Patients increasingly ask what can be done to improve the appearance of the female intimate area. The patients who consult us are mostly between 45 and 55 years old and have an active relationship life. A multidisciplinary approach, with the plastic surgeon, gynaecologist and psychologist working together, is very important.
Like every part of the body, the external genitalia change in shape and volume over time, through adolescence, sexual maturity, any pregnancies and menopause. These changes, usually slow, accelerate at menopause, partly because of the reduced secretion of oestrogens.
Common concerns
- The labia majora inevitably lose fat, becoming thinner and losing the fullness of youth, also because of the reduction in collagen, elastic fibres and hyaluronic acid.
- The labia minora, especially in women who have had several children, can become enlarged and hang down, sometimes making intercourse difficult. Enlargement can also be present from a young age, and often causes psychological distress, mechanical discomfort or chronic local irritation with possible bacterial or fungal infections.
- Widening of the vaginal canal, mainly due to multiple pregnancies.
- After major weight loss, excess tissue of the mons pubis and labia majora.
- Vaginismus, an involuntary reflex contraction of the muscles of the perineum and vaginal opening that makes penetration painful or impossible, often even during a normal gynaecological examination.
- Vulvodynia, a condition of pain, burning and discomfort of the vulva that affects quality of life and whose cause often remains unknown.
Non-surgical treatments
- Biorevitalisation of the labia majora with injections of hyaluronic acid and vitamins, to make the area fuller and better hydrated.
- Resorbable hyaluronic acid fillers to restore shape and volume to the labia majora.
- G-spot augmentation (G-shot) with hyaluronic acid, as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia.
- Botulinum toxin injections for vaginismus.
Surgical treatments
- Reduction labiaplasty, with various techniques under local anaesthesia, to reduce the labia minora.
- Laser perineoplasty, to improve the appearance of the area.
- Fat grafting of the labia majora, as an alternative to hyaluronic acid.
- Liposculpture of the mons pubis and labia majora.
- Surgical reduction of the labia majora and pubic lift after massive weight loss.
- Hymenoplasty.
Like all operations, these procedures are not free from risks and require a careful assessment, correct planning and a thorough physical and psychological evaluation before surgery.