Does Labiaplasty Cause Changes in Sensation?

While sensation loss is an important consideration for labiaplasty, an expert surgeon (I have performed over 350 labiaplasties!) can routinely perform this surgery with zero risk of sensation loss.

The main concern of every labiaplasty patient is a loss of sensation after surgery. Any time there is surgery, there is a potential for sensation changes, so the concern is warranted. Especially with the number–and importance–of the nerve endings surrounding the vagina and clitoris, many women are worried that they will lose sensation after labiaplasty.

While these are valid considerations, the following article will show you why these aren’t a risk factor when an expert labiaplasty surgeon is selected for your procedure. While I am certain that I can help you achieve your goals for your labiaplasty surgery, I would strongly recommend that you look at lots of labiaplasty before and after photos from the surgeon you choose!

Reasons you may get a Labiaplasty

There are really two reasons why women seek out labiaplasty surgery. The first reason is to improve the appearance of the inner labia or labia minora in order to decrease self-consciousness. The second is to decrease symptoms of irritation, pinching and pulling of the labia minora. Oftentimes, both of these issues are present in the same patient, and a labiaplasty therefore can resolve both cosmetic and medical concerns. For a more in depth discussion of these two main reasons for a labiaplasty, visit this blog post.

What happens during a Labiaplasty?

The Labiaplasty procedure itself takes about 1 and 1/2 hours and can be done awake under local anesthesia or with IV “twilight” sedation. About 95% of my patients choose the awake option. The needle poke feels like having a piercing done, and the numbing injection works instantly. These patients are able to drive themselves to and from The Surgery Center.

While there are two techniques for labiaplasty surgery, only one is widely effective and predictive: the edge or “trim” labiaplasty. This approach leaves a smooth pink edge, no rough or dark lines, and most importantly – heals very quickly! The wedge can separate, leave rough edges, and can result in persistent pigmentation and darkness of the labia minora.

Does Labiaplasty affect sensation?

In the 350 labiaplasty surgeries I have performed, none of my patients have had loss of sensation. None of my patients have had painful scars after labiaplasty. None have had pain with intercourse. And none of my labiaplasty patients have had clitoral numbness or difficulty with orgasm.

When a surgeon is delicate with the tissues, when only the surface mucosa is removed. and when the detailed anatomy of the vulva is precisely understood, sensation can be fully preserved with labiaplasty surgery. Even when a clitoral hood reduction is performed, which is common in my practice, I’ve had no patients who have reported sensation loss.

On the contrary, most of my patients actually report improved sensation after the procedure. One reason for this is less pinching and pulling. Another is improved accessibility to the clitoris. Lastly, and most importantly, labiaplasty leads to improved confidence and decreased self-consciousness. These last reasons are likely the most important for the female sexual response, explaining why satisfaction rates for labiaplasty are incredibly high in my practice.

Thanks for reading this article on sensation and labiaplasty. I hope it has helped you to feel more confident about your labiaplasty journey with me. Me and my team would be truly honored to help you with this sensitive topic in the most sensitive way possible!