Can I Get a “Perfect Vagina”?
As with any cosmetic procedure, Dr. Steven Yarinsky stresses the importance of having realistic expectations with the outcome of labiaplasty. While patients can often achieve their desired results, he notes that women should maintain a practical outlook on what is attainable with their procedure. At Saratoga Springs Plastic Surgery, Dr. Yarinsky helps patients understand what they can expect based on their physical examination during the consultation process. He also strives to help others by answering questions about labiaplasty through the online medical forum RealSelf.
One woman, in particular, was a 16-year-old who was seeking the “perfect vagina.” She had undergone a labiaplasty with clitoral hood reduction two months prior and was now considering a second procedure once she turned 18 to reduce the size of her vulva to be “as tiny as possible.” Based on the before-and-after pictures she had seen, she wasn’t sure if her idea of “the perfect vagina” was attainable. She posed the question, “Is there a doctor out there who can make a drastic change so I would get the result I dream of?” As part of his mission to educate women on female intimate surgery, Dr. Yarinsky provided a detailed answer to help clarify the young woman’s confusion.
Dr. Yarinsky responded that there are many variations of the appearance of the vulva, so there is no single “perfect vagina.” After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Without examining the young woman, or seeing her current photos, Dr. Yarinsky could not accurately determine whether further surgery, another labiaplasty, would be of any benefit to her. Any ethical plastic surgeon screens his patients for dysmorphic behavior before operating. Body dysmorphism involves undue concern with an appearance of a body part that to most would be within the realm of “normal”. Patients who have dysmorphism should not be offered cosmetic surgery, since there really is nothing “correctable” and they will no doubt be very disappointed with the results. Two other factors that needed to be considered were the issues of her age and expectations. A few questions he recommended she consider included:
- Why are you so bothered by the appearance of your labia?
- What changes in appearance are you trying to obtain?
- Do you have realistic expectations of what can be achieved?
He explained that these are all questions to address during her consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in labiaplasty. Above all, Dr. Yarinsky highlighted that no matter what cosmetic surgery she chooses, her expectation of the results must be realistic or she will be dissatisfied. This is why he encouraged her to seek a caring expert plastic surgeon who would let her know whether or not he can help to reach her goal.