Today, we’re going to talk about labiaplasty, a procedure that reshapes the labia minora.

This case involved a teenage patient who experienced significant discomfort due to enlarged labia minora. 

The discomfort had become difficult for her to tolerate, and after discussing her concerns with her parents, she decided to undergo labiaplasty.

Although it is uncommon, we occasionally see patients in their teens and early twenties 

who consider labiaplasty because of persistent physical discomfort.

In this case, the labia minora were significantly enlarged.

 Although the patient had not yet fully completed puberty, 

the discomfort was substantial enough that she wanted to address her current symptoms.

Using our five-level classification system, her condition was approximately Grade 4.5 to 5.

There were also prominent folds and thicker, protruding tissue around the clitoral hood. Mild vaginal folds were observed as well.

Considering Continued Development During Adolescence

Because the patient was still going through puberty, 

we discussed the possibility that the genital tissue could continue to change as she developed.

Taking this into consideration, the procedure was planned conservatively, 

with the goal of reducing the areas causing discomfort while preserving normal tissue as much as possible.

The surgical design was also carefully planned to minimize unnecessary exposure of sensitive areas, including the clitoral region.

Careful Surgical Planning for Younger Patients

When performing labiaplasty on younger patients, particular care is needed because the tissue can be relatively thin and delicate.

The incision and suturing therefore require careful handling, 

and the surgical design is planned to create a smooth and natural contour while taking future physical development into consideration.

Because changes during puberty cannot be predicted with complete certainty, 

these possibilities are explained during consultation before proceeding with surgery.

The goal is to plan the procedure with both the patient’s current discomfort and future development in mind.

Consultation With Both the Patient and Her Parents

Today, many teenagers search for health information on their own before discussing their concerns with their parents.

In some cases, patients first recognize that their symptoms are interfering with everyday activities 

and then visit the clinic with a parent after discussing whether medical evaluation may be appropriate.

Because concerns involving the labia can be difficult for young patients to talk about, careful consultation is especially important.

Recovery After Labiaplasty

Fortunately, this patient recovered relatively quickly.

As recovery progressed, the discomfort she had experienced in everyday life was greatly reduced, and she appeared much more comfortable.

However, recovery after labiaplasty can vary depending on the individual, the extent of the procedure, and the condition of the tissue.

For adolescent patients in particular, the decision to undergo surgery should not be based solely on appearance. 

The degree of physical discomfort, stage of development, individual anatomy, and the patient’s concerns should all be carefully evaluated.

At Gangnam DAUM Women’s Clinic, we carefully assess each patient’s age, physical development, symptoms, 

and individual anatomy before discussing whether labiaplasty may be appropriate.

For younger patients, we place particular emphasis on thorough consultation and conservative surgical planning, 

taking both current symptoms and future physical development into consideration.

Our goal is to help patients receive appropriate care while supporting a comfortable recovery.