Reduction Labioplasty in Adolescents

Surgical Interventions on the External Female Genitalia in Switzerland

“…If we compare this with the increasing number of younger patients who have undergone breast augmentations in the past 20 years, we must also assume an increase in intimate surgical interventions among younger women. Operations in girls under age of 16 and even children are mentioned sporadically in our study and the literature [21,22]. In Switzerland, operations on patients under 18 years of age require the written consent of the parents or guardians.…”

Labial surgery for well women: a review of the literature

“…A large number of procedures are performed on adolescents, 17,18 and even on young children. 15 If genital anomalies are indeed identified, children and adolescents should receive ongoing care and support from specialist paediatric teams.…”

“…The labia minora continue to develop in childhood and, especially, in adolescence. Any asymmetry may correct itself during pubertal development; if the contralateral labium starts to grow at this stage, 17 previous procedures may lead to further asymmetry prompting more operations. Furthermore, the human anatomy is not a stable entity and continues to change throughout the lifespan; postoperative cosmesis is likewise impermanent.…”

“…Of the 21, 18 were reports of surgical procedures. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The remaining three papers were as follows: one qualitative study of patient experience after labial reduction, 20 one study of patient indications for surgery, 21 and one survey of women's attitudes to their labia. 22 Of the remaining 19 of the 40 publications that did not include surgical results, one was a description of a technique, 23 five were letters on points relating to the surgical technique, [24][25][26][27][28] and three were discussions of the surgical technique.…”

“…13 Anecdotes of psychological and sexual difficulties were also offered as indications, including poor self-esteem, 8 teasing by siblings 5 and parental concern. 17 None of the papers referred to nonsurgical solutions as a possibility.…”