Labiaplasty reduces or reshapes the labia minora. Women come to it for practical reasons — discomfort with exercise, cycling or intercourse, difficulty with clothing, irritation or chafing — and those reasons are the ones that matter clinically and to Medicare.
There is a very wide normal range in labial size and shape, and asymmetry between the two sides is usual rather than unusual. Surgery is appropriate where there is a functional problem, not because of how a particular appearance compares with images online.
Medicare, and why it is narrow
Two items exist, and both are tightly written.
| 35534 | Vulvoplasty or labioplasty, in a patient aged 18 years or more, performed by a specialist, for a structural abnormality causing significant functional impairment | |
| 35533 | Vulvoplasty or labioplasty for repair of female genital mutilation, or an anomaly associated with a major congenital anomaly of the uro-gynaecological tract |
MBS figures as at 1 July 2026, surgeon’s fee only — the hospital and anaesthetist are separate. Surgery performed for appearance alone does not meet either item and attracts no rebate.
Note the age requirement in 35534. Dr Kumar does not perform this surgery on patients under 18.
The assessment
- A GP referral, which is required to see Dr Kumar, and which should record the symptoms and how long they have been present.
- Examination, to establish what is actually there and to exclude other causes of the symptoms — dermatological conditions affecting the vulva are not treated by surgery and need identifying first.
- A discussion of what surgery can and cannot change, including the limits and the risks.
- A cooling-off period of at least seven days, then a second appointment before anything is booked.
If symptoms are recent, cyclical, or accompanied by itch, pain or skin changes, that points away from surgery and towards a medical diagnosis. Dr Kumar will say so rather than proceed.
The operation
Excess labial tissue is removed and the edge repaired, with the technique chosen according to the anatomy and where the tissue needs to be reduced. It is performed under general anaesthetic as a day case in most cases. Dissolving sutures are used.
Dr Kumar consults at Westmead, Penrith and Orange, and operates at Westmead Private Hospital and Somerset Private Hospital in Kingswood, and day cases can be done at either.
Recovery
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Swelling and discomfort; ice and simple pain relief; rest |
| Week 1 | Swelling at its most noticeable; desk work for many patients; first review |
| Weeks 2–4 | Swelling settling; loose clothing; no cycling or horse riding |
| Week 6 | Second review; return to exercise and intercourse as advised |
| Month 3 | Swelling largely resolved; appearance close to final |
| Month 12 | Final review |
Swelling is considerable in the first fortnight and asymmetric swelling is normal — judging the result before three months is judging it too early.
Risks
As with any surgery: bleeding, infection, wound separation, and scarring. Specific to this operation: over-resection, which is difficult to correct; under-resection, with symptoms persisting; altered sensation; painful scar tissue; and asymmetry, since the two sides start different. These are discussed in full at consultation and again before consent.
Complete abstinence from all nicotine, not just smoking, is required for six weeks before and after surgery.
Common questions
Is my anatomy abnormal? The normal range is very wide. Size and asymmetry alone are not abnormalities.
Will it help with discomfort during exercise? Where the symptoms come from tissue being caught or chafed, that is the problem the operation addresses.
Will sensation change? Altered sensation is a recognised risk and is discussed before surgery.
Does childbirth affect the result? It can, as it does the rest of the pelvic floor and vulva.
What if it followed major weight loss? The picture is often different, involving the mons and surrounding tissue as well — see labiaplasty after major weight loss and mons pubis changes after weight loss.
Next step
Bring a GP referral to a consultation. Dr Kumar’s nurses can talk you through what the appointment involves beforehand if that helps. Call 1300 267 726. More about costs and your first visit.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar. This page is intended for people aged 18 and over.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
