Labiaplasty: Trim or Wedge?

Labiaplasty is one of the most sought-after surgical procedures in the US today. Women desire to have their intimate parts be more attractive for many reasons and they want to know how the procedure is done.

Women want to know, “What is the best technique for labiaplasty?”

In fact, this is one of the most frequently asked questions in the field of aesthetic female rejuvenation today.

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TRIM OR WEDGE LABIAPLASTY?

(Image: Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery : Concepts, Classifications and Techniques /edited by Christine Hamori, Paul E Banwell, Red Alinsod)

Women often ask, “Do I need a trim or wedge labiaplasty?” and “What are the advantages and disadvantages of a trim or wedge labiaplasty?”

These questions are somewhat synonymous to the question you would ask an artist: “Oil or water color? Which one is better?”

There is no one right answer. The answer (as to the answer to many questions in life) is: IT DEPENDS.

UNIQUE TALENT and PERSONAL PREFERENCE

It depends on your unique “taste” or personal preference of the final result , as well as the unique talent of your artist ( surgeon ) in the technique being used.

What allows artists to create their masterpiece are 3 main factors:

• The tools or raw material presented
• Their experience in the process
• The unique talents of the artist

When it comes to a labiaplasty, this translates to:

• What your labia (anatomy) looks like.
• Which technique your surgeon is most proficient in to get you the best results (Talent)
• What your goals are – i.e. How would you like your labia to look? (Personal Preference)

It also depends the value of the piece of art to the person purchasing it.  The Salvator Mundi painted by Leonardo Da Vinci sold for $450,312,500 at Christie’s in New York becoming the most expensive painting ever sold at auction.

How did the painting fetch such a high value? There are many reasons in this case, the most obvious being that the artist (Leonardo) is not physically around any longer to paint another one just like it. The other reason is that the skill of creating a masterpiece is a cummulation of training, experience and passion which, when combined, can be very powerful.

That being said,

What value does a labiaplasty bring to you?

Does it elevate your self-confidence? What does the procedure allow you to do?

Most often these are very personal emotions or reasons. For many women, the reasons are deeper than just the physical appearance of their most intimate anatomy. Regardless of the reasons WHY, let’s learn about the techniques.

Learn More About Labiaplasty

LINEAR VS WEDGE LABIAPLASTY

Most labiaplasty surgeons use the term Curved Linear resection and Central-V-Wedge resection as the two techniques commonly used, instead of simply trim and wedge. I will refer to these as Linear and Wedge moving forward.

What do we know about the Linear technique?

1. It centers around removing the edge of the protruding labia
2. It has the best blood supply and thus the least risk of wound breakdown
3. It is preferred by women who want a more petite look
4. It removes the dark edges of the labia
5. It can be performed in conjunction with other aspects of a labiaplasty: the outer labia (majora), and trimming the excess skin around the clitoris (hood reduction)
6. It has more flexibility to correct asymmetries between right and left labia

What do we know about the Wedge technique?

1. It uses a V-shaped (pie-wedge) incision to reduce the size of the labia
2. It maintains the edges of the labia of women wanting a natural contour
3. It creates a small horizontal scar and is tailored to reduce the part of labia that is the most enlarged
4. It is faster to perform
5. There is decreased scar sensitivity compared to linear technique
6. It can be performed in conjunction with other aspects of a labiaplasty, such as a hood reduction with modifications
7. Although low, risks of wound healing issues are slightly higher than with the Linear method.

What do the experts in cosmetic gynecology say?

In a survey of plastic surgeons performing labiaplasty surgery, 52.7% perform linear resection, 36.1% perform V-wedge resection. Both techniques are very safe and effective options.

The decision on which is better still relates back to:

• What your labia (anatomy) looks like
• Which technique your surgeon is most proficient in to get you the best results
• What are your goals i.e. How would you like your labia to look?

View Labiaplasty Before & After Gallery

CONCLUSION

Since this procedure is “elective,” my best advice to anyone seeking labiaplasty is to get the opinion of several surgeons prior to making the best choice for themselves.

You should choose a surgeon who is able to give you the results that are best for you based on your anatomy. You should be comfortable with your team and be able to trust your surgeon with this intimate surgery.

For me personally, I perform both techniques and have very happy patients with both. I like to:

1. Discuss desire, as well as learn about your reasons for surgery
2. Look at your unique anatomy and create a surgical plan that would allow me to create the best outcome for you based on your preferences

Here is a video showing the transformation using the trim technique.

The final decision as to which labiaplasty technique is best would involve a discussion with your surgeon. The Women’s Intimate Wellness™ Workshop is a self-guided online workshop where you can learn more about labiaplasty surgery.

To find out how Dr. Ong can assist you with questions related to labiaplasty in Scottsdale AZ, Phoenix AZ and surrounding areas, call (480) 771-7771 today or fill out our Contact Form.

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