Although there is no single “correct” way for it to look down there, more and more women are undergoing labiaplasty. This intimate surgery seeks to reduce or modify the size of the vulvar labia, mainly the labia minora. In simple terms, part of the tissue is removed so that they protrude less, whether due to injuries, intersex conditions, or physical discomfort such as chafing, pain, or discomfort when walking, running, playing sports, wearing certain clothing, or having sex.
However, specialists are concerned because they say the main reason is often purely aesthetic. Surgeon Miguel Fernández Calderón says that young women come in convinced that their genitals should look like the images they see online, where the same ideal is often repeated: small, barely visible labia.
But here is the debate: the labia can be large, small, asymmetrical, protrude beyond the labia majora, or remain completely hidden, and all of these appearances can be part of a completely normal vulva.
Moreover, undergoing this operation too young raises even more concerns. The labia continue to develop during puberty and may even continue changing into early adulthood, which is why cosmetic surgery is generally not recommended before the age of 18.
And although it may seem like a simple procedure on social media, removing part of the labia can cause bleeding, infections, scarring, and even a decrease in genital sensitivity. That is why, before trying to “correct” their appearance, specialists insist on something much more basic: having labia that protrude does not mean there is anything wrong with them.
