After nearly 20 years of cosmetic gynecology and labia reduction surgery, it is still difficult to decide how many women receive labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons or because they’re experiencing physiologic discomfort.
Labial hypertrophy causes discomfort and pain for many women who attempt to wear tight fitted clothing or attempt to ride bikes or participate in the active form of exercise. They generally report irritation and pain after these activities and also chafing with just wearing ordinary underwear.
On the other hand many women are self-conscious of the appearance of enlarged labial tissue. They are self conscious of their appearance and find that sexual intimacy is difficult because they are constantly wondering what their partner is thinking upon, viewing their genitalia.
Many patients complain that they must turn off the room lights so as not to be embarrassed. The remainder of women who are complaining of aesthetics complained that there is a bulg when they wear bathing suits or tight fitted clothing.
There appears to be quite a crossover between physiologic and anatomic pain, versus aesthetic reasons and it is difficult to decide which complaint is more dominant than the other.
