Labiaplasty

(also: bottom surgery, lower surgery, stage 2 of a vaginoplasty)

Introduction
General Information
Types of Surgery

Types of Surgery: On Its Own
Types of Surgery: As Stage Two of Vaginoplasty

External Links

External Links: Additional Resources

Introduction

Labiaplasty, a surgery to resize the labia, is considered somewhat controversial among cisgender women. That being said, this page will not be discussing labiaplasty in the context of cisgender women. Instead, this will be focused on the role that labiaplasty has as a gender-affirming surgery for transgender women looking to have their genitalia reshaped into a manner that causes gender euphoria as opposed to gender dysphoria.

Every transgender woman has her own goals regarding transition and what kind of results that she is looking for. This surgery can sometimes be performed on its own, or after having vaginoplasty.

General Information

Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure typically preformed by a gynecological surgeon while the patient is under general anesthesia.

Note that there is overlap between this surgery and vaginoplasty as they are often performed alongside one another. During this surgery, an external neovulva is created, but no vaginal canal.

Types of Surgery

On Its Own

This surgery is sometimes performed on its own for women uninterested in vaginal intercourse, as it does not involve the creation of a vaginal canal, just the external genitalia.

Skin from the scrotum is used to create the inner and outer labia, while clitoroplasty (creation of the clitoris) is done using the glans of the penis.

This surgery does not involve the creation of a vaginal canal, so the patient cannot be the recipient of penetrative vaginal intercourse. Preoperative hair removal, and postoperative dilation is not required. It is a much shorter and less complex surgery with a shorter recovery period than vaginoplasty.

As Stage Two of Vaginoplasty

Having a planned labiaplasty reduces the potential need for a revision surgery after vaginoplasty. Typically it is performed 5 months after vaginoplasty.

This surgery is used to refine the aesthetics of the visible external genitalia to better suit the patient's needs/preferences. When done as a stage 2 surgery, this allows the surgeon to currect any potential functional issues, asymmetry or aesthetic concerns. The labia minora and clitoral hood will be made primarily from skin grafts from the labia majora, which allows the surgeon to tighten any potential loose skin that may have occured during the first stage.

The Transgender Dictionary