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Women’s motivations for labiaplasty include media influence, negative experiences
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Outside influences and negative experiences are among the major motivations for women to undergo labiaplasty, according to study results published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Fourteen women who had undergone labiaplasty between January 2014 and April 2015 were interviewed to determine their motivations, expectations and experiences. Patient age range was 23 to 59 years. The phone interview was conducted between May 2015 and November 2015, a period of 5 to 16 months postoperative.
The major themes for motivation included “media influence,” “negative commentary and experiences,” “physical vs. appearance reasons,” “satisfaction with surgery,” “sexual well-being” and “secrecy and acceptability.”
Most participants reported first learning about labiaplasty from media such as television (n = 11), researching the topic online (n = 13), and an exposure to some kind of pornography in their lifetime (n = 11). Two participants linked their motivation to a pornographic ideal, while four were concerned about the negative connotation to such a connection. Ten participants reported comparing their labial appearance with “before” photographs on surgeon websites.
Ten participants recalled at least one negative experience related to their labial appearance. These were predominantly comments from former sexual partners, though seven also reported comments of reassurance and 12 had received feedback that their labia were within normal size ranges prior to surgery.
All 14 participants reported general satisfaction postoperatively. Nine women reported overall improved self-perception, though more than half (n = 8) felt the postoperative appearance did not fully meet their expectations.
Twelve participants felt that their concerns about their labial appearance had negatively impacted their sex lives prior to surgery. Ten of these women reported a reduction in their anxieties related to sexual intercourse following the procedure.
The researchers advise screening for symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder during consultations for labiaplasty and discussing the likely appearance of genitals after surgery in order to decrease the likelihood of patient dissatisfaction. – by Talitha Bennett
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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