Being on the internet as a woman means that every day, you’re unlocking a new thing on your body to feel insecure about — and a *convenient* procedure to fix the problem for you. If it’s not breast implants for bigger boobs, it’s buccal fat removal for a better jawline. And today, it’s labia puffing for a plumper labia majora.
If you’re sitting there thinking, “No one is going to the doctor’s office and asking them for a fatter labia majora,” I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’d be incorrect. In a recent Allure article, writer Jennifer G. Sullivan reported that labia puffing is becoming increasingly common, so much so that dermatologists are being asked about it every few weeks by their patients.
I think we all have beautiful, angel-looking vaginas no matter what, but I understand looking down and not being totally happy with what you see. It’s the same reason why I want a boob job and hip dip fillers — there are just certain things about our bodies we would change if we could. And sure, this desire may come from some deeply-seeded consequences of the patriarchy, but if a syringe could make us feel better about the way we look, why not?
What Is Labia Puffing?
The labia majora is the outer lips of the the vulva, and sometimes people don’t think theirs are plump or smooth enough. This is where labia puffing comes in. By injecting hyaluronic acid fillers (think Juvaderm) or sometimes even fat transfers, doctors can help resolve these cosmetic concerns.
The reality is that the appearance of our vaginas changes a lot over time, usually because of things like childbirth, hormonal shifts, or just plain old natural aging. Things like estrogen depletion, collagen loss, and literal gravity can cause labia to lose volume. These factors usually come into play when someone is perimenopausal or postmenopausal, but even 20-year-olds who just want a more “aesthetically pleasing” vulva get labia puffing done.
The procedure itself is pretty quick when you’re using filler — just like getting any kind of filler injected anywhere else on your body, it typically takes about 30 minutes and only requires a topical numbing cream. It can cost about $2,500 depending on the type of filler and how much is used. Plus, the results can last up to a year — even longer sometimes.
When you’re doing a fat transfer, you use liposuction to extract the fat, which is then purified and injected into the labia. Fat transfer can help you get results for up to 10 years, but doctors are a little more hesitant to suggest this type of procedure because it’s less predictable than fillers. That’s why it costs upwards of $5,000 and calls for local anesthesia and a much longer recovery time.
Is Labia Puffing Safe?
Labia puffing is a pretty standard procedure at this point. There are some risks (as with any sort of procedure), but they’re pretty tame, including swelling, bruising, asymmetry, lumps, or granulomas (inflammatory nodules). Tissue damage can potentially occur if the filler is placed incorrectly. But if you’re going to a plastic surgeon who is well-versed in urology or gynecology (basically, anyone who has the anatomy of a vulva down pat), you should be in good hands.
If you wake up every day and you’re not a fan of what’s in your panties, there are always options. But just make sure this is something you want to do for yourself and not because you think other people would enjoy it more. Anyone would be lucky to be in the presence of your vag, and they should act accordingly.
