Labiaplasty: Cosmetic Labia Surgery in Atlanta and Alpharetta
Labiaplasty isn’t discussed at cocktail parties like breast augmentation, but the word is getting out; more and more patients each year come to Dr. Amy Alderman for this procedure. She knows this can be an embarrassing situation for some patients and makes every effort possible to make patients feel comfortable. They are often relieved to know that we have an all-female team in the operating room, and we are incredibly respectful of their privacy.
For more information about labiaplasty in Atlanta and Alpharetta, GA, Dr. Alderman and her team, we welcome you to call their office for a consultation.
What Can Vaginal Plastic Surgery Do for Me?
The goal of the surgery is to reduce the excess tissue and smooth the contour without interfering with sensation. Dr. Alderman sees patients mostly in two stages of life: early twenties or later in life after childbirth. Genetic predisposition is what we blame for the younger patients who develop excess tissue in their labia after puberty. Older women tell Dr. Alderman that the excess tissue growth occurred after childbirth.
Regardless of the reason, it can be a very troubling problem. Patients tell Dr. Alderman that the excess tissue is uncomfortable with exercise and intercourse; causes a contour problem with tight fitting clothes such as bathing suits and yoga pants, and makes them self-conscious about their appearance in intimate settings.
Labiaplasty can:
- Make the labia more symmetrical
- Reduce the size of the labia majora or labia minora
- Improve sexual sensitivity for some women
- Improve comfort under clothes and while exercising
- Increase self-confidence
In all my years of practice, I have yet to have one patient who is not head over heels happy with their labiaplasty.
Request a Consultation
If you’re in the Atlanta and Alpharetta areas and have any questions about Labiaplasty or wish to schedule a consultation on Labiaplasty with Dr. Alderman, please contact our office.
Request a ConsultationWhy Choose Labiaplasty?
Dr. Alderman is easy to talk to, understands your concerns and will make you feel comfortable and at ease. She realizes your body can change after significant life events, such as having a child or even the general aging process. She will discuss your surgical options in great detail and tailor the surgical approach especially for you. In addition to her caring bedside manner and patient-centered approach, Dr. Alderman is highly trained and experienced in surgical procedures. She is up-to-date on the latest developments with the procedure and strives to give you the absolute best outcome in a caring and compassionate manner.
Her passion for helping others through plastic surgery includes providing them with a body shape that meets their expectations. With labiaplasty, patients report they feel more confident wearing a swimsuit or other fitted clothing. This procedure can prove to be life-changing for patients’ whose self-esteem has been compromised by changes to their anatomy.
Dr. Alderman is known among her patients for her personalized approach to treatment; you may enter her office as a relative stranger, but you will leave as one of Dr. Alderman’s friends.
Meet Dr. Alderman
Dr. Amy Alderman is a nationally known, board-certified plastic surgeon located in Buckhead near Atlanta. As a female surgeon and mother of two children, she provides a unique perspective to patient care. Each surgical plan is individually tailored to each patient’s needs and lifestyles and is aimed at enhancing her patient’s natural beauty and restoring confidence. She is known for her personal approach to patient care and has unparalleled commitment to patient safety, which can be attributed to years of education, professional experience and involvement in national patient safety initiatives.
Meet Dr. AldermanLabia Surgery in Atlanta & Alpharetta from Dr. Alderman: Understanding Your Surgical Options
Labiaplasty can be performed using a local anesthetic, IV sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Alderman will discuss all of these options with you and help you decide on the right choice for you.
There are two general techniques used to reduce the size of your labia. One technique is called a trim procedure where the incision runs along the edge of your labia minora. The other technique is called a wedge procedure with or without an extension to correct excess clitoral hooding. With this procedure, the incision is on the side of your labia and has the benefit of maintaining the natural color of the edge of your labia minor. Dr. Alderman will discuss which procedure is best for you given your anatomy. All incisions are closed with absorb-able sutures that do not require removal.
Day of the Procedure: What to Expect
Surgery usually takes one to two hours, depending on your anatomy. When you arrive to the surgery center, you will be greeted by our all-female staff who will make you feel as comfortable as possible. Our all-female surgical team is dedicated to optimizing your comfort, putting you at ease and optimizing your surgical experience.
Recovering From Labiaplasty: What to Expect
Pain is usually minimal after labiaplasty, but Dr. Alderman is well-versed in post-surgical pain management. She will provide medication as needed during the recovery period. Most women take prescription pain medicine for the first couple of days. Afterward, the pain can usually be managed with over-the-counter medication. Recovery takes only two to five days, after which you can return to work and other activities, as long as your work is not strenuous. All surgeries cause some bruising, swelling, and discomfort for a short time. You must refrain from exercise and sexual intercourse for about a month after labiaplasty.
Dr. Alderman will monitor your progress in follow-up examinations and will be available to answer your questions as you heal.
Are you troubled by the shape or size of your labia? Call us today to schedule a consultation to find out more about labiaplasty with Dr. Alderman.
View Gallery
Be sure to view our Before and After Photo Gallery of Labiaplasty procedures to see real patient results at North Atlanta Plastic Surgery.
Additional Procedures that Can Optimize Your Results:
Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation is a great option for labiaplasty patients who have had children or who are post-menopausal. Our V-Lase non-invasive vaginal laser is a non-ablative, fractional CO2 laser that helps tighten the internal vaginal tissue. The laser uses state-of-the-art technology to thicken the vaginal mucosa, resulting in less vaginal dryness, improved sexual experiences, and reduced urinary incontinence. The procedure is performed in our medical spa and takes about 30 minutes to complete. There is no downtime with the procedure and no post-treatment restrictions. The V-Lase is the perfect non-invasive procedure to complement a labiaplasty, especially for women who have had children or who are post-menopausal.
Labiaplasty FAQs
Dr. Alderman and her team try to make patients feel as comfortable as possible. They know that is a sensitive topic, and they do their best to educate and discuss options with patients in as a relaxed setting as possible.
It helps if patients will watch Dr. Alderman’s video on the website before their consultation so that they understand the surgical options. During the consultation, Dr. Alderman will go into greater detail about surgical options and expected outcomes.
Dr. Alderman’s team will go into great detail what should be done to prepare for surgery. She has a very advanced pain protocol that will be started a few days before your surgery to optimize your experience and limit discomfort. Most importantly, patients should prepare to stay at home and relax for 4 days after surgery in order to minimize swelling and help with healing process.
Patients who are considering a labiaplasty often complain that the redundant tissue is uncomfortable with certain clothing, with exercise and with intercourse. Other patients are unhappy with the cosmetic appearance. The ideal candidate is a patient who is bothered by her redundant inner labial tissue and who is willing to limit activity for a week or two after surgery to allow time for healing.
Labiaplasty is a fairly painless procedure. Most patients do not require any narcotics postoperatively. Dr. Alderman does insist that her patients stay at home for 4 days resting so that swelling is minimized and the incisions can heal. Patients may resume limited exercise about 4 weeks after surgery. Intercourse, tampons and strenuous activity such as biking should be avoided for a total of 6 weeks.
Return to work depends on what your job entails. Work involving heavy lifting or significant walking should be avoided for about 3-4 weeks. Patients may return to work that is more desk-like and administrative about 5-7 days after surgery.
Usually by 6 months the scars are invisible. If patients take the appropriate time to heal, the incision comes together beautifully and are barely noticeable.
Vaginal rejuvenation is a general term that refers to any type of procedure that rejuvenates either the outside of the vagina such as the labia minora, inside of the vagina or both. At North Atlanta Plastic Surgery, we offer labiaplasty to address redundancy of the inner labial tissue and V-Lase, a non-invasive vaginal laser, to tighten and improve the inner vaginal tissue. A combination of both procedures is often ideal for our mommy makeover patients.
Labiaplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Alderman and Dr. Joiner will discuss the pros and cons of each and make sure you choose the anesthetic that option that is best for you.
Your partner will notice that you have less tissue redundancy, which often helps with intercourse. Many partners also notice that patients feel more confident about their bodies and have less discomfort if the excess tissue interferes with intercourse.
No. The procedure is not near the clitoris or the nerve that supplies sensation to the clitoris. The procedure is at the sides of the labia away from where sexual sensation is located.
Some patients have redundant skin around the clitoris, called clitoral hooding. In these cases, Dr. Alderman can perform an anterior extension and remove some of the excess tissue. The incision is hidden in the natural crease between the labia minor and majora and does not interfere with sensation to the clitoris.
Dr. Alderman and her team will watch your progression closely and let you resume exercise when your swelling has improved and the incision has healed. This process generally takes about 3-4 weeks, but you will have limitations on what type of exercise can be performed. At 6 weeks after surgery, you may resume all activities, including bike riding, horseback riding, and swimming.
Dr. Alderman and her team prefer to meet with you several weeks in advance of your preferred surgery day so that you can be adequately prepared for surgery. Dr. Alderman wants to spend time educating you about your surgical options and make sure you are prepared for your postoperative recovery.
Your next step is to contact the office of North Atlanta Plastic Surgery and request a consultation with Dr. Alderman. Her surgical coordinator will schedule a convenient time for you to meet her in the office so that she can spend time educating you about the procedure.
Dr. Alderman is the perfect surgeon to perform your labiaplasty for several reasons. Most importantly, Dr. Alderman has dedicated time and energy to master the techniques of this procedure. She has been mentored by the two top surgeons in the U.S. who pioneered the labiaplasty surgical procedure because she wants to deliver the most up-to-date technique for her patients. She does a very high volume of these procedures, and higher surgical volume has been shown to be correlated to better surgical outcomes. In addition, she has an all-female surgical team dedicated to delivering the best surgical experience possible to her patients.
Dr. Alderman’s National Efforts on this Topic
Chairperson for Aesthetica, a national aesthetic surgery meeting sponsored by the American Society of Plastic Surgery
American Society of Plastic Surgery Patient Safety Committee
Vice Chairperson, ASPS Education Aesthetic Council
Alderman, AK, Kerrigan, CL, Lemaine, V, Pusic, AL, Vidal, DC. Evidence-Based Medicine &Health Services Research in Plastic Surgery. In Plastic Surgery 1st Edition
Alderman, AK, Chung, KC. Outcomes for Surgical Guidance in Plastic Surgery: Measuring Outcomes in Aesthetic Surgery. Clinics in of Plastic Surgery, 2013:297-304.
Alderman, AK, Kerrigan, CL, Lemaine, V, Pusic, AL, Vidal, DC. Evidence-Based Medicine &Health Services Research in Plastic Surgery. In Plastic Surgery 4th Edition