A Retrospective Study of the Psychological Outcomes of Labiaplasty.

BACKGROUND: Labiaplasty has become an increasingly popular procedure. However, the psychological outcomes of this procedure, such as the effects on women’s sex lives and psychological well-being, have received little attention from researchers to date. In addition, the investigation of factors which predict satisfaction with surgical outcomes is also lacking.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of labiaplasty on women’s sexual satisfaction and psychological well-being. To also identify patient characteristics which predict surgical satisfaction.

METHODS: This retrospective study involved 48 adult women who had undergone a labiaplasty procedure between 3 and 204 months prior. These women completed an online questionnaire which contained measures of satisfaction with labiaplasty, genital appearance satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and psychological well-being.

RESULTS: Most women were very satisfied with their labial appearance and function after surgery. The women also reported statistically significant increases in their genital appearance satisfaction (P < .001), sexual satisfaction (P = .009), and psychological well-being (P < .001) at the time of completing the questionnaire compared to their recalled levels prior to surgery. Undergoing labiaplasty to address physical/functional concerns (P = .025) as well as sexual concerns (P = .037) was associated with greater satisfaction with surgical outcomes. In contrast, experiencing post-surgery complications (P = .015) was related to lower satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS: Women appear to be very satisfied with the results of their labiaplasty and they also seem to experience improvements in their sexual satisfaction and psychological well-being. Physical/functional motivations for undergoing labiaplasty are associated with greater satisfaction with outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4