Our lips are no longer sealed when it comes to labia puff surgery.
According to three plastic surgeons who spoke to The Post, women are plunking down thousands of dollars to give their deflated-looking labia a luxe upgrade.
As women get older or go through changes such as childbirth or menopause, their labia majora — the bigger lips on the outside — can thin and lose volume.
Now some doctors are offering what they call “labia puff” procedures to combat that thinning, all in the name of making vulvas look younger.
“As people age, the volume of the labia majora tends to get a little bit thinner, causing the area to shrink and sometimes appear floppy,” Miami-based plastic surgeon Dr. Adam J. Rubinstein told The Post.
“So injecting the area with filler, or transferring fat, can add the volume that is lacking.”
While in the past women got labiaplasty for trimmer, flatter genitals — with some calling it a “Barbie vagina” — puffier labia actually signal youthfulness, according to the pros.
“The labia majora naturally have more fullness in youth, so adding volume is often perceived as rejuvenating and youthful,” Dr. Ira Savetsky, a New York plastic surgeon to the stars, concurred.
“A labia puff restores lost volume, improves symmetry, and creates a fuller, more youthful appearance,” he added.
Savetsky has seen patients ranging in age from their 20s to 60s asking for some extra puffiness.
“Younger women who have lost weight may want volume restoration, while older women often want rejuvenation after childbirth or menopause,” he said.
He also thinks that social media has led to more awareness of vaginal aesthetics and women feeling “empowered” to discuss intimate health and cosmetic concerns, whatever they may be.
What causes droopy labia
Lots of factors can contribute to labia losing their natural “puff.”
“Over time, aging, weight loss, hormonal changes, and childbirth can cause the labia majora to lose volume, leading to a deflated or sagging appearance,” Savetsky, who has performed (other) surgeries on numerous celebrities, including Real Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin.
You’re just adding extra volume into the body by injecting the filler into the labia. It’s the same filler as you would use on your lips.
Dr. Adam J. Rubinstein
“Some women feel that this change makes the area look aged or less aesthetically pleasing.”
While recent news that women can actually lose their labia minora during menopause shocked social media users, the outer labia slump can happen even sooner.
“Volume loss in your outer labia can start to happen in your 30s and beyond,” said Dr. Bianca Molina, a New York-based plastic surgeon with a practice on Fifth Avenue.
“This is especially amplified in your perimenopause and menopause phases, when the loss of of circulated estrogen causes deflation in your vaginal tissues and outer labia which can be helped with this puffing procedure which is super hot right now,” she added.
Fat or filler?
Not all puffs are created equal: There are various factors to consider when choosing fat or filler to fulfill your labia enhancing goals.
“Filler is pretty simple and the most common puffing technique,” said Rubinstein, who starred on the Lifetime show “My Killer Body With K. Michelle.”
“You’re just adding extra volume into the body by injecting the filler into the labia. It’s the same filler as you would use on your lips or any other area of the body,” he added.
The downside, according to Molina, is patients usually need a touch up after nine months to a year.
If you want to go the surgical route, fat grafting provides a more long-term solution. Similar to a BBL, fat is harvested from another area of the body, like the abdomen or thighs, through liposuction — then transferred to the labia.
“It might take a couple of sessions to see results, depending on the patient’s volume goals,” said Molina.
But once it’s in, it lasts — though your labia could still get naturally droopier as time goes on.
“While not all of the fat survives the procedure, what does survive is living tissue in that area, and it’s not going to melt away,” said Rubinstein. “Atrophy can continue with aging, however, so you might have to repeat the grafting after a long period of time, but overall, it can still last many years.”
What does recovery look like?
You might have to abstain from sex, exercise and other activities following the fat grafting surgery to achieve optimum visible voluminous benefits.
“You might experience mild swelling and bruising for about one to two weeks and
minimal discomfort which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication,” said Savetsky.
He also recommends restrictions on sexual activity, strenuous exercise and tight clothing for about four to six weeks to allow proper healing and fat integration.
It is common for patients to experience some soreness and bruising, usually around the tummy or inner thigh area, where the fat is most commonly taken.
“Fat grafting is more fragile as the tissue needs to survive, so you’ll want to avoid trauma, whereas there is really no downtime with filler,” said Rubinstein. “When it comes to filler, you can just inject it and the patient can go about their day. There might be a little bit of swelling or bruising, but that’s usually it.”
It might be a fast office visit, but Molina still warned that some soreness can be expected with filler injection.
The price of puffiness
A “designer label” labia also comes with a price.
“Filler needs to be built conservatively, so the price is based on the cost of the syringe of filler plus the doctor’s expertise,” said Molina. “Because this is a sensitive area, I charge around $3,000 to $5,000 for filler and $5,000 to $7,000 for fat grafting.
For the more involved fat transfer procedure, Rubinstein charges anywhere between $3,000 to $5,000, while the filler option can range from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on what type of material is used.
Savetsky’s fat grafting procedure will set you back around $7,500.
What women want?
From self-esteem to sexual pleasure, the docs say there are plenty of reasons to women give their “down there” area a boost.
“Labia puffing can make the area look better in clothing, especially when volume loss of the labia major leads to the inner labia being exposed more externally,” said Molina. “In this case, the inner labia may be visible in tight apparel such as leggings, so adding volume to the external labia helps to make the area appear more uniform,” she added.
“Some women may also even have asymmetries that were present at birth, and this procedure can help to make the area look more symmetric in clothing as well.”
Many of Savetsky’s patients have also reported “looking and feeling more comfortable in activewear and swimwear following surgery.”
“Many women also experience increased discomfort during activities like exercise or intercourse due to reduced cushioning and protection, so this can make a dramatic difference in their everyday life,” he added.
Sex life boost
It seems that their newly fleshed out labia are leading to more fulfillment in other areas of their life as well.
“Some women notice big improvements in their sex life, as the restored volume enhances comfort and overall satisfaction,” said Savetsky.
“The plumping effect can definitely help with sexual pleasure for both them and their partner,” Molina agreed.
And no one has to know you’ve had anything done: “It doesn’t have to be this exaggerated crazy cosmetic goal or outcome. It’s a very real problem women identify with,” she said.
