Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Minora
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA
Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL) is a popular procedure for women wishing to reduce the appearance of the large or protruding labia minora. Most women who have a LRL have the excess prepuce reduced to enhance the overall aesthetics thus providing a more youthful look. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. David Matlock!
The result? A youthful and compact look you’ve been coveting!
Contents
Why Do Clients Choose Laser Reduction Labiaplasty of the Labia Minora?
The Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL) of the labia minora is a procedure for patients that want to reduce the appearance of the labia minora that protrude beyond the labia majora (large outer lips).
These patients may be concerned with large, sagging, thick, uneven, or aesthetically unappealing labia minora. The best candidate for this procedure is a physically healthy patient with realistic expectations.
Welcome
Welcome to your guide to Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL) of the Labia Minora. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the procedure and what you can do to ensure a result you will love. Remember, this presentation does not take the place of your consultation and you should make sure to write down any questions you may want to ask us later.
LRL of the Labia Minora is the second most common Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery procedure. LRL is an actual surgical procedure that uses the laser for cutting, dissecting, and absorbable suture material to aesthetically reapproximate the skin edges.
LRL is a procedure for women wishing to reduce the appearance of the labia minora that protrude beyond the labia majora (large outer lips). Patients who request this procedure may be concerned with large, sagging, thick, uneven, or aesthetically unappealing labia minora. The best candidate for this procedure is a physically healthy woman with realistic goals.
Preparation
During your consultation you should provide a complete medical history and a list of medications, including vitamins and herbs.
Here are some tips that may help you shorten your recovery time and decrease your chances of complications.
- Discontinue using Aspirin (including medications that contain Aspirin), Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E and other supplements as directed. These act as blood thinners and could cause excessive bruising, bleeding or other complications. We will give you a complete list of medications and herbal supplements to avoid prior to your procedure.
- Stop smoking for at least two weeks before and one week after surgery, as nicotine can impair circulation and healing.
- Do not drink alcohol in excess for two weeks before your LRL procedure and one week after the surgery.
Procedure
LRL is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient has her choice of anesthesia (pudendal block, IV sedation, twilight, or general). Ninety-eight percent elect to have general anesthesia. LRL lasts approximately an hour depending on the extent of the procedure required to provide the ultimate aesthetic look.
A pudendal block (nerve block) is given to provide 18-24 hours postoperative pain control anesthesia. Then a proprietary Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® technique is used to perform the LRL. A surgical marker is used to accurately mark the incision line of the labia minora. A contact tip laser that is precise and delicate on the tissue is used to perform the LRL. The edges are then closed with absorbable sutures.
Attention is then turned to the prepuce where a proprietary technique is used to remove just the right amount of prepuce from both sides. Very fine absorbable sutures are used to close this area. Upon completion of the LRL, the patient is then transferred to the recovery room. After one to two hours, the patient is released for transfer home.
Post Surgery
Patients may experience some bruising, swelling, and discomfort after the procedure. Swelling may linger for as long as two weeks or perhaps longer. Pain medication will be prescribed to control any discomfort. Note that the pain medications can cause constipation (it is the most common complaint) and the patient should use a stool softener such as Colace. Additionally, patients are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, and eat fruits and vegetables to help soften the stool.
Apply ice packs to the labia off and on in twenty-minute intervals for the first 48 hours to minimize swelling.
Recovery
During the recovery period, patients are not to engage in sexual activity for six weeks. No sexual activity or exercise (yoga, spinning, cycling, Pilates, weightlifting, etc.). Most patients return to work in one week. Others, whose job may be more physically demanding, may require more time off of work.
Patients may shower on the second or third day following surgery. No tub baths for four weeks. The use of thong underwear and tight fitting clothing should be avoided for four weeks as well.
Results
The results of your LRL procedure will be complete at six weeks postoperatively. At that time, patients can resume all sexual and physical activities without any restrictions.
FAQ
How long does it take to schedule this surgery?
We understand the travel and scheduling limitations for our patient that are either out-of-state or traveling from another country. We make sure to prioritize scheduling flexibility for traveling patients so that they can make arrangements (including hotels, flights, friends or family members to accompany them, hiring a private duty nurse if traveling alone, or making arrangements at an aftercare facility, if necessary).
Dr. Matlock’s concierge team can assist you with arrangements for sourcing and scheduling private nurses and/or aftercare facilities if needed.
If you are ready to move forward immediately after your consultation, we do everything possible to accommodate your desired date(s). Please be advised, Dr. Matlock performs surgeries on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
We recommend two of the following options:
Option 1*
Tuesday: Schedule your pre-operative appointment
Wednesday: Schedule your surgery
Monday: Schedule your post-operative appointment
Arrive at our office early on Tuesday for your pre-op
Option 2*
Friday: Schedule your pre-operative appointment
Monday: Schedule your surgery
Friday: Schedule your post-operative appointment
*Lab work must be done at least two weeks prior to surgery. We give patients the option to complete lab work in our office or with their primary care physicians.
What can I Expect during my pre and post-op appointments?
Pre-Operative Appointment:
Meet with Dr. Matlock
Confirm procedure details
Pay remaining balance
Sign consent forms
Prepare for surgery
Post-Operative Appointment:
This is your first appointment after surgery.
Out of town patients may fly back home that same evening or the following day after first post-operative appointment
Please be advised that there is a $1,000 deposit when scheduling surgery to reserve the surgery date. This deposit is applied towards the balance, and is refundable if the patient needs to cancel, as long as they provide two-week notice prior to their scheduled surgery date.
Payment for the entire procedure is due on the day of the pre-operative appointment (we only accept cash, cashier’s check, and credit/debit cards).
How do I prepare for LRL surgery?
Your paperwork should include a full medical history prior to your consultation with Dr. Matlock, so that he can discuss any unique preparation necessary before your Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL). Generally, all patients should follow these pre-operative preparation:
Stop certain medications and/or supplements
Discontinue using Aspirin (including medications that contain Aspirin), Ibuprofen (Advil), Naproxen (Aleve) and other NSAIDs. Also discontinue taking St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E and other supplements (Dr. Matlock and/or your surgical consultant will review these specifics with you prior to your procedure).
These medications and supplements act as blood thinners, and could cause excessive bruising, bleeding or other complications. We will also give you a complete list of medications and herbal supplements to avoid prior to your procedure.
Stop smoking
Patients will need to stop smoking for at least two weeks prior to surgery, and at least one week post-surgery. Nicotine can impair circulation and impede healing.
Avoid excessive alcohol
Do not drink alcohol in excess during the two weeks before your Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation® procedure, and for one week after surgery. Excessive alcohol consumption before and after surgery has been shown to weaken the immune system and slow down your recovery.
Skip food or drink
We ask that you do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your scheduled surgery.
What happens the day of surgery?
The Laser Reduction Labiaplasty (LRL) is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient has her choice of anesthesia (pudendal block, IV sedation, twilight, or general). 98% percent of our patients elect to have general anesthesia. LRL lasts approximately an hour depending on the extent of the procedure required to provide the ultimate aesthetic look.
A pudendal block (nerve block) is given to provide 18-24 hours post-operative pain control anesthesia. Then a proprietary Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® technique is used to perform the LRL. A surgical marker is used to accurately mark the incision line of the labia minora. A contact tip laser that is precise and delicate on the tissue is used to perform the LRL. The edges are then closed with absorbable sutures.
We then pay attention to the prepuce where a proprietary technique is used to remove just the right amount of prepuce from both sides. Very fine absorbable sutures are used to close this area. Upon completion of the LRL, the patient is transferred to the recovery room. After1-2 hours, the patient is released to transfer home.
What Can I expect in terms of recovery and healing time?
Post Surgery
Patients may experience some bruising, swelling, and discomfort after the procedure. Swelling may linger for as long as two weeks or longer. We will prescribe pain medications to control any discomfort.
Note that the pain medications can cause constipation (it is the most common complaint), and patients should use a stool softener such as Colace. Additionally, we encourage patients to drink plenty of fluids, and eat fruits and vegetables to help soften the stool.
We also advise applying ice packs to the labia off-and-on in twenty-minute intervals for the first 48 hours to minimize swelling.
Recovery
During the recovery period, patients are not to engage in sexual activity for six weeks. We also advise patients not to exercise (yoga, spinning, cycling, Pilates, weightlifting, etc.) during this 6-week recovery period. Most patients return to work within one week. Others, whose job may be more physically demanding, may require more time off of work.
Patients may shower on the second or third day following surgery. We advise against tub baths for four weeks. Lastly, we recommend avoiding the use of thong underwear and tight fitting clothing for four weeks post-surgery.
