Labiaplasty · Treatment
Labiaplasty in Seoul: Labia Reshaping Surgery at Somssi
Labiaplasty is a 40–60 minute outpatient procedure that reduces and reshapes the labia minora, with clitoral hood exposure or revision added when needed. At Somssi Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Yoon designs the labia to a normal size first, removes only the excess with a laser, and closes the edge with fine absorbable micro-sutures under local anesthesia. Healing takes about two weeks and you go home 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: Local with long-acting agents; sedation available on request
- Hospital stay: None; discharged the same day
- Sutures: Fine absorbable micro-sutures; removal optional at 2 weeks
- Healing: About 2 weeks; clinic ointment about 4 times a day
- Intercourse: After 2–3 weeks
- Performed by: Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist
Labiaplasty at a glance
A 40–60 minute outpatient reshaping of the labia minora, designed to a normal size first with nerve-sparing technique.
- labiaplasty Korea
- labia reduction Seoul
- labia minora surgery
- trim vs wedge
- nerve-sparing labiaplasty
- enlarged labia
- 40–60 minProcedure time
- Long-acting localAnesthesia
- Same dayDischarge
- After 2–3 weeksIntercourse
- Design firstThe final shape is marked before anything is removed.
- Trim or wedgeEdge trim, central wedge or both, chosen for your anatomy.
- Micro-suturesFine absorbable sutures for a soft, natural edge.
- Heal in about 2 weeksClinic ointment about four times a day.
Illustration: Somssi Women's Clinic, Seoul. Schematic, not to scale; your plan is set by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo after examination.
What is labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is surgery that reshapes the labia minora, the inner lips of the vulva, so they sit within or just at the edge of the labia majora. At Somssi Women's Clinic the term covers three closely related procedures: labia minora reduction, clitoral hood exposure performed in the same session, and revision of a labiaplasty done elsewhere.
The goal is both cosmetic and functional: a natural, symmetrical shape with no visible surgical marks, and relief from the rubbing, pulling and hygiene problems that enlarged labia can cause. Somssi Women's Clinic is a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, an OB/GYN specialist who has focused on female genital surgery for more than 25 years.
Labiaplasty is often performed on its own. It can also be combined with other procedures in one session, for example with vaginoplasty after childbirth or with labia majora surgery, so that the whole vulva is treated with a single recovery.
Who is a good candidate?
Most women who ask about labiaplasty have lived with their concern for years before raising it. You may be a good candidate if you notice any of the following:
- One or both labia minora are stretched, elongated or clearly uneven.
- The inner lips protrude beyond the outer lips and rub against underwear, jeans or a bicycle seat.
- The edges have darkened or thickened, often after childbirth or repeated irritation.
- The folds stick together, trap moisture or make hygiene difficult, with recurring itching, heat or odor in summer.
- Urine sprays or stains your underwear because the labia redirect the stream.
- You feel self-conscious during intimacy, at the pool or in fitted sportswear.
- A previous labiaplasty left a bumpy, wrinkled, over-trimmed or asymmetrical result.
Labiaplasty is not for everyone. If your labia are within the normal range and your concern is mainly about how they compare with images you have seen, we will say so honestly. Our guide Do I need labia minora reduction? walks through that decision step by step.
How Somssi performs labiaplasty
Design first, then remove only the excess
Dr. Yoon begins by marking the labia to a normal size and shape while you are awake and can look together in a mirror. Only the tissue outside that design is removed. This order matters: it protects against over-resection, which is the hardest problem to correct later.
Trim or wedge, chosen for your anatomy
Two techniques are used, sometimes together. A lateral (edge) trim removes the elongated outer edge when the whole labium needs to be smaller and the dark rim is part of the concern. A wedge excision removes a V-shaped segment from the widest part of the labium and brings the natural edge back together when the middle is enlarged but the edge itself looks fine. The full comparison is in Trim vs wedge labia minora reduction.
Clean cutting and meticulous suturing
The excess is removed with a laser for a clean edge, which also helps control bleeding. The wound is then closed with fine absorbable micro-sutures placed close together. In Dr. Yoon's experience, suturing accounts for most of the final appearance; a coarse or hurried closure is the usual reason for visible notches and marks. Blood vessels and nerves are preserved wherever possible so that sensation is not disrupted.
Clitoral hood exposure in the same session
When excess hood skin hides the clitoris or creates a bulky look above the newly reduced labia, the hood can be reduced at the same time so the result is proportionate. This adds little to the procedure time and avoids a second recovery.
Anesthesia, duration and hospital stay
Labiaplasty takes about 40 minutes to one hour. It is usually done under local anesthesia with long-acting agents, so the area stays numb for hours after you leave. If you would rather not be aware during surgery, sedation ("sleep") anesthesia can be added, with local anesthesia still placed for post-operative comfort. A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory is given at the end of surgery.
There is no hospital stay. You walk out of the operating room, rest briefly, and go home once you have urinated. Most patients need only one or two clinic visits in total, which is why women from other cities and from abroad find the procedure practical. More on our approach to safety is in Is labia minora reduction safe?
Recovery timeline
| When | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Shower, walk and go home. Apply the clinic ointment with a cotton swab about four times a day. Use an ice pack on and off for the first three days. |
| Days 1–3 | Desk work and light daily activity. Expect swelling and some tenderness; wear loose cotton underwear and avoid long periods of sitting on hard seats. |
| Week 1 | Swelling settles noticeably. Keep avoiding cycling, horseback riding and tight trousers. |
| Week 2 | The wound is largely healed. Absorbable stitches dissolve on their own; any remaining knots can be removed at a check-up if you prefer. |
| Weeks 2–3 | Intercourse may resume once the edges are fully closed and comfortable, usually from two to three weeks. |
| 6–12 weeks | Residual firmness softens and the final shape becomes visible. |
For a day-by-day account, see How long does labia minora reduction recovery take?
Results and what to expect
A well-planned labiaplasty gives labia minora that are smaller, symmetrical and tucked within the labia majora, with edges that look like your own tissue rather than a surgical line. Clothing stops rubbing, hygiene becomes simpler, and many women describe a quiet relief they had not expected.
Results vary. Swelling can make the two sides look different for several weeks, and natural labia are rarely perfectly symmetrical even after surgery. Pigmentation at the edge usually improves when the darker rim is removed, but your underlying skin tone cannot be changed. We photograph before and after surgery so you can judge the change objectively rather than from memory.
Risks and how we reduce them
Labiaplasty is a minor operation, but it is still surgery. Real risks include bleeding or a hematoma, infection, separation of the wound edge, asymmetry, visible scarring or notching, over- or under-correction, altered sensation or tenderness at the edge, pain with intercourse while healing, and the usual risks of anesthesia.
We lower these risks through conservative design, laser cutting with careful control of bleeding, fine absorbable sutures, the clinic's ointment regimen and clear written aftercare. The most important safeguard is not removing too much: a labium that is too short cannot be put back. If something does not feel right after surgery, we want to hear from you quickly; early review resolves most problems simply. Read more in Does labia minora reduction leave scars?
Why international patients choose Somssi
You consult directly with Dr. Yoon, in English, and surgery can often be scheduled soon after consultation, sometimes the same day. You are discharged the same day and can fly home within a few days, with written aftercare and follow-up by message or video from abroad.
The clinic is 100 m from Gangnam Station Exit 1, has treated women 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 has published peer-reviewed research on female sexual function and genital surgery, which underpins a conservative, function-preserving approach. Our guide for foreigners covers travel timing and what to bring, and you can contact us to begin.
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.
Is labiaplasty painful?
The procedure itself is not painful because the area is fully numbed, and long-acting local anesthetic keeps it comfortable for several hours afterward. Most women describe the first two or three days as soreness and swelling rather than sharp pain, controlled with an ice pack, loose clothing and simple pain relief. Pain that worsens after day three or is one-sided should be reported so we can check for a hematoma or infection.
Will anyone be able to tell I had surgery?
That is the aim of the technique. The cut edge is made with a laser and closed with fine absorbable micro-sutures so the healed border looks like natural labial tissue rather than a seam. Faint irregularity is normal while swelling settles over the first six to twelve weeks. In a wedge technique the only line runs across the labium and blends into its natural folds.
Can labiaplasty be done under local anesthesia only?
Yes, and this is how Somssi usually performs it. Long-acting local anesthetics are mixed so numbness lasts well beyond the 40–60 minute operation. If you are anxious about being aware, sedation can be added so you sleep through the procedure. Either way you go home the same day once you have urinated.
Can I combine labiaplasty with vaginoplasty or labia majora surgery?
Yes. Labiaplasty is often combined with vaginal tightening after childbirth or with labia majora reduction or augmentation, so that one anesthetic and one recovery cover everything. The combined timeline follows the longer procedure: for example, intercourse waits 7–8 weeks after vaginoplasty rather than 2–3 weeks after labiaplasty alone.
How soon can I fly home after labiaplasty in Seoul?
Most international patients stay two to four days: consultation and surgery, a check the next day or two later, then the flight. Long flights are comfortable with a cushion and loose clothing. Absorbable stitches mean no removal visit is needed, and we follow up by message or video. Our complete guide for foreigners explains the timing in detail.
Does labiaplasty affect sensation or sexual function?
The labia minora are not the primary organ of sexual sensation, and the clitoris itself is not touched during labiaplasty. The technique preserves blood vessels and nerves as far as possible and avoids over-resection. Temporary numbness or tenderness at the edge is common and usually resolves within weeks to a few months. See our dedicated guide on sensation for a fuller answer.
Keep reading
Related treatments and guides
- How Much Does Labia Minora Reduction Cost in Korea? — what determines your written quote and what is included
- How Long Does Labia Minora Reduction Recovery Take? — a day-by-day healing timeline
- Is Labia Minora Reduction Safe? — honest look at risks and how they are reduced
- Labia Minora Reduction in Korea for Foreigners: Complete Guide — travel timing, consultation and follow-up from abroad
- Labia Minora Reduction — the technique and design in detail
- Clitoral Hood Reduction — when hood exposure is added to labiaplasty
- Dr. Yoon Ho-joo — credentials, research and surgical philosophy
Sources and medical review
- Yoon HJ. Perineal plastic surgery (colpoperineoplasty) and female sexual function. Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2005;48(6).
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — guidance on elective female genital cosmetic surgery
- Te Linde's Operative Gynecology (textbook) — vulvar and perineal 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.
