Yup, I’m going there! You can probably guess from the name, but let me just give you the definition: Also known as vaginal rejuvenation, labiaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure that involves modifying the labia minora (inner lips) and/or the labia majora (outer lips). It is usually done for cosmetic reasons. Apparently, it is more common to alter the inner lips. I came across this topic because a Reddit user was concerned about her “outie”. Yup, that is the term she used, and she went on to say that she wondered if her partner was put off by her large inner lips that appeared quite prominent as an outie. Of course, I just had to research this, and here’s what I learned:

In 2024, 10,827 Labiaplasty surgeries were performed in the US alone. The number of surgeries in the US increased by 45% between 2015 and 2020. It’s becoming increasingly popular.
I thought the popularity might be among more mature women like myself, but nope, it’s most popular among women between the ages of 25 and 34.
A large number of women, 78% to be exact, report dissatisfaction with their inner lips as the reason to seek this cosmetic surgery.
If you wish to undergo labiaplasty, the cost typically ranges from $3,000 to $8,000. It’s less than I thought but certainly more than Botox and less than a nose job, breast augmentation, or facelift.
Labiaplasty is often combined with other procedures like clitoral hood reduction and vaginal tightening.
Labiaplasty is not just for transgender women; in fact, it is a relatively small percentage at about 12% of all labiaplasty procedures.
Fortunately, the complication rate for labiaplasty is estimated at around 1.7%
Now, for some astounding history on labiaplasty: Labiaplasty dates back to Ancient Greece, B.C., and then later in the Middle Ages. During those ancient times, it was a relatively crude procedure involving suturing excess tissue. I am not exactly sure what they called it way back then. However, the first documented formal citations of labiaplasty date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The Journal of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery first cited the procedure in 1984, but the first published article occurred as early as 1971.

If all this information causes your intimate bits to cringe…you aren’t alone. My legs are slammed shut just thinking about this! Of course, since I had no idea labiaplasty was a thing, I certainly haven’t written it into any book, and I don’t think I ever will! Perhaps a brave author will write a story about a plastic surgeon specializing in labiaplasty who falls in love with their patient. Want to check out my books? Just click the links below. Two new releases are The Invisible Woman: A Lesbian Superhero Story and the audiobook for Trouble in Paradise. If so inclined, click the links below. Just a note that one advantage of buying directly from Affinity is that there is no sales tax. Don’t forget to sign up for the Affinity Rainbow Publications Newsletter to keep up to date on all our new releases: https://affinityebooks.com/newsletter/