Hi, I am Fleur and would like to apologize to Big V for my long absence from this site (due to family commitments, study, personal issues, etc). Anyway, as promised I am sharing my surgery experience. I had a labia minora reduction perfomed just over a year ago. I am extremely happy with the results and with the care I recieved from my doctor and the post-operative period. Yes, it was sore for a while and looked black and there was some bleeding but I must say it all healed up very well and you cannot tell that any surgery has been done.
My advice to any considering the surgery is firsty find the very best, reputable surgeon who must be a member of the plastic surgeons' association in your country. Contact the association for the names of surgeons who specialize in what you want done. Do as much research on the doctor and procedure as you can. A responsible surgeon will not rush you into the procedure and will freely answer any questions you ask. Also the surgeon must specialize in this procedure. Secondly you must do it for you and only you and not to please anyone else. Your husband/partner or future partner/###### accept you for who you want to be so please yourself first and be happy with what you have.
No matter how hard I tried I could not be happy with my labia minora and felt extremely self-conscious since early adolescence. Even after having three kids I still could not get over it. They protruded about an inch from the labia majora when I was standing comfortably and formed a peak in the middle. They were darkened and wrinkly. I did not feel feminine at all. They reminded me of men's scrotum. Now if I have described something similar to what you look like, please do not take offense. This is my issue with myself. I would advise any self-conscious woman to first try and accept herself as there is nothing wrong with your body. My surgeon said that I fall into the range of 'normal'. But the surgery has given me peace on this issue. I also had breast implants inserted to my poor shrivelled breasts after 36 months of breastfeeding and much enlargement and shrinkage and a tumor removal. I absolutely love my breasts and vulva now and think it was all worth the pain and money. The self-confidence I have now is priceless.
I must note that my husband did not suggest or agree that I needed surgery. He was very happy with me the way I was but supported my decision to do this for me. As an added bonus to my newfound sexual and personal confidence my husband just LOVES my new body and is even more exited than ever before. I am not trying to promote plastic surgery in any way. This is just MY story. I have come to adopt this philosophy concerning body image: If there's something you don't like about your body then try to accept it . If you can't accept it then change it if you can. If it can't be changed then you must accept it for your own sake and peace of mind. Give yourself a break. You are a unique creation. Try to keep your beautiful gift only for those who accept you as you are.
Thank you for your honesty on the subject, i have no children yet suffer the same affliction as your self and i know that treating this ailment i would feel as confident in my sexual life as you do now. Thank you.
How much does this procedure cost...?
Hi Clare. My surgery cost a few thousand in Australian dollars. There is also hospital and anaesthetist's fees. My procedure was partially subsidised by Medicare as I think it was classed as a medical problem because of discomfort, etc. My private insurance covered some of the procedure and all of the hospital costs (the breast surgery procedure was not subsidised at all). I have no idea how much this costs in the US or UK or anywhere else for that matter. I was only in the hospital for a few hours and then went home to recover. Recovery on the whole went very well. I wish you all the best for whatever you decide to do.
Fleur.
Thank you for sharing your experience I am also looking to have the surgery done, I was wondering if you could tell me what Dr. performed the surgery or if you have any recommendations about Doctors that perform the surgery.
Thank you
Hi Anonymous. Sorry to take so long to reply. Have been busy with school holidays. The doctor that performed my surgery is the only one that I know of in Australia that specialises in this type of surgery. He also does plenty of gender re-assignment surgery and he is a top burns surgeon having worked on victims of the Bali bombing. His name is Peter Haertsch. You should be able to find him on the web or contact the Australian Society of Plastic surgeons. You can email me if you want to chat some more or need any more details.
Fleur.
hey im 17 and my vagina is exactly like that and i think its so ugly.! and i want plastic surgery because its just really embarressing. but yeah how much is it.. in the us? still 3 thousand.
i read your message and wanted to ask you how badly the labia reduction hurt... i would be flying to see family that will not know four days afterwards... is this a bit wishful? many thanks