Labiaplasty · Treatment

Clitoral Hood Reduction in Seoul: Hood Exposure Surgery

Clitoral hood reduction removes excess folds of the skin that covers the clitoris so the hood sits flat and in proportion, without touching the clitoris itself. At Somssi Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Yoon usually performs it in the same session as labia minora reduction, under local anesthesia, with absorbable micro-sutures and same-day discharge. The aim is balance and comfort, and the technique is deliberately conservative to protect sensation.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist, Somssi Women's Clinic · Last updated October 2026

At a glance

Key facts

The essentials, based on how Somssi Women's Clinic performs this procedure or answers this question. Your plan is confirmed at consultation.

• Procedure time: Within the 40–60 minute labiaplasty session; shorter when done alone
• Anesthesia: Local (long-acting); sedation optional
• Hospital stay: None; home the same day
• Sutures: Fine absorbable micro-sutures
• Healing: About 2 weeks; intercourse after 2–3 weeks
• Usually combined with: Labia minora reduction
• Performed by: Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist

What is clitoral hood reduction?

The clitoral hood, or prepuce, is the fold of skin that covers and protects the clitoral glans. In some women the hood is long, thick or has extra folds on either side, so the clitoris is hidden, the area looks bulky, or the hood continues into enlarged labia minora as one heavy curtain. Clitoral hood reduction, also called hood exposure or hoodectomy, removes the excess skin so the hood lies flat and the clitoris is appropriately, not excessively, exposed.

It is important to be clear about what the operation is not. The clitoris itself, its glans and the nerves that supply it are not cut or moved. Only the overlying skin folds are reduced. Somssi Women's Clinic is a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD; hood reduction here is almost always performed as part of labiaplasty rather than as a stand-alone operation.

Hood excess is usually simply inherited and becomes apparent at puberty, and it very often goes together with enlarged labia minora, because the hood and the labia develop from the same fold of tissue. Childbirth, weight change and years of friction can make the folds heavier, and some women notice the hood more once the labia have been reduced and no longer draw the eye downward.

Who is a good candidate?

• Your labia minora are being reduced and the hood would look bulky or out of proportion afterward.
• Extra lateral folds of hood skin give a heavy or asymmetrical look above the labia.
• The hood is long enough to fold over on itself, trapping moisture or causing irritation.
• You feel the clitoris is completely covered and that this reduces sensation during intimacy.
• A previous labiaplasty reduced the labia but left the hood untreated, so the result looks top-heavy.

The common thread is genuine excess skin. A hood that simply covers the clitoris is normal, and surgery on a normal hood brings risk without benefit.

Hood reduction is not a treatment for low desire or difficulty reaching orgasm in women with a normal hood. If that is your concern, a frank conversation about sexual function is more useful than surgery, and Dr. Yoon has published research in that field.

How Somssi performs clitoral hood reduction

Design with the labia, not in isolation

Dr. Yoon plans the hood together with the labia minora so that the lines flow continuously from the hood into the new labial edge. In most women the excess lies in the lateral folds beside the hood rather than in the central hood over the glans, and that is where the reduction is made.

Conservative removal

Narrow strips of excess skin are removed from either side of the hood, keeping the central hood intact. Over-exposure of the clitoris leads to constant rubbing and discomfort, so the reduction is deliberately modest. Cutting is done with a laser for a clean edge and control of bleeding.

Fine closure

The skin is closed with fine absorbable micro-sutures placed within the natural folds, so the lines are hidden once healed. No stitches need to be removed.

When the hood is treated alone

Occasionally a woman whose labia minora are already small asks only about the hood. The same conservative, lateral approach is used, the operation is shorter, and recovery is a little quicker because there is less wound to heal. Dr. Yoon will say at examination whether a hood-only procedure would make a visible difference or whether the hood is within the normal range and best left alone.

If you would like to understand the labial part of the operation, read labia minora reduction and how the surgery is performed.

Anesthesia, duration and hospital stay

When combined with labiaplasty, hood reduction adds little to the overall 40–60 minute operation. Performed alone it is shorter. Long-acting local anesthesia is standard and sedation can be added if you prefer not to be aware. There is no hospital stay: you go home the same day once you have urinated, and one or two visits are usually enough.

Recovery timeline

Because hood reduction is usually done with labiaplasty, the recovery follows the labiaplasty schedule in How long does labia minora reduction recovery take?

Results and what to expect

A well-judged hood reduction gives a flatter, more balanced upper vulva with the clitoris visible but still protected. Combined with labia minora reduction, the overall result looks proportionate rather than leaving a bulky hood above slim labia.

Results vary. Some women notice easier stimulation because the glans is less covered; others notice no change in sensation at all, and we do not promise one. Temporary heightened sensitivity while healing is common and settles. Swelling can make the result look asymmetrical for several weeks, so the final appearance is judged at around three months.

Risks and how we reduce them

Real risks include bleeding or hematoma, infection, wound separation, asymmetry, visible scarring, over-exposure of the clitoris with persistent hypersensitivity or discomfort, altered sensation, and the usual anesthesia risks. Over-exposure is the complication that most concerns surgeons, because removed skin cannot be replaced.

We reduce these risks by keeping the reduction conservative and lateral, by leaving the central hood and the glans untouched, by cutting with a laser and closing with fine tension-free absorbable sutures, and by planning the hood as part of the labial design. Written aftercare and prompt review of any concern follow. For a broader discussion see Does labia minora reduction affect sensation or sexual function?

Why international patients choose Somssi

You consult directly with Dr. Yoon in English, and surgery can usually be arranged within a day or two. Same-day discharge and dissolvable sutures make a short stay in Seoul practical, with follow-up by message or video once you are home.

The clinic is 100 m from Gangnam Station Exit 1, has operated since 2000, is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for foreign patients (2011) and is a Seoul Medical Tourism cooperation clinic (2016). Dr. Yoon's peer-reviewed research on female sexual function, including an SCI paper on sexual desire in Korean women, informs a technique that puts sensation first. Visit our international patients page or contact us to ask about combining hood reduction with labiaplasty.

Questions patients ask

Frequently asked questions

Short, honest answers. For anything personal, a consultation is the right place to ask.

See the full FAQ →

Does clitoral hood reduction increase sensation?

Some women find stimulation easier when a very long hood no longer covers the glans completely, but this is not guaranteed and should not be the main reason for surgery. The clitoris and its nerves are not operated on, so the procedure neither creates nor removes sensation; it changes only how much skin lies over the glans. Temporary hypersensitivity during healing is common and settles.

Is hood reduction the same as hoodectomy?

Yes. Hoodectomy, clitoral hood reduction, hood exposure and clitoral unhooding all describe the same operation: removing excess skin from the clitoral hood. The terms differ by country and surgeon. At Somssi the procedure is almost always a conservative, lateral reduction performed together with labia minora reduction rather than a stand-alone operation.

Can the hood be reduced without labiaplasty?

It can, and occasionally a woman whose labia minora are already small asks only about the hood. More often, though, a prominent hood is part of a general excess that includes the labia minora, and treating both in one session gives a balanced result. Dr. Yoon will tell you during examination whether a hood-only procedure makes sense for you.

Will the clitoris be too exposed afterward?

That is the complication we design against. The central hood over the glans is left intact and only the excess lateral folds are reduced, so the clitoris stays protected. In the first days swelling can make the glans look more exposed than it will be; this settles within a couple of weeks. Over-exposure causes rubbing and discomfort, which is why the reduction is kept modest.

How painful is recovery?

The hood is sensitive, but long-acting local anesthetic keeps the area numb for hours after surgery and soreness over the following days is usually mild to moderate. An ice pack for the first three days, loose cotton underwear and simple pain relief are enough for most women. Pain that increases after day three should be reported so we can check for a hematoma or infection.

When can I have sex after hood reduction?

When the procedure is combined with labiaplasty, intercourse is usually possible after two to three weeks, once the edges are fully closed and comfortable. Gentle stimulation of the area is best avoided until then too. If swelling or tenderness persists, wait a little longer; there is no advantage in rushing.

Keep reading

Related treatments and guides

• Does Labia Minora Reduction Affect Sensation or Sexual Function? — how sensation is protected in labial and hood surgery
• How Long Does Labia Minora Reduction Recovery Take? — the shared recovery timeline
• Is Labia Minora Reduction Safe? — risks and safeguards for the combined procedure
• How Much Does Labia Minora Reduction Cost in Korea? — how combining procedures affects the quote
• Labiaplasty (Labia Reshaping Surgery) — the operation hood reduction is usually combined with
• Hoodectomy — the same procedure explained by its other name, and when it is needed
• Dr. Yoon Ho-joo — research on female sexual function and surgical philosophy

Sources and medical review

• Yoon HJ et al. Characteristics of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in Korean women attending a community gynecology clinic. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2018. DOI 10.1080/01443615.2017.1389866.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — elective female genital cosmetic surgery
• Te Linde's Operative Gynecology (textbook) — vulvar anatomy and surgery

Next step

A consultation first. A decision only when you are ready.

Tell us what you are experiencing and what you hope to change. Dr. Yoon examines, measures and explains the options, including when no surgery is the right answer. International patients can start with an online consultation before travelling to Seoul.