LABIAPLASTY

Labiaplasty in Sydney with specialist plastic surgeon Dr Reema Hadi and an all-female team

At a glance

  • What it is: surgery to reduce or reshape the labia, by specialist plastic surgeon Dr Reema Hadi with an all-female team.
  • Techniques: wedge (the one Dr Hadi uses most). The clitoral hood or outer labia can be done in the same operation.
  • Day surgery: you go home the same day. The operation usually takes about 1 hours. The procedure will take about 2.5-3 hours as this includes check in time and recovery.
  • Recovery: about 1 week off physical work, light exercise at 2 weeks, sex at 6 weeks. Results vary from person to person.
  • Cost: a written, itemised quote after your first consultation. Medicare helps only if item 35534 applies, including labia more than 8 cm long.

Labiaplasty is surgery to reduce or reshape the labia. At The Swan Clinic in Miranda and Hunters Hill, it is performed by Dr Reema Hadi, a specialist plastic surgeon, with an all-female team. Dr Hadi has performed more than 1,200 labiaplasty procedures.

We know this is a private and sensitive area. You will never be made to feel embarrassed. Any photos taken are kept confidential and never shown to anyone without your written consent.

Is labiaplasty right for me?

Labia come in many shapes and sizes, and almost all are normal. Surgery is never needed for your health. It is a personal choice, made after careful discussion with Dr Hadi.

Women usually come to see us because of physical discomfort, such as:

  • rubbing, twisting or pinching in underwear, swimwear or tight clothing
  • discomfort during exercise, cycling or horse riding
  • irritation, or difficulty keeping the area clean
  • discomfort during sex

Some women also feel self-conscious about how their labia look. Dr Hadi will talk through your concerns honestly, including whether surgery is likely to help. You must be 18 or older. Read more in Am I a good candidate for labiaplasty?

What is normal?

Labia vary widely from woman to woman. Dr Hadi sees four common shapes of the inner labia (labia minora).

  • Sting ray – longer in one area (about half of women)
  • Fan – longer over a wider area (about 3 in 10)
  • Funnel – a narrower opening (about 1 in 10)
  • Asymmetry – one side much longer than the other (about 1 in 20)

About 1 in 10 women also have larger tissue overall: the clitoral hood, the labia and the clitoris are all larger. Treating this safely can take more than one operation, so the blood supply is protected at each step.

Labial length is measured from the vaginal opening and grouped into four grades: Grade I less than 2 cm, Grade II 2–4 cm, Grade III 4–8 cm and Grade IV more than 8 cm. Medicare may help with the cost for some women with Grade IV labia. See What do normal labia look like?

Types of labiaplasty

Every woman's anatomy is different, so Dr Hadi plans each operation around yours. Often more than one of these is done in the same operation.

Labia minora reduction. The most common labiaplasty. It reduces the length and size of the inner labia. There are three main techniques:

  • Wedge ("butterfly"): a V-shaped section is removed from the middle of each labium and the edges are joined. It keeps the natural edge, colour and glands, and avoids a scar along the edge. This is the technique Dr Hadi uses most.
  • Trim: tissue is removed along the outer edge. It suits some shapes better, but leaves a scar along the edge. Almost never done in our clinic.
  • De-epithelialisation: the surface layer is removed from a horizontal section and the labium is folded and stitched, keeping the tissue underneath.

Compare them in Labiaplasty techniques: trim vs wedge.

Clitoral hood reduction. A large hood can feel uncomfortable or look out of proportion once the labia are reduced. It can be reduced from the sides (lateral) or from the top (superior). The clitoris must stay covered, so there is a safe limit to how much hood is removed. See Clitoral hood reduction.

Labia majora reduction. Reduces the size of the outer labia, which may change with age, weight loss or pregnancy. See Labia majora reduction.

Adding volume to the outer labia. Restores fullness that has been lost, usually with fat grafting to the labia majora.

Perineoplasty. Surgery to the area between the vaginal opening and the anus, which can stretch or tear during birth. About 1 in 10 women have a fold of skin (webbing) at the back of the vaginal opening; Dr Hadi checks for this before surgery because, if missed, it can cause rubbing later. See Vaginal wall and perineal repair.

Had labiaplasty elsewhere? See Revision labiaplasty.

Before your surgery

  1. Referral. You need a referral from your GP or another specialist before your first appointment.
  2. First consultation with Dr Hadi. She examines you, explains the options that suit your anatomy, and goes through the risks and what to expect. She will also ask how you feel about your body, as Australian guidelines require for all cosmetic surgery.
  3. Second consultation. You go through everything again and ask any new questions. There is no extra charge for this visit.
  4. Time to decide. There must be at least 7 days between giving your consent and your surgery. You can change your mind at any time.

To get ready: stop smoking at least 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery; stop blood thinners 2 weeks before unless Dr Hadi says otherwise (we give you a full list); shower with antibacterial soap the night before or that morning; don't eat or drink for at least 6 hours beforehand; and arrange a driver and someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours. More in Your labiaplasty consultation.

The day of surgery

Labiaplasty is done as day surgery at the Swan clinic or Kareena private hospital, and you go home the same day. You can have a general anaesthetic (you are asleep) or a intravenous (twilight) anaesthetic, depending on your preference and the procedure. The operation usually takes about 1 hours, but a total of 2.5-3 hours at the clinic. The wound is closed in layers with stitches that dissolve on their own. You go home with antibiotic tablets, pain relief and Dr Hadi's direct phone number. See Anaesthesia and your surgery day.

Recovery, week by week

Most women take a week off physical work and are back to normal activity within a month. Everyone heals differently, so always follow Dr Hadi's advice for you.

  • Day of surgery: rest at home. Hold ice wrapped in a tea towel over the area that day and the next morning. Wear a pad to absorb any ooze.
  • Next day: check-up with Dr Hadi. You can shower from today. After the toilet, rinse with water, pat dry and apply Vaseline.
  • Week 1: keep wearing a pad and apply Vaseline about three times a day. Take your antibiotics. Use a soft cushion, avoid sitting for long periods, and wear loose clothing.
  • From about 1 week: return to work (allow a full week off for physical jobs). Drive once comfortable, usually after at least a week.
  • From 2 weeks: light exercise, such as walking.
  • From 4 weeks: heavier exercise, as Dr Hadi advises
  • 6 weeks: sex, tampons and menstrual cups, once the stitches have fully healed. This includes swimming and baths.
  • 3 months: check-up. Most swelling has gone.
  • 12 months: final check-up.

Full detail in Labiaplasty recovery week by week, swelling and scars and exercise and sex after labiaplasty.

When to call us

Call Dr Hadi or the clinic on 02 9526 6885 straight away if you have a temperature above 38°C, heavy bleeding, pain, redness or swelling that is getting worse, or a discharge that smells unpleasant.

Risks

All surgery carries risks, and Dr Hadi goes through each one with you before you decide. They include infection, bleeding or a blood collection (haematoma), wound breakdown or slow healing, scarring, changes in sensation (usually temporary), changes in sexual sensation, ongoing discomfort, long-lasting swelling, asymmetry or a result different from what you hoped for, removing too much tissue (which is hard to correct), difficulty passing urine in the first days, and risks of the anaesthetic. Results vary from person to person. Read every risk in detail in Labiaplasty risks and complications.

Cost and Medicare

The total cost depends on which procedures you have, the type of anaesthetic, and the hospital and anaesthetist fees. After your first consultation you receive a written quote with every fee itemised. Usually it is $6500 all inclusive including surgical, anaesthetic and day surgery costs at the Swan clinic (you must meet some health criteria). However, additional surgery or surgery at Kareena hospital will incur an additional costs. See Labiaplasty cost in Sydney.

Medicare does not cover labiaplasty done for appearance alone. It may contribute when there is a medical need: Medicare item 35534 can apply when you are 18 or older, the labia hang more than 8 cm below the vaginal opening when you stand, and they cause significant physical problems. Dr Hadi will tell you at your consultation whether this applies to you. See Is labiaplasty covered by Medicare?

Why women choose The Swan Clinic

  • A specialist plastic surgeon. Dr Hadi holds specialist registration in plastic surgery. You can check any doctor's registration on the Ahpra public register – see How to choose a labiaplasty surgeon.
  • An all-female team, from your first phone call to your surgery.
  • Two consultations before you decide, and Dr Hadi's direct number after surgery.
  • Two locations: Miranda in the Sutherland Shire and Hunters Hill. Coming from outside Sydney? See Travelling to Sydney for labiaplasty.

Book a consultation

To talk about labiaplasty with Dr Hadi, call 02 9526 6885 or send an enquiry. Every question is welcome, and everything you tell us is kept confidential. For independent information, see the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Plain-English guides

Labiaplasty guides

See all guides →

FAQs

Why are some women's labia longer?

Often it is simply how a woman is made: the labia grow during adolescence. Longer labia can also become more noticeable after childbirth.

Will labiaplasty change sex or sensation?

Longer labia do not usually affect sexual function. Surgery is not done to improve sexual function, and for most women it does not change it. Changes in sensation are a possible risk, which Dr Hadi explains at your consultation.

Is labiaplasty painful?

Most women have mild to moderate discomfort for the first few days. You go home with pain relief, and ice packs help with swelling.

Can I still have children after labiaplasty?

Yes. Labiaplasty does not stop you having a vaginal birth. The tissue can stretch again during birth, and occasionally a small second operation is needed later.

How long does labiaplasty take to heal?

Most women return to work after about a week, light exercise from 2 weeks and sex from 6 weeks. Swelling settles over several weeks and the area keeps settling for months.

How much does labiaplasty cost in Sydney?

It depends on the procedures, anaesthetic and hospital fees. You receive a written, itemised quote after your first consultation. Medicare may contribute in some cases.

Will there be a scar?

Every operation leaves a scar. With the wedge technique the scar sits away from the edge of the labia. Dr Hadi will explain where yours will be.

Can I have labiaplasty if I am under 18?

No. The Swan Clinic only performs labiaplasty for women aged 18 and over.