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Outcomes of labiaplasty in women with labial hypertrophy

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

High-quality data are lacking to understand outcomes in women who undergo labiaplasty for labial hypertrophy and whether there is an association with body dismorphic disorder (BDD).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of a retrospective cohort of women who underwent labiaplasty for labial hypertrophy at a tertiary care referral center. Women were identified by CPT codes and were included if the procedure was performed by a urogynecologist. The health record was queried for demographic, pre-, intra-, and postoperative data. For the cross-sectional component of the study, participants were contacted to complete a survey.

Results

Thirty-six women met study inclusion criteria; 21 participated in the survey, and retrospective data were available for 20. At the time of labiaplasty, the women had a mean age of 30 ± 12 years and mean BMI of 23.9 ± 4.4 kg/m2. The most common preoperative motivation for undergoing labiaplasty, based on the medical record, was pain (85.0% 17/20). Complications were uncommon and minor. No women met criteria for BDD. Participant survey-reported primary motivation for undergoing partial simple vulvectomy was “pinching” in 10 (47.6%), “pain” in 4 (19.0%), and “appearance” in 7 (33.3%). The majority of women reported that labiaplasty achieved their preoperative goal (20/21, 95.2%).

Conclusions

Women who underwent labiaplasty were primarily motivated by functional concerns, and outcomes indicate a high satisfaction with genital appearance postoperatively as well as a positive effect on body image and quality of life. We recommend that surgeons work to understand what motivates women to pursue surgical intervention by asking about cosmetic concerns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Women’s Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk A-81, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Katie Propst & Cecile A. Ferrando

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  1. Katie Propst
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  2. Cecile A. Ferrando
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Contributions

KP: protocol development, data collection and analysis, manuscript writing.

CAF: protocol development, data collection and analysis, manuscript editing.

This work was be presented at the American Urogynecologic Society Annual Meeting in October 2020.

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Correspondence to Katie Propst.

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Propst, K., Ferrando, C.A. Outcomes of labiaplasty in women with labial hypertrophy. Int Urogynecol J 32, 1247–1251 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04621-w

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