Labiaplasty of the labia minora: patients' indications for pursuing surgery

Limited information is available regarding patients' indication for seeking labiaplasty of the labia minora.

The aim of this article is to investigate a patient's indications for seeking labiaplasty of the labia minora.

This is a retrospective review of the medical records of all patients undergoing labiaplasty at our clinic over a 27-month period.

Indications for surgery were assessed using standardized questionnaires during the patients' initial history and physical. Patients were divided into three groups as based on the questionnaire, including: Group I-patients seeking the procedure strictly for aesthetic reasons; Group II-patients seeking the procedure strictly for functional impairment (i.e., pain and discomfort); and Group III-patients who feel they are having the surgery for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Patients undergoing the surgery for aesthetic reasons were also asked whether this was strictly a personal decision or was influenced by either another man or woman whether a friend, spouse, or partner.

The review revealed 131 patients had undergone a labia reduction surgery: Group I-those who received labia reduction surgery for strictly aesthetic reasons equaled 37% (49/131); Group II-those seeking the surgery strictly for functional impairment equaled 32% (42/131); and Group III-those seeking the surgery for both functional and aesthetic reasons equaled 31% (40/131).

The majority of patients undergoing reduction of the labia minora do so for functional reasons with minimal outside influences affecting their decision for treatment.