Intimate surgery Dr Jérémie Zeitoun · Gynaecological Surgeon Paris 8th
Reduction labiaplasty: a precise procedure that respects the anatomy. Performed as day-case surgery, with possible French health insurance reimbursement.
In brief
- Indication — labiaplasty corrects hypertrophy or asymmetry of the labia minora causing functional discomfort (chafing, sport, intercourse) or psychological distress.
- Normal anatomy — labia minora length is physiologically variable. Surgery is only meaningful when the appearance is experienced as bothersome.
- Techniques — linear (edge) resection, wedge resection (Alter), composite resection. Selected based on morphology and anatomical features to be preserved.
- Procedure — day-case surgery, local anaesthesia with sedation or short general anaesthesia, duration 45-90 min, discharge the same evening, absorbable sutures.
- Recovery — swelling and pulling sensation 7-10 days, return to sedentary work at D7-D10, return to sport at 4 weeks, intercourse at 6 weeks, definitive result at 3 months.
- Reimbursement — French health insurance code JMMA005, coverage base €46.48, partial coverage possible if medical indication is documented. Detailed quote provided at consultation, sector 2 non-OPTAM.
A consultation to discuss it — no commitment, no judgement.
Paris 8th cabinet · Hartmann Clinic Neuilly · Sector 2 non-OPTAM
Are you affected?
If you’re reading this page, something has probably been bothering you for a while. Maybe for a long time. Maybe you’ve never spoken about it openly — not to your doctor, not to your loved ones. It’s common. It’s understandable.
Discomfort related to the labia minora affects women of all ages and all body types. It can appear at puberty, after childbirth, or gradually without any identifiable cause. It is not a sign of abnormality. It says nothing about your femininity.
What matters is the impact on your daily life. Is it preventing you from doing sport freely? Is it weighing on your intimate life? Are you avoiding certain situations because of it? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, a consultation may be worth considering.
The consultation does not commit you to anything. Its first purpose is to listen to you, examine you, and provide an honest answer — whether surgical or not.
There is no standard morphology
Anatomical diversity is the rule, not the exception. Surgery is not there to conform to a norm — it is there to relieve real discomfort.
Published anatomical studies show extreme variability of the labia minora in healthy adult women: length from 20 mm to over 100 mm, width from 7 to 50 mm, right-left asymmetry in more than 50% of cases. None of these morphologies is pathological in itself.
The Motakef classification (2015), used in clinical practice, does not aim to define an aesthetic norm. It serves only to grade the degree of protrusion beyond the labia majora to guide surgical indications and reimbursement criteria. A stage II is not "abnormal" — it is simply a clinical reference point.
The best published satisfaction studies on labiaplasty (Miklos & Moore, 2013; Motakef, 2015; Goodman, 2016) show patient satisfaction rates above 95% — provided the indication is correctly established and the patient is properly informed beforehand.
This is why the pre-operative consultation is not a formality. It is the most important moment of the pathway.
What leads to consultation
The decision to consult belongs entirely to the patient. It may be motivated by functional discomfort in daily life, psychological unease, or both. All these reasons are legitimate and deserve attentive, non-judgemental listening.
The procedure
Two techniques are available according to the official CNGOF/SCGP 2024 information sheet. The choice depends on your anatomy and surgical practice — we discuss it together during the consultation.
Longitudinal resection involves directly resecting the excess portion of the labia minora protruding beyond the labia majora. This is the CNGOF/SCGP reference technique — simple and reproducible. It produces a regular result but may slightly alter the natural pigmentation of the labial edge. It is particularly indicated when the free edge is irregular or hyperpigmented.
Sutures are performed with absorbable threads that will fall away spontaneously in the weeks following surgery — no removal necessary.
Wedge resection treats both an excess of length and height of the labia minora. A triangle of mucosa is drawn, excised, and the labium is then reconstructed. This technique preserves the original free edge and the natural pigmentation of the mucosa. It is technically more demanding and requires precise planning of the incision.
The risk of partial dehiscence is slightly higher in cases of post-operative haematoma. It is preferred when the patient wishes a very natural result, with an intact free edge.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, as day surgery, at the Groupe Hospitalier Hartmann in Neuilly-sur-Seine. It lasts approximately 20 minutes. The patient arrives in the morning and returns home in the afternoon, accompanied.
A pre-operative anaesthetic consultation is mandatory. Standard blood tests are prescribed. No particular dietary restrictions beyond standard fasting before general anaesthesia.
Post-operative course
Recovery is generally straightforward. Swelling and a pulling sensation are expected in the first week — well attenuated by simple analgesics. The definitive result can be assessed from 2 months, scars at 12 months.
The recommendations of the official CNGOF/SCGP 2024 information sheet are as follows. In the first 15 days: loose clothing or skirts, cotton underwear. It is very important to avoid any maceration — dry carefully after showering and after each urination.
It is recommended to avoid all sexual intercourse, tampon use, baths, aquatic activities and any strenuous physical activity until the post-operative consultation at one month. Ice can be applied locally to reduce swelling in the first few days.
Loose clothing · cotton underwear for 15 days No baths · no tampons · no sport before month 1 Careful drying after each urinationDuring the procedure: bleeding or haematoma formation is possible. Very rarely, compression injuries to nerves or soft tissues may occur.
After the procedure: the principal risk is wound dehiscence, which usually follows a haematoma. It is most often managed with local care, sometimes antibiotics, and only very rarely requires surgical revision. Local pulling sensations are common and well controlled with simple analgesics. Bruising may appear and resolves spontaneously.
Long-term: skin or mucosal necrosis is rare and generally limited. Painful intercourse is exceptional and transient. Altered sensitivity of the labia minora is very rare, usually transient, and recovers within 3 to 6 months.
Wound dehiscence — main risk Altered sensitivity — very rare, transient Mucosal necrosis — rare, local careAfter surgery, contact the surgical team without delay if you notice any of the following: persistent heavy bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, unusual pain or fever. These signs may indicate a haematoma, infection or wound dehiscence requiring prompt management.
If in doubt, it is always better to call. Early management prevents more serious complications in the vast majority of cases.
Heavy bleeding → call Fever · foul-smelling discharge → seek review Unusual pain → do not waitYour pathway step by step
Six clear steps, no surprises. Each patient is accompanied individually from the initial consultation to the final result.
Labiaplasty Paris · Labia minora reduction Paris 8th · Intimate surgery Paris · Labial hypertrophy · Neuilly-sur-Seine
French health insurance reimbursement
Labiaplasty is listed in the surgical procedure nomenclature and reimbursed by French National Health Insurance. A detailed quote is systematically provided during the consultation, and I show you photographs of results so you know exactly what to expect.
Labiaplasty is a procedure listed in the CCAM nomenclature under the code JMMA005. It is reimbursed by French National Health Insurance, with a coverage base of €46.48 at 70% by the Assurance Maladie. The remainder is reimbursed according to your complementary health insurance.
There are no restrictive conditions to know about before consulting. It is during the consultation that we jointly assess your situation, I explain the applicable coverage to your case, and provide you with a complete and detailed quote — surgical fees, anaesthetic fees and facility fees included. No hidden costs. A mandatory legal reflection period of 15 days applies before signing.
Additional fees apply in sector 2. A detailed and transparent quote is provided at the consultation. No hidden costs.
During each consultation, I show you photographs of operative results — before and after — to allow you to visualise concretely what labiaplasty can bring. These photographs come from my practice and are presented to you in a strictly medical and confidential context.
This is an important moment in the consultation: it allows you to have realistic expectations, to understand the differences between the two techniques (direct resection and wedge), and to choose with full knowledge. No decision is taken on the day of the consultation — the legal reflection period is mandatory.
Choosing the right technique
Three main techniques coexist. The choice depends on morphology, the degree of pigmentation of the free edge, the presence of asymmetry, and the anatomical features the patient wishes to preserve (relief, colour, sensitivity).
| Technique | Principle | Best indication | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linear (edge) resection | Linear excision of the free edge | Moderate hypertrophy, pigmented free edge to remove | Simple technique, short learning curve | Long scar, loss of natural free edge |
| Wedge resection (Alter) | Central triangular excision, edge-to-edge sutures | Marked hypertrophy, desire to preserve the free edge | Preserves free edge, relief and pigmentation | Technically more demanding, rare risk of dehiscence |
| Composite resection | Combination wedge + linear or Y/V | Complex asymmetry, major hypertrophy or associated clitoral hood | Adaptable to highly variable morphologies | Tailored operative plan, longer duration |
| Local anaesthesia + sedation | Lidocaine + light IV sedation | Moderate hypertrophy, cooperative patient | Quick discharge, no strict fasting | More uncomfortable for some patients |
Sources: Alter GJ, Aesthet Surg J 2008; Goodman MP, J Sex Med 2016; CNGOF — Gynaecological surgery recommendations 2024.
What patients often ask
There is no upper age limit. Anatomical changes linked to the menopause or childbirth can constitute an indication at any age.
Afterwards: recovery is generally well tolerated. Local discomfort, swelling and bruising are expected in the first few days. Paracetamol-level analgesics are sufficient in the vast majority of cases. Frank pain is rare. Most patients describe more a sensation of tension or tingling than actual pain.
The wedge technique preserves the original free edge — the scar is located within the body of the labium, even less visible. Genital keloids are exceptional.
Transient hypoaesthesia of the scar is possible in the first few weeks — it resolves spontaneously.
Note: pregnancy or childbirth can subsequently modify the result through perineal stretching in the post-partum period. This point is systematically addressed in the consultation for patients who have not yet had children.
Additional fees apply in sector 2. A detailed, transparent quote is provided at the consultation.
Return to sport — particularly cycling, running or swimming — is recommended after 4 to 6 weeks, on clearance at the check-up consultation. Sexual intercourse is advised against for the same period.
At 3 months, the scars are discreet and the final morphology is natural. The vast majority of patients and their partners do not perceive the result as "operated" — but as visible and felt relief.
However, pregnancy or significant hormonal changes (menopause) can subsequently alter the appearance of the remaining tissues — without ever recreating the initial situation.
It begins with a period of listening: your history, your symptoms, your expectations. Then a quick clinical examination. Then an open discussion about what is possible, what is indicated, and what is not. You leave with a clear answer — and no obligation to proceed.
Evidence from the literature
The information on this page draws on peer-reviewed medical publications and the recommendations of learned societies (CNGOF, ACOG, ESGE).
This page is for information only and does not replace individualised medical consultation. Last updated: 8 May 2026.
Book a consultation
No judgement, no obligation. Come as you are, with your questions. You will have the time you need to decide, including to seek a second opinion if you wish — a healthy step, always encouraged.