labia reduction surgery

Hi everyone,

I'm in my mid-20s, and I had this operation yesterday. I had it free on the NHS, and had suffered for years not knowing there was anything that could be done about it.

I didn't ever feel particularly embarrassed by it because the only people who saw it were boyfriends, and I would never want to sleep with anyone who would be so shallow as to judge me by something like that which has no 'right' or 'wrong' anyway, so I've always been completely trusting of people I've slept with and it's never even been mentioned. What we have to remember is that for the most part guys have NO idea what happens down there, what it's meant to look like, or what to do with any of it. Unless they're absolutely backward they'll realise that women in their porn mags are not the same as the real women they're ever likely to sleep with. I feel sorry for any guy who thinks that way, it's so unimportant, shallow and naive, stay away from anyone you think would take objection with your body if you were ever to trust them with it. And remember as well, they're all constantly preoccupied with the size of their penises and it's well known that in that case 'bigger' is meant to be 'better', whereas with us there aren't such simple judgments.

Anyway, the problems I had with my labia were that one side hung down noticeably and was long and thin. It had no positive sensation at all, just got caught constantly if I wore the wrong thing or sat down without thinking, rode a bike, things like that. Sexual problems were not embarrassment but inconvenience and difficulty, it was always in the way, ruined the moment sometimes, and made things very difficult for my current boyfriend who had never had sex before. He had a difficult enough time as it was, caring about whether he was doing ok, without us having to stop all the time and make him feel more nervous. It just wasn't the way it should have been, and all because of a stupid flap.

I explained all this when I went to my GP for a smear test. She said it was quite enlarged, but that that was normal, but that she would refer me to a specialist. I had an appointment at my local hospital with the specialist, a woman, and her assistant. They asked me a lot of questions, mainly I think to determine why I wanted the surgery. I was keen to emphasise that it was NOT causing me deep psychological problems at all, or that I cared about how it looked (let's face it, it's never going to be the prettiest part of the body and that's why we don't walk around on our hands with no knickers on) but just that it caused me pain and discomfort on a regular basis. She went away, made a call, and said that she was going to recommend that I have it.

The next step was meeting a plastic surgeon. His assistant asked me a lot of questions as well, and then she examined me, and then the surgeon examined me himself, which was the first time I'd been seen by a man throughout the process. He explained a bit more about the operation and said it would be a while but he would put me on the list.

That was only a couple of months ago. The whole thing was very quick being sorted, and the surgery itself was quick. I was told a lot of times by a lot of people along the way that they couldn't guarantee to match the two sides and that the 'look' of it might not be exactly what I was after, and I felt that they might think that I was doing it because I cared about how it looked, so that was frustrating having to explain over and over that that was NOT the reason I was using valuable NHS resources! Not to dismiss people who really do care about how it looks, but I just don't.

Anyway, I had general anaesthetic, which was fine. I have no pain now, it bled the first few times I went to the loo afterwards, and I was home the same afternoon. I'm too scared to go near it just yet to have a proper look because I'm sure it's still fragile, but I can tell it's loads better than it was because there's nothing hanging out anymore, and that's even with the swelling which I'm sure I will have. Afterwards, one of the nurses told me that the operation is very common now, and that a few of the nurses had had it done as well. We suffer mainly I think because of the lifestyles we lead now, perhaps when we were all wearing skirts all the time and sitting down sewing in our spare time it wasn't an issue, but if something is causing you pain and discomfort when you're going about your business then it should be your right to have it sorted out.

I would advise anyone whose GP has told them not to be silly - and who is genuinely experiencing discomfort, to either see someone else or keep pestering. It's not up to them to tell you your pain is something you should just live with.

I have just spent the last hour and a half reading all the posts. I have my appointment with my gp tomorrow and after reading the posts i have decided im not going to leave the room till she agrees to refer me to a specialit/surgeon. for most people with large labia its bad enough that we have them, but it takes some courage to actually go in and tell a stranger about it.( to the lady whos doctor told her she was stupid) i really feel for you and hopefully you got a second opinion from another doctor.
Im really grateful for having found this site and for other people who feel how i do, after 10 years of feeling like im a monster, and this has nothing to do with how others percieve you but just how you feel in yourself(just not right) im having the op and im willing to suffer any consequences too, althought i believe things only go wrong if you believe they will.
Lastly i would just like to say to the person who wrote that whole spiell about how we should all be proud of out dangeling flaps and how women in other contries are butchered and how can we even conteplate doing such a thing..... how dare you, you odviously have no idea what we have all been through, pshysologically as well as physically, what the hell are you doing on here anyway, these sites are a means of support not for some nasty little id**t to birrate us for finally having the guts to something about OUR bodies, talk about making my blood boil...pathertic!!
good luck and god bless to all the brave ladies out there xxx

ive just come back form seeing my gp and she is refering me to see a specialist, so fingers crossed it will all be going ahead sometine in the next fre months, im so exited, i feel ill be able to finally be comfortable in my own skin. i dont think i could have gone to ee gp without reading all your posts and realising is not just me who has this problem.
thanks guys xx

I had the surgery done 4 May and as I was preparing to be discharged from the hospital, the staff had me use the restroom first. After doing so, I began to get dressed. Within minutes, three nurses and my mom had to hold me down on the bed to sohot me up with a double demeral margarita for the pain b/cuz they were worried I'd soon have a heart attack due to my quickly rising blood pressure. My right inner and outer labias were quickly growing to the size of an "orange" according to my paparwork. A bloodclot had apparently formed quickly inside the stitches and I had to wait (!) for my surgeon to get to the hospital in order to undo the stitches so the blood could spill out! I had been rushed back into the ER for additional surgery due to this and now I'm so worried that it won't heal right. I'm posting a pic (sorry) but I seriously hope to get some reply posts who may be able to tell me if this is somewhat "normal" or if I should be more than worried. Obviously, I have a follow up with my doc next week but for pure sanity, I want to know if I may be over reacting now or not. And if this is NOT normal, please be gentle if at all possible with your reply posts. I'm not sure how much more I can handle. Thanks everyone.

Hi, Just read the entire thread with great interest. I saw my gp about my enlarged labia minora which protrude around an inch when standing. I have always hated the discomfort they caused me and embarrassment during intimate relationships (not that I have had any unkind comments).

I went to see my consultant yesterday and have been approved to have the procedure on the NHS on 14th September 2099 and can't wait :-)

Hi, I have also just read all these posts and have found real comfort in the knowledge that there are people who can get this done on the nhs. I am in Scotland,has anyone had it done on the nhs here? If i had to go privately i would find the money as i'm so miserable. At the age of 22 i have had four sexual partners all being within a relationship, two of which shattered my confidence with phrases such as rotten cabbage and one even said it looked like i had a ball sack with no balls. Aside from this I cannot exercise, wear tight clothing or even sleep a full night without pinching my long inner labia, sex is uncomfortable not to mention non existant after those comments. All my friends wonder why i seem to have no interest in men and i;m just too embarrased to say. I would be interested intalking to someone who has had the procedure. Also in response to that woman who was preaching about our bodies being ours and beautiful and this topic makes her blood boil. How DARE you. My life has been miserable for the best part of 3 years. I have put on weight I'm so sad. I havent been near a man in a year which as a 22 year old is embarassing for me plus frustating. I think about this every day and feel the discomfort 24 hours a day. I feel disgusting and unclean and wonder what happened to make my labia so differnt to that of my friends. You have no right to tell me that something that causes me so much discomfort and emotional pain shouldnt be fixed. Live a week with this and you would be running to your GP. Sorry about the long post. xxxx

I am 22 and I recently got labia reduction surgery on July 9, 2009. I wasn't very nervous because it had been a problem for me for years now and after I had my son, it got worse so I was so ready to get it taken care of! I talked to my gyno about it about 3 weeks ago and he agreed we could do the surgery and we scheduled it and it was so easy. The surgery honestly was not even close to as painful as I thought it was gonna be. I did get put to sleep and it only took about a half hour. I mean it does hurt and the swelling was a bit scary but it goes away quickly. It hasn't even been a week yet and the swelling has gone down more than half the size and they give you pain pills (its different for everyone) and ice packs that help a lot!! I was able to shower the next day and all you have to do is be careful. You have to wear loose fitting underware and a pantyliner so you don't get stuck to your underware or pants. I have dissolvable stitches which should dissolve within 1-2 weeks. I am so happy I did it and I think if you really feel you need it then go for it. You'll be happy to get it over with and it will be a weight lifted off your shoulders. Good luck everyone!!

Hi,
Im 16 ive just left school and ive been thinking about this for about 2 years now im desprate to get it done my self confidence is completely dragged down by it and i know if i get it done i can be more confident in myself.. i just dont know where to start .. How much is it or can you get it on the NHS? any info would be really helpfull i wouldnt be able to go to my family about it i'd be too embarrased
thanks lucy.

Ladies please see labiaplasty nightmare:-

https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/labiaplasty-nightmare&hpr=Labiaplasty_Nightmare

hi there i didn't think you could get this procedure on the NHS. i am really really bothered with my labia as it causes me loads of problem and irritation. I have thought about going to the doc's but am too embarrassed and didn't think there was going to be any point. i have thought now about saving up for the procedure privately but its quite expensive. were your doctors understanding and made you feel comfortable. i don't want to go and have loads of questiond thrown at me just for them to say i can't have it done, any advice would be appreciated, cheers

Hi there. just wondering how u r all geting on now? i had this op done a week and two days a go and it has been am absolute nightmare so far, its been 100times more painful and uncomftable than i expected may be due to me picking up an infection which is when the pain become unbarable. i really have been in agony, not so bad when lieng down still, but evey time i moved even just an inch the pain as unparable and walking even worse! i litraly felt lyk i had just been butchered and that was after a week!!! I have been taking antibiotics for two days now and today is the first pain free day i have had, still cant walk properly but i can move in bed with ease. i decided to have a little look seeing as it was feelin so much better i was expecting to see it healing and looking a little more normal (as appose to looking lyk it had been though a meat grinder!!!!) and to my horror i relised my stitches have come away on the hole left hand side bar one little stitch so litraly it is compleatly open by about half an inch!!! i have rang the docs and they have said that this can happen there isnt much they can do on a saturday so just wait till monday and keep taking my anitbiotics to cover any further infection?! did this happen to anyone else?! i am terrified of it not healing properly and looking all distorted once finaly heald as the stitches arnt there to hold and mold it into shape?! i also have a big lump of skin on the same side at the bottom of my clitoritis it jots right out lyk a sprout on a mouldy potato!!! the docter told me that it was perfectly symmetrical both sides after the op and she was realy pleased with it so where has this come from??! just wondering if this is normal or if anyone else had the same problem and if it will go down as the whole clit is still quite swolen. im goin out of my mind with worry hear!!! also they dont worn u (amoungst a million other things!!!) how much pain it is to go for a number two a was litraly sceaming the sweat way pouring off me. ur total constapated off tablits they give u so goin is lyk passing a brick worst pain of my life!!!! and even though it must seem it i normaly have quite a high pain threshold hence not being worried bout having this op! i have only been once as i am to scared to go now and keep holding it it! is that normal that it hurts so much? also i fear that is what ripped my stitches!?? :'(

hi there. just wondering how you are all gettin on now?im so sorry for what ur going though i also feel your pain! i had this op done 9days ago and aswell as haivng an infection my stitches have also come away too!!! The whole left hand side of my labia bar one stitch holding it to gether is gabing open.the wound is about half an inch wide! although i am not in much pain not compared the the last week (which has been agony!!!) it is burning quite badly (and now think i have cystitis aswell as i need the toilet every 10mins!!!!)i rang a docter through nhs line as could get though to my own being a saturday and she said this can happen and it will probably heal by itself????! im not sure when the stitches came out but i have a feeling it was after a few days after the op when i went to the toilet for a number two feeling like my whole vagina was splitting in half!!!im terrified that with out the stiches holding it in place it will not heal peoperly and mold into the shape it is ment to?? has yours?? besids this i also have a hard long potruding lump poking out at the bottom of my clit. which the docter told me would go down but seems to be getting worse! is jotting right out lyk a sprout on a moldy potato!?? i litraly look i have growen an extra clit! not to mention looking lyk i have been butchered alive!its terrifying! m so distressed and upsent about the whole thing and the nurses dont seem to want to help or even no how to they have all give me confliting advice and say to ask my docter at my post op appointemtn?! i got it done on the nhs and befor the op she just casualy asked how much i wanted off and got me to show her by drawing a line with my finger?!i felt at the time she wasnt realy paying attention and just said she didnt want to cut to much off as it would look unnatral and i would look top heavy!i was happy with this as i have quite a big clit aswell!but it seems she forgot bout this and has morealess left me with nothing!!!?!then afer she told me it had gone realy well and was perfectly symetrical on both sides! even though the lump was visable then?so what is this lump is it jsut swelling??? i feel really mistreated and neglected and feel lyk im left with something that looks 10mines worse than it did b4!so distressed please help!!!!!

hi there. just wondering how you are gettin on now? i had this op done 9days ago and aswell as haivng an infection my stitches have also come away too!!! The whole left hand side of my labia bar one stitch holding it to gether is gabing open.the wound is about half an inch wide! although i am not in much pain not compared the the last week (which has been agony!!!) it is burning quite badly (and now think i have cystitis aswell as i need the toilet every 10mins!!!!)i rang a docter through nhs line as could get though to my own being a saturday and she said this can happen and it will probably heal by itself????! im not sure when the stitches came out but i have a feeling it was after a few days after the op when i went to the toilet for a number two feeling like my whole vagina was splitting in half!!!im terrified that with out the stiches holding it in place it will not heal peoperly and mold into the shape it is ment to?? has yours?? besids this i also have a hard long potruding lump poking out at the bottom of my clit. which the docter told me would go down but seems to be getting worse! is jotting right out lyk a sprout on a moldy potato!?? i litraly look i have growen an extra clit! not to mention looking lyk i have been butchered alive!its terrifying! m so distressed and upsent about the whole thing and the nurses dont seem to want to help or even no how to they have all give me confliting advice and say to ask my docter at my post op appointemtn?! i got it done on the nhs and befor the op she just casualy asked how much i wanted off and got me to show her by drawing a line with my finger?!i felt at the time she wasnt realy paying attention and just said she didnt want to cut to much off as it would look unnatral and i would look top heavy!i was happy with this as i have quite a big clit aswell!but it seems she forgot bout this and has morealess left me with nothing!!!?!then afer she told me it had gone realy well and was perfectly symetrical on both sides! even though the lump was visable then?so what is this lump is it jsut swelling??? i feel really mistreated and neglected and feel lyk im left with something that looks 10mines worse than it did b4!so distressed please help!!!!!

hi there just wondering how ur getting on now? with regards to the lump or extra bit of skin u felt hadent been removed properly! i had this op 9days ago and have also notices this extra bit of skin that wasnt there b4 the op.i actualy noticed it on the day after the surgery and she said it was just swelling, but since then every where else has gone down except this bit which if any thing it looks lyk it has got bigger!!! i can also see where it has been cut and where the stitches end it is about half an inch or just under longer than the other side its just on the end of my clit! is that where yous was? i am so distressed bout this as it looks gastly! not only this but i also picked up a infection and then to my horror relised my my stitches had come away bar one on the whole side of that labia so it is litraly an open wound!!! my whole vagina looks lyk it has been butchered! am i just being impatient or should i be worried??? how does yours look now?

Hey, i was just wondering how you went about having a labiaplasty on the NHS?
How did you arrange a consultation etc?
I'm looking into it and would really like to have a consultation to see whether I would be able to have the operation on the NHS.
Thanks. x