailored to an individual's needs. The process will always involve a thorough evaluation of your present and past medical history and a physical examination of the area of concern.
Your surgeon will take time to listen to your concerns and will take care to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of what can be done to help, the procedure itself, the recovery stages and a clear explanation of the risks involved. You will need time to consider all these factors before making a decision regarding fat removal surgery.
You are positively encouraged to ask any questions that you may have and to look at photographs of others who have had the same type of surgery that you are considering. If you would find it helpful, our advisory team may be able to arrange for you to speak with a previous Classic Hospitals' patient who is willing to discuss their experience with you over the telephone.
How to arrange a consultation with a fully qualified Consultant with GMC specialist registration
Please feel free to call our Customer Service Advisory Team at Spire Methley Park Hospital who will be pleased to answer any queries, or make an appointment for you to meet with a Consultant Surgeon who has specialist skills and experience in liposuction.
Our Customer Advisory Service is personally manned between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. We will also be happy to discreetly return your call if you leave a short message, forwarding name and telephone number on our confidential answer phone after office hours.