Psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty: a prospective case-comparison study

Area of Science:

• Female Genital Surgery
• Psychosexual Health
• Body Image

Background:

• Labiaplasty is a common cosmetic procedure for the labia minora.
• Psychosexual outcomes and long-term effects of labiaplasty require further investigation.
• Genital body image and sexual dysfunction are key areas impacted by labiaplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term psychosexual outcomes of labiaplasty.
• To assess changes in genital body image and sexual dysfunction post-surgery.
• To compare outcomes in labiaplasty patients with a matched control group.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study comparing 49 labiaplasty patients with 39 matched controls.
• Assessment using the Genital Appearance Satisfaction (GAS) scale and measures of sexual functioning.
• Follow-up at 3 months and 11-42 months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• 96% of patients showed significant improvement in genital appearance satisfaction at 3 months, and 91.3% at long-term follow-up.
• Large effect size for genital appearance improvement; small effect size for sexual functioning.
• Significant reduction in body dysmorphic disorder diagnoses post-surgery; 26% reported minor side effects.

Conclusions:

• Labiaplasty effectively enhances genital appearance and sexual satisfaction.
• Long-term data suggest sustained positive psychosexual outcomes.
• Larger studies are necessary to fully understand potential side effects.