Labiaplasty · Patient guide
How Is Labia Minora Reduction Surgery Performed?
Labia minora reduction is performed in six steps: examination and photographs, marking the new shape before anesthesia, long-acting local anesthetic, removal of the excess by edge trim or central wedge using a laser, closure with fine absorbable micro-sutures, and a short rest before same-day discharge. At Somssi Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Yoon performs the whole operation himself in about 40 to 60 minutes, and you walk out the same day.
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: 40–60 minutes
- Anesthesia: Long-acting local; sedation optional
- Cutting: Laser, for a clean edge and controlled bleeding
- Closure: Fine absorbable micro-sutures, no removal needed
- Hospital stay: None; discharged after urinating
- Visits: Usually 1–2 in total
- Performed by: Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist
Labia minora reduction is a 40–60 minute outpatient operation in which the surgeon marks the new shape, numbs the area with long-acting local anesthetic, removes the excess tissue with a laser by trimming the edge or excising a central wedge, and closes the wound with fine absorbable sutures. Here is what actually happens from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, as performed at Somssi Women's Clinic.
Before the day: consultation and planning
Somssi Women's Clinic is a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD. The operation begins at consultation. Dr. Yoon takes your history, asks what bothers you, examines the labia lying and standing, and takes photographs. He decides whether a trim, a wedge or a combination fits your anatomy and whether the clitoral hood should be included. If you are suitable and ready, surgery can often follow the same day or the next.
Preparation is simple: wear loose clothing, remove nail polish if sedation is planned, and avoid eating for two hours beforehand if you will have sedation. Under local anesthesia alone there is no need to fast.
Step 1: Examination and photographs
On the day, the plan is confirmed in the examination room and pre-operative photographs are taken. These are for your record and for comparison afterward; they are not shared.
Step 2: Marking the design
Dr. Yoon draws the new outline of each labium with a surgical marker while the tissue is in its natural state, before any anesthetic swells it. The principle is to design the labia to a normal size first and then remove only what lies outside that line. You can look in a mirror and ask questions at this stage. Enough tissue is always kept to look natural and protect the vaginal opening.
Step 3: Anesthesia
A mixture of long-acting local anesthetics is infiltrated along the marked lines. The initial injections sting briefly; after that the area is numb for the operation and for hours afterward. If you have chosen sedation, it is given through a drip so you sleep through the procedure, and the local anesthetic is still placed for pain control when you wake.
Step 4: Removing the excess
With a retractor holding the tissue gently, the excess is removed with a laser along the design lines. The laser gives a clean, even edge and seals small vessels as it cuts, which limits bleeding and swelling.
- In an edge trim, the strip outside the line is removed along the free border.
- In a wedge excision, a V-shaped segment is removed from the widest part and the edge above and below is brought together, keeping the natural border.
- If the clitoral hood is included, narrow lateral folds beside the hood are removed, leaving the central hood and clitoris untouched.
Our guide Trim vs wedge labia minora reduction explains how the choice is made.
Step 5: Closure
This is the stage that determines how the result looks. Dr. Yoon closes the wound with fine absorbable micro-sutures placed close together and without tension. Where the labium is thick, the deeper tissue is closed separately from the surface so the edge heals flat. In his experience, suturing accounts for most of the final appearance. The sutures dissolve on their own over the following weeks, so nothing needs to be removed.
Step 6: Immediate aftercare and discharge
A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory is given at the end of surgery. The area is dressed lightly, you rest briefly, and you are discharged once you have urinated, usually within an hour. You walk out, can shower the same day, and begin the clinic ointment with a cotton swab about four times a day. An ice pack is used on and off for the first three days.
The operation at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Marking | Design drawn before anesthesia | 5–10 minutes |
| Anesthesia | Long-acting local, with or without sedation | 5 minutes |
| Excision | Laser removal by trim, wedge or both; hood if included | 15–25 minutes |
| Closure | Fine absorbable micro-sutures, layered where needed | 15–25 minutes |
| Recovery room | Rest, urinate, discharge | 30–60 minutes |
What you will feel
Pressure and movement during the operation, but no pain, because the area is fully numb. If you are awake you can talk with the doctor throughout. Afterward, the long-acting anesthetic keeps the area comfortable for hours; soreness and swelling over the next two or three days are usually mild to moderate and respond to ice, loose clothing and simple pain relief. The complete timeline is in How long does labia minora reduction recovery take?
Why these details matter
Each step addresses a known cause of poor results: marking before anesthesia prevents over-resection; laser cutting reduces bleeding and hematoma; fine, tension-free suturing prevents scalloped edges and notches; and conservative handling of the hood protects sensation. For a fuller discussion of what can go wrong and how it is prevented, read Is labia minora reduction safe?
Bottom line
Labia minora reduction is a short, methodical operation: design, local anesthesia, laser removal of the excess by trim or wedge, fine absorbable closure, and same-day discharge. The skill lies in the design and the suturing rather than in any single device. The procedure page, labia minora reduction, describes the technique in more depth, and you can contact us to ask Dr. Yoon about your own case.
Private consultation
Talk it through with Dr. Yoon's team
English-speaking coordinators, a written treatment plan and a clear quote after your consultation. Same-day discharge for most procedures.
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 09:30–18:00 (KST). Closed Thu, Sun and holidays. 7F Sangkyung Building, 120 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD
OB/GYN specialist, Catholic University of Korea. Founder of Somssi Women's Clinic (2000). Published on female sexual function after reconstructive vaginal surgery; speaker at ESSM, ISSWSH, WAS and SMSNA.
Questions patients ask
Frequently asked questions
Short, honest answers. For anything personal, a consultation is the right place to ask.
Am I awake during labia minora reduction?
Under local anesthesia, yes, and many women prefer it: you can talk with the doctor and go home soon afterward. The area is completely numb, so you feel pressure but no pain. If the idea of being aware makes you anxious, sedation can be added so you sleep through the procedure. Either way the local anesthetic is placed for comfort afterward.
How long does the operation take?
About 40 minutes to one hour. Marking and anesthesia take around ten minutes, removal of the excess and closure take most of the remaining time, and you then rest for half an hour to an hour before discharge. Reducing one side only is shorter; adding the clitoral hood or a complex combined design can take a little longer.
Why is a laser used instead of a scalpel or scissors?
A laser gives a clean, even edge and seals small blood vessels as it cuts, so there is less bleeding, less swelling and a lower chance of a hematoma. It is a cutting tool, not a scar-free technology; the final appearance still depends mainly on the design and the quality of the suturing.
Do I need someone to take me home?
Under local anesthesia alone you can go home by yourself, by taxi or on foot if your accommodation is nearby. If you have sedation, you should not drive, and having a companion or taking a taxi is recommended. Most patients are discharged within an hour of the end of surgery once they have urinated.
What happens if I need both labia and the hood treated?
They are done in the same session. The hood is designed together with the labia so the lines flow continuously, and narrow lateral folds are removed while the central hood and clitoris are left intact. This adds a few minutes to the operation and avoids a second recovery. Recovery and aftercare are the same as for labia minora reduction alone.
Keep reading
Related treatments and guides
- Labia Minora Reduction — the procedure page with design principles in depth
- Labiaplasty (Labia Reshaping Surgery) — the overview including hood exposure and revision
- Trim vs Wedge Labia Minora Reduction: Which Is Better? — how the removal step is chosen
- How Long Does Labia Minora Reduction Recovery Take? — what follows discharge
- Is Labia Minora Reduction Safe? — the risks each step is designed to prevent
- What Happens During a Labiaplasty Consultation in Korea? — the visit before the operation
- How Is Labia Majora Reduction Surgery Performed? — the equivalent walk-through for the outer labia
Sources and medical review
- Te Linde's Operative Gynecology (textbook) — operative technique for vulvar surgery
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — elective female genital cosmetic surgery
- Yoon HJ. Perineal plastic surgery (colpoperineoplasty) and female sexual function. Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2005;48(6).
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.
