There are many reasons for a woman to seek rejuvenation of her most intimate areas. The way your vaginal anatomy looks can affect your self-confidence, even to the point of making intimate situations less enjoyable. Aside from cosmetic concerns, many women have issues of functionality that can inhibit them from doing things they enjoy, like riding a bike or exercising. There are a few different ways to reshape and rejuvenate your intimate anatomy for cosmetic reasons, functional reasons or even both.
Genetics, childbirth and natural aging can all affect the way a woman’s vaginal area looks.Clitoral Hood Reduction
The clitoral hood covers and protects the clitoris. Women with large clitoral hoods may feel their clitoral area lacks aesthetic definition. What’s more, an enlarged clitoral hood can diminish a woman’s ability to feel sexual pleasure. During clitoral hood reduction, the excess skin is trimmed away, better exposing the sensitive clitoris. An important fact you should know about clitoral hood reduction is that the procedure must be done carefully, and by an experienced plastic surgeon. Clitoral hood reduction is delicate, and trimming away too much could result in oversensitivity and even pain.
Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty trims and shapes the labia to help with comfort and functionality, and to create a more delicate and symmetrical appearance. There are 3 types of labiaplasty:
- Labia Majora Reduction: The labia majora are the outer vaginal lips. Enlarged or asymmetrical labia majora can cause a woman to feel uncomfortable when wearing certain types of clothing and even during intimate encounters. Enlarged labia majora can create the “camel-toe” look in tight pants and bathing suits, which can prevent women from really enjoying activities that require them.
- Labia Minora Reduction: The labia minora are the inner vaginal lips. Excess tissue here not only causes aesthetic concerns, but can also cause functional issues. Enlarged labia minora can become pinched during activities such as bike riding, horseback riding or motorcycling. They can also cause pain or discomfort during sex.
- Trim-V Labiaplasty: When labia minora reduction is done, the plastic surgeon generally stops at the clitoral bulb. This can lead to a less-than-ideal transition from labia to clitoris, taking away from the aesthetic benefits of the procedure. To address this, Minneapolis plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Harrington developed the Trim-V labiaplasty. This technique incorporates a curvilinear incision and includes reduction of the clitoral hood for a more delicate and natural-looking result. Trim-V is available exclusively at Dr. Harrington’s practice.
Mons Pubis Liposuction
The mons pubis is the fleshy area just above the labia. While there is really no “normal” way for a mons pubis to look, excess tissue in this area can create a bulging appearance that some women find unflattering. During mons pubis liposuction, a plastic surgeon delicately reshapes and resizes the area by removing small amounts of fat.
Viveve®
Viveve® is non-surgical treatment for women who are concerned with vaginal laxity or dryness. A woman’s vagina can feel “looser” over time for a variety of reasons including hormones, childbirth and menopause. Viveve works to tighten and tone the vaginal tissues. There are no scalpels or lasers involved, and there’s no anesthesia or downtime. Viveve can help a woman to feel refreshed and renewed, enhancing sexual enjoyment. This non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatment may even help to relieve urinary stress incontinence.
If you’re thinking of treating yourself to one of these not-so-tricky ways to improve your intimate anatomy, choose a plastic surgeon who is board-certified and experienced in the field of cosmetic gynecology. For your vaginal rejuvenation or labiaplasty, a female plastic surgeon may be the best choice, as only a female plastic surgeon can appreciate firsthand a woman’s most intimate needs.
Dr. Jennifer Harrington is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. Harrington Plastic Surgery is pleased to offer the most advanced cosmetic and reconstructive techniques performed by a highly specialized all-female team of board-certified plastic surgeons and professional staff.
