Labiaplasty And Pregnancy: Common Questions For Mothers-To-Be
Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate the vaginal area. Specifically, a skilled surgeon will reduce the length of the labia minora. While there are a variety of reasons for wanting a labiaplasty procedure, pregnancy is a major anatomy changer that may lead some women to consider this type of plastic surgery.
What do you need to know about labiaplasty and pregnancy? Whether you're pregnant right now, worried about how your body will change if you do become pregnant, or you've recently given birth, take a look at some of the most common questions about the labia and this procedure.
How Does Your Labia Change During Pregnancy?
For some women, the answer to this question is not at all. Pregnancy doesn't affect every woman in the same way. Some mothers-to-be barely get a basketball-like bump on their belly, while others gain weight just about everywhere.
When it comes to the female anatomy, the labia's starting point may be different for different women. During pregnancy the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, that are responsible for making your feet swell may also have a similar effect on your genital area. This means a woman with smaller-sized labia may have medium to large labia during pregnancy. Likewise, a woman with larger labia to start may find that her genital area grows to an uncomfortable size.
Are Pregnancy-Related Labia Changes Permanent?
In most cases — no. When your hormones even out, you may notice that your labia returns to its pre-pregnancy size. If months have gone by and you still see no changes or are physically uncomfortable, a labiaplasty procedure can help to return your labia to their before-baby shape.
Can Childbirth Affect the Labia?
If you're having a vaginal birth, the childbirth process can impact any area of the genital region. The pressure, pushing, and straining can cause temporary swelling or tears. Between stretching and tearing, it's possible that childbirth will leave you with labia that doesn't look or feel the same as it did prior to pregnancy.
Some women will heal after pregnancy, meaning that the labia returns to their 'normal'. Again, if your labia doesn't heal well or you have discomfort (mainly during urination or intimacy), labiaplasty can help to relieve pain.
How Soon After Pregnancy Can a Woman Have a Labiaplasty?
This is a question to ask your doctor. Every woman is different, and every woman has different physical needs. A labiaplasty procedure immediately following childbirth isn't typically recommended; your body needs time to heal.
Give your body a break and some time to return to it's pre-pregnancy state. If plenty of time has gone by and you are still self-conscious about your labia, if it feels noticeably uncomfortable, or it's causing you to shy away from returning to a healthy sex life, a labiaplasty procedure is a popular procedure that can make a serious change for the better.