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Labiaplasty

Sensualmedics ... happy to be a woman!

Welcome to SENSUALMEDICS, one of the world’s leading centres for female intimate surgery, with more than 5600 surgical procedures performed in almost 20 years of female genital surgery! SENSUALMEDICS was founded by Prof. Stefan Gress, one of the world’s leading experts in female intimate surgery.

Experience makes the difference!
 

Meet Prof. Gress

Prof. Stefan Gress is a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery who works in Munich, Germany. He is the innovative founder and medical director of SENSUALMEDICS, one of the world’s leading centres for female intimate surgery. He has published numerous scientific articles and has developed surgical techniques such as Composite Reduction Labiaplasty that are now well established as international standards. He has trained surgeons throughout the world, is a much sought-after speaker at the most renowned international specialist meetings, and the author of the standard textbook on labiaplasty, Aesthetic and Functional Labiaplasty, published by Springer Verlag in 2018.

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Shape and appearance

The body image of the perfect labia is, of course, not the same for everyone. However, our clinical experience has shown that our western culture has a distinct preference for a particular appearance of the female external genitalia:

Labiaplasty Shape and appearance

The „ideal image“ of the labia minora
(Survey of approximately 1200 female patients from central European cultures)


The ‘perfect’ shape: the labia minora have a slightly curved contour with a firm clitoral hood. When the legs are closed, the labia minora are almost completely covered by the labia majora.

In reality, however, the appearance often does not match this ideal. The labia majora hang down limply and protrude beyond the cover of the labia majora.

 

Correction

Long labia minora can be corrected using various techniques, depending on the appearance of the vaginal lips and the expectations towards the desired result:

1. Correction of the labia minora above and below the clitoris, tightening and lifting of the clitoral hood and any necessary correction of clitoris protrusion (Composite Reduction Labiaplasty).

Labiaplasty correction

Labiaplasty correction

Area marked in dark blue is removed.

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2. Correction of the labia minora above and below the clitoris, tightening of the clitoral hood and any necessary correction of clitoris protrusion.

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3. Correction of the labia minora above and below the clitoris, without any tightening of the clitoral hood or change in the position of the clitoris.

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4. Labia minora reduction only below the clitoris

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More Information see under Labia Reduction

 

The term labiaplasty is not very precise and is often used synonymously with labia minora reduction. In actual fact, a labiaplasty can be any type of corrective surgery on the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) or labia majora (outer vaginal lips).

You can find more information on the various surgical procedures by clicking on the following links:

Labia minora reduction
Labia reconstruction (correction after a botched operation)
Clitoris correction
Labia majora remodelling (skin tightening, volume augmentation)

As a rule, people use the term to mean a labia minora reduction (surgery to reduce the size of the inner vaginal lips) which accounts for more than 68% of the operations on the labia. More recently, however, the procedure that has become the second most common in our clinic is the reconstruction of the labia minora. Unfortunately, as more and more reduction labiaplasties are being carried out by surgeons with little experience, the number of unsuccessful or even botched operations is increasing. Correction or complete reconstruction of the labia to restore a normal appearance can be extremely difficult and time-consuming, if it is even possible at all.

A labiaplasty can also refer to changing the shape of the outer vaginal lips, usually tightening the skin of lax labia majora or labia majora remodelling using fat taken from elsewhere in the body.

Labiaplasty requires a great deal of experience. These operations are technically not very complicated but surgery on the genital region needs a special approach in order to obtain a perfect end result, because of the delicacy of the tissues and the considerable mechanical strain experienced when walking or running.

Over the past 20 years in our clinic in Munich, we have performed more than 5600 procedures on the genital region, including some 3400 labia minora reductions. Our sophisticated procedures are based on techniques that we have developed ourselves. The outcome of one of our operations is a harmonious appearance with very high patient satisfaction.

Our aim is to achieve a harmonious appearance with ideal functional and aesthetic end results, allowing light-hearted sexuality and self-aware body perception unrestricted by physical or psychological impairments.

We are happy to offer you personal advice. Just fill out our non-binding online form and we will contact you to make an appointment at your convenience. Our initial phone consultation is, of course, free of charge.

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Current Publication from PROF. GRESS

Aesthetic and Functional Labiaplasty

ISBN 978-3-319-60222-6

International textbook by Prof. Stefan Gress, published by SPRINGER in January 2018.

go to book published by SPRINGER ...

 
 

 

You can find more information about our special surgical techniques, the costs, and possibilities for financing the procedures by following the links below:

Labia minora reduction
Labia majora remodelling

General information

Both functional and aesthetic factors may trigger the desire for labiaplasty. The anatomical function of the vaginal lips (labia) is to close off the opening to the vagina, to prevent the vagina from drying out, and to protect it from the entry of foreign bodies or germs. This protective function is best ensured when the outer vaginal lips (labia majora) cover the inner vaginal lips (labia minora) completely. If the labia minora are too long and protrude too far beyond the labia majora, or the labia majora are too lax or too weak, then vaginal infections occur more easily.

The labia and clitoral hood form an anatomical unit. This has to be remembered when performing a labiaplasty. In 80-90% of cases there is hyperplasia (enlargement) of the labia minora along their entire length. None of the earlier surgical methods catered for this, giving inharmonious results and an unnatural appearance to the external genitalia – “too little below, too much above”.

For this reason, we use the surgical techniques for labiaplasties that Prof. Gress himself has developed over many years: procedures that are basically different from the other operations performed. These techniques allow the clitoral hood to be included in the surgical procedure to achieve a particularly harmonious and aesthetically pleasing result. Prof. Gress’s techniques also allow the correction of a protruding clitoris (clitoris protrusion). The use of radiosurgery (a type of laser) accelerates the healing process – thanks to this cutting technique there is very little bleeding. Swelling and mild pain disappear all the more quickly and the patient’s daily life is not restricted for long.

Reduction of the labia minora and labia majora should not be performed in the same operation. There should be an interval of at least six months between the two procedures. Otherwise, complications such as disorders of wound healing which may affect the end result occur more frequently.

However, remodelling and augmentation of the labia majora with the body’s own fat can easily be combined with a reduction of the labia minora.

 

Frequently asked questions about labiaplasty

How many appointments do I need?

For day-care operations, you will need three appointments:

Advice/initial examination, surgery, and check-up the morning after the operation. The initial consultation and the surgical procedure must not take place on the same day. There has to be an interval of at least 24 hours between the first advisory appointment and the scheduled surgery.

After the operation, you should spend the night in Munich. We will be glad to help you find a suitable hotel.

Which phase of the menstrual cycle is best for the procedure?

The phase of your menstrual cycle is not relevant to the operation, that is to say, surgery can still go ahead during your period. You should not, however, use tampons for two weeks after surgery just sanitary pads.

How high are the risks?

If the operation is performed by an experienced surgeon, you need not be afraid of any serious risks. Nevertheless, intimate surgery in the genital area has become very popular in recent years and there are many, often inexperienced, doctors who offer such surgery. And therein lies the greatest risk. Reduction of the labia minora is not a ‘snip-snap’ operation but a time-consuming procedure that requires complete attention to detail with the proper surgical technique if a satisfactory aesthetic and functional result is to be obtained.

You should reckon on some swelling and slight bruising. As a rule, these symptoms will largely disappear within a few days. If you stress the area too soon, e.g. by having sex shortly after the operation, the sutures may give way and the edges of the wound move apart. For this reason, avoid friction on the area (sexual intercourse, horse riding, cycling, jogging etc.) for at least six weeks.

What is important for healing?

The most important thing you can do to aid healing is to follow your doctor’s instructions implicitly. We are, of course, available to answer your questions at any time after the operation.

How long do I have to abstain from sex?

After a reduction labiaplasty, wait at least six weeks before you have sex again. Although the wounds close before then, they are not very stable. Any mechanical strain too soon could reopen the wounds.

When can I take a shower?

You can shower again on the second day after the operation. But you should use only clear water at body temperature or a pH-neutral soap for about five days. You can have a camomile Sitz bath after three days.

When can I take up sports again?

Avoid mechanical strain for six weeks, that is to say, no sports such as horse riding, cycling or jogging during this time.

Do the stitches have to be removed?

No, because we use absorbable sutures that will be absorbed completely within six weeks. Nevertheless, they may itch a bit. Bepanthen ointment or aloe vera gel may help with the itching.

Will I have any severe pain?

In the large number of patients whom we have treated, we have not had a single case of prolonged postoperative pain. As a rule, patients experience some burning and mild to moderate pain the first night after labiaplasty. The pain is usually much better or has disappeared completely by the following day. You will be given appropriate painkillers, so that generally there should be no problems.

So far, none of our patients has ever reported pain during intercourse. Sex should not be painful, as the scar runs outside the ‘friction zone’. And, as far as we know, a persistent complication of this nature has not been described in the medical literature.

Some of the press reports that you can read on our website talk about severe pain, but this has not ever happened in our experience. The statement did not originate from us and we are very doubtful as to its validity.

Should I expect a loss of sensation?

After a labiaplasty, there may be a slight numbness along the line of the scar, but it usually recovers quickly. Disturbances of sensation in the clitoris or sexual sensory disorders are not to be expected, since the nerves that supply the clitoris do not run in the skin but lie more deeply over the pubic bone.

When will I be able to see the final result?

About 80% of the swelling will have gone down in about six weeks. The rest of the swelling is hardly visible but disappears relatively slowly, and it may be up to six months before it has gone completely.

How long do the different procedures take and how much do they cost?

Labia minora reduction purely below the clitoris, about 1-1½ hours operating time

€ 2300

Labium minus reduction on one side only, about 1-1½ hours operating time

€ 2300

Labia minora reduction along their entire length without clitoris correction,
about 2 hours operating time

€ 3500

Labia minora reduction along their entire length with correction of clitoris protrusion, about 2-2½ hours operating time

€ 4000

Composite reduction labiaplasty, about 2½ hours operating time

€ 4500

If surgery is being performed for cosmetic reasons alone, 19% VAT is applied to the fees, in accordance with the law in Germany.

If the main reason for the operation is medical, e.g. pain on intercourse or during sporting activities, skin irritation, frequent bladder or fungal infections, then VAT is not applicable. You will, however, need confirmation from your gynaecologist that there is a medical indication for surgery. A brief written confirmation is sufficient – it does not have to be a long medical report. You must present this confirmation on the day of surgery.

The surgical fee also has to be paid by the day of your operation.

Can the inner and outer vaginal lips be corrected in a single operation?

It is not possible to reduce the size of the labia minora and the labia majora in the same operating session. There should be an interval of at least six months between the two procedures.

Labia minora reduction can, however, be combined with labia majora augmentation.

How can I get personal advice?

You can request further information free of charge by clicking on the following link:
Request more information or ask for a personal appointment to discuss matters. Call +49 (0)89 24 22 39 22 for advice on your own surgical needs. This personal advice is non-binding and free of charge.

Any questions?

If you have any questions that we have not yet answered, please contact us and we will reply as quickly as possible.

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