Finding the Perfect Labiaplasty Surgeon
Written by Dr. Smita Ramanadham. Posted in Blog.
Locating the ideal labiaplasty plastic surgeon for your procedure can be a challenge if you don’t know precisely what to look for. And it’s certainly not as simple as searching for the “best labiaplasty surgeon near me” in Google and calling it good!
In this article, we’ll explore what labiaplasty in New Jersey entails and how to find the best cosmetic surgeon for your needs and ultimate goals.
Understanding Labiaplasty
Before diving straight into the process of selecting a surgeon, it’s important that readers understand what labiaplasty really is and how the surgery is performed. Quite often, labiaplasty is a vaginal plastic surgery that is desired by most women who want to improve the appearance of enlarged labia minora (inner vaginal lips). Sometimes, it is performed to reduce pain associated with labial hypertrophy or hypertrophic labia.
Many women feel self-conscious about the their inner labial look, but enlarged inner lips of the labia can also present physical problems, including daily discomfort, pain during sexual intercourse ruining sexual satisfaction, discomfort wearing certain types of clothes, difficulty exercising, and other issues.
Among other similar procedures such as clitoral hood reduction and labia majora reduction, labia reduction surgery is a type of vaginal rejuvenation that effectively reduces the size of the labia minora and makes them flush with the labia majora. In many cases, this procedure can be done with local anesthetic only.
If you are suffering from stress urinary incontinence, labiaplasty alone may not be the right procedure for you. However, you might be able to combine labiaplasty with other procedures to remedy this situation.
Researching Potential Surgeons
Before you actually pin down the cosmetic surgeon you want to work with, you need to do some research. You can certainly search “labiaplasty near me”, but this is just the start.
From there, you’ll want to take a deeper dive into the backgrounds of the local surgeons you find. Read about their experience and certifications, and review their photos before ultimately booking a consultation appointment with each of the surgeons you are potentially considering working with.
As you conduct your research for your potential plastic surgeon, we recommend following the steps below.
#1 – Evaluate their experience and credentials.
Once you’ve identified a list of potential surgeons, go over how much experience with labiaplasty surgical procedures, such as the wedge procedure, they have. Read their bios to ensure they are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. And check out their extra trainings and fellowships, especially those related to vaginal rejuvenation surgery.
#2 – Review their labiaplasty before and after galleries.
It’s not common to find labiaplasty before and after photos online. Despite labiaplasty being a completely legitimate surgical procedure, the vaginal opening area is typically not something that can be openly shown on surgeon websites.
Instead, if patients want to see before and after photos of labiaplasty surgery, clitoral hood reduction, or similar procedures, this can be done in-office at a consultation appointment.
#3 – Check for online reviews from past patients.
Often, third-party websites will collect reviews from past cosmetic surgery patients. Feel free to review these, but always take them with a grain of salt.
It’s better to speak directly with friends or family who have gone to the surgeon you are considering. Ask them about their experience, or simply do your own research and meet personally with the surgeon. Online reviews are a good place to start, but you should take other steps to find the best surgeon as well.
#4 – Assess their bedside manner.
A successful patient-surgeon relationship is built on trust, empathy, and open communication. Pay attention to how your surgeon listens to your questions and concerns and answers your questions. You want a surgeon who makes you feel heard, supported, and confident in their abilities.
#5 – Ask questions and present your goals for surgery.
Do not hesitate to explain exactly your medical history and what you hope to achieve with labiaplasty. Most patients are a little hesitant to be completely honest with their plastic surgeon, but you needn’t be. Plastic surgeons routinely discuss these topics with their patients and are perfectly comfortable talking about them.
Feel free to ask questions about the surgical technique that will be used, whether you’ll be able to have pain medication, and when you can return to sexual intercourse and exercise. Or, inquire about other vaginoplasty procedures if you are interested.
#6 – Discuss the surgical details and potential risks.
A reputable surgeon will provide you with realistic expectations and thoroughly explain the risks associated with labiaplasty. They should be frank about how the procedure is performed and what labiaplasty recovery symptoms you can expect during the healing process.
Most will also discuss alternative treatment options if they apply. They will want to ensure you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.
FAQ: Labiaplasty Surgery
How much does labiaplasty cost?
Labiaplasty cost — like clitoral hood reduction cost and labia majora reduction cost — really varies. It will depend on how much excess tissue or excess skin you need removed, what techniques are utilized during your cosmetic surgery, whether you require general anesthesia or local anesthesia, and other factors.
If you are interested in labia surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Smita to get an accurate quote on the price of your labiaplasty procedure.
What are vaginal rejuvenation procedures?
These are cosmetic procedures that are performed to improve the appearance and or function and comfort of the vaginal area and female genitalia. There are surgical and non surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedures.
Some options include labia majora surgery (surgery on the outer lips or outer labia), labiaplasty surgery (inner labia surgery), vaginal tightening surgery, and clitoral hood reduction. Cosmetic gynecology surgery is usually an outpatient procedure.
Call to Set Up a Consultation With Dr. Smita Ramanadham
Labiaplasty procedures are routinely performed and generally considered very safe. You can find more clinical information about these procedures and other cosmetic surgeries like breast augmentation and tummy tuck surgery on the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) website.
When it comes to finding a surgeon in your area, however, most labiaplasty patients take the project upon themselves and follow the steps above. Doing your own research will help you find the ideal surgeon for you.
Female board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Smita Ramanadham performs labiaplasty to help patients with excess labial tissue at her New Jersey practice. To learn more about Dr. Smita and her extensive experience and expertise, please call and book a consultation with us today.