Refreshing labioplasty techniques for plastic surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Patient requests for plastic surgery of the female genitalia have become more common. There are several technical options to manage hypertrophic labia minora, including direct excision, wedge resection, and deepithelialization. Labia majora hypertrophy and hypoplasia can also be managed surgically. The aim of this study was to summarize labioplasty techniques to date, and describe the senior author's technique for labia minora and majora labioplasty.

METHODS: Seventy-four patients underwent direct labia minora excision with or without clitoral hood molding and management of labia majora by the senior author from January 2009 to August 2011.

RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 6 months. The range of the patients' ages was wide with an average age of 35 years. One patient had an infection and one had wound dehiscence. Six patients had palpable fatty cysts in the labia majora after fat injections; the cysts of five of these patients reabsorbed before 6 months. In one patient a palpable mass persisted 8 months after surgery; however, it was not visible or painful and the patient was satisfied with the result. No cases of scar contracture, painful scar, or discomfort because of labial edge distortion were noted. The satisfaction rate was close to 100 %.

CONCLUSION: The direct excision of the excess labia minora is a good technique and does not produce scar-associated problems.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article.