A patient-reported study of 103 japanese women seeking labiaplasty

Objectifs: This presentation characterizes patient-reported motivations, symptom patterns, prior disclosure, and anatomical literacy among Japanese women seeking labiaplasty. Participants will (1) understand the prevalence and structure of aesthetic and functional concerns, including the high rate of functional symptoms; (2) recognize the extent of non-disclosure and limited anatomical literacy among candidates; and (3) apply these patient-reported data to preoperative counseling, education, and individualized treatment planning in aesthetic genital surgery. Introduction: Labiaplasty is increasingly performed in aesthetic genital surgery and is widely regarded as primarily aesthetic in motivation. Patient-reported data on the prevalence of functional symptoms, prior disclosure, and anatomical literacy remain limited, particularly in Asian populations. Understanding these patterns and potential communication barriers is essential for counseling and for outreach to women whose concerns are rarely disclosed. We analyzed concerns, motivations, disclosure, and anatomical literacy in Japanese women seeking labiaplasty. Matériels / méthode: Retrospective descriptive analysis using a structured preoperative questionnaire completed by 103 consecutive women who underwent labiaplasty by a single surgeon at a single Japanese institution in 2025. The questionnaire assessed perceived concerns, the single most important reason for treatment, prior disclosure to another person, awareness of the term "labia minora," symptom frequency and triggers, age of onset, perceived precipitants, and intimate self-care. Bilateral labia minora dimensions were measured intraoperatively. Patients were stratified by age (≤30, 30–39, ≥40 years). Résultats: Of 103 patients (mean age 32.9 years; mean labia minora 22 mm), concerns included appearance/size (77.7%), pigmentation (70.9%), chafing/discomfort/pain (68.9%), and asymmetry (52.4%). Primary motivation was aesthetic in 76% and functional in 24%; younger patients prioritized aesthetics, those ≥40 years functional discomfort, and larger labia were linked to more functional symptoms. Concerns began before 30 in 86.4%; triggers were childhood awareness (40.8%) and pubic hair removal (38.8%). Although symptoms at least weekly in 76.6%, only 19.4% disclosed, and 72.8% did not know "labia minora." Conclusion: Labiaplasty in Japanese women addresses both aesthetic and functional concerns, yet most patients neither disclosed their concerns to another person nor were familiar with the anatomical term "labia minora." These patterns may in part reflect a cultural norm unique to Japan in which intimate-area concerns are considered private and rarely shared. These findings highlight that labiaplasty addresses both aesthetic and functional needs, and underscore the importance of improving anatomical literacy and tailoring counseling to age and anatomy among women whose concerns are rarely disclosed.