AS one scrolls through Instagram daily, one can’t help but to notice the overwhelming presence of cosmetic procedures being done.

It is now the norm to see doctors/medical practices displaying their “designer bodies” and cosmetic procedures that they perform with good effect on social media.

It’s fair to say, that cosmetic/aesthetic medicine is currently the most popular speciality in the field of medicine. From liposuction with fat transfers (BBL/lipo360), Botox, fillers, PDO threads, microneedling, laser treatments, tummy tucks, and PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatments, just to name a few, have allowed individuals to feel empowered and content with their outward appearance thus boosting their overall confidence.

Another procedure which is also empowering women and gaining notoriety is that of labia majora augmentation.

What is the Labia Majora?

The labia majora are the “outer lips” of the female genitalia. They are mostly made up of fat and contain nerves and blood vessels. They are continuous with the mons pubis (“pubic mound”) which is a rounded mass of fatty tissue over the pubic symphysis (“bladder bone”). The tissues of the labia majora are normally robust, full and firm. The main purpose of the labia majora is to aid the labia minora (“inner lips” of the female genitalia) in protecting the vagina from external debris and bacteria.

With age, decreasing hormone levels and the action of gravity, the tissues of the labia majora lose their robust consistency and become weakened, elastic and wrinkly, which can be unappealing to some females.

The “Camel Toe”

Owing to a combination of anatomical factors and fabric tension in the crotch area, the labia majora and mons pubis may together display a shape resembling the fore foot of a camel — the modern-day jargon of this is known as “camel toe”. This is more exaggerated when clothing with crotch-area vertical tension such as Spandex, swim wear or yoga pants are worn.

This “camel toe” appearance has caused numerous controversy in the 21st century; however, some women are desirous of this aesthetic look.

What is Labia Majora Augmentation?

This “camel toe” appearance can be achieved via two ways : autologous fat transfer or via fillers.

An autologous fat transfer simply refers to a liposuction procedure (fat is removed from areas of the body via suction devices usually the abdomen, and thighs) and are transferred to other areas with syringes. With regards to the labia majora augmentation, the fat is transferred to the labia majora and sculpted to achieve the desired look. Normally 20-120 mls (half of a small bottle of water) of fat are transferred to the area in total. Patients are usually under general anaesthesia or sedation for this procedure. With time, fat can be lost from the majora, however, it usually is a semi-permanent procedure once there are no extremes of weight gain or loss.

Fillers (same used to enhance the fullness of the lips and skin of the face) can be injected into the labia majora. The labia is numbed with anaesthesia and usually 3-6 mls (a small syringe) is injected into either labia and again sculpted to the desired look. When the patient’s own blood (PRP ­— platelet rich plasma) is added to the filler and injected, this is known as a Vampire wing lift. The PRP helps with additional volume to the area and to prolong the effects of the filler. This method normally lasts four to six months, or longer.

For both procedures, they are both safe and have minimal side effects. Patient satisfaction is usually good for both.

What about women who don’t like their “camel toe”?

The excess fat of the majora can be removed surgically under local anaesthesia. This is referred to as a labia majoraplasty and a portion of the majora is removed and the remainder of the majora put back together with stitches.

Dr Daryl Daley is a cosmetic gynaecologist and obstetrician. His office is located at 3D Gynaecology Ltd. at 23 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10 and the office number is 876-929-5038/9. He can be contacted at ddaley@3dgynae.com