01Article · Cosmetic medicine
Beyond labia reduction.
A considered conversation about labiaplasty.
Labiaplasty is intimate female cosmetic surgery — a personal procedure that some women consider after a careful conversation about the alternatives. This article describes the Selective Anatomic Preservation technique used at RevAesthetic, written for the reader who has already exhausted conservative options and is now thinking through what surgery might involve.
02Our story of labiaplasty
A personal procedure,
a careful conversation.
Labiaplasty is intimate female cosmetic surgery. It is a personal decision a woman may make to alter the shape and form of the labial tissues after considering the options available. The conversation is private; the decision belongs to the patient.
Across our rooms in Melbourne (Chadstone) and Tasmania (Cooee, with alternate Hobart consult dates), we have been part of many of these conversations over the years. They have shaped how we listen, how we plan, and how we describe what surgery can and cannot do.
In its most familiar form, labiaplasty reduces the volume of the labial tissues — what is sometimes called labia reduction. The reasons women consider it are personal. Each surgical technique carries its own potential benefits and risks. Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page, and if you would like a full description of the potential risks of cosmetic procedures, read more there.
— Jenny, looking into your enquiry.
03The technique
Selective Anatomic Preservation —
SAP labiaplasty.
Some labiaplasty techniques aim purely to reduce volume. The Selective Anatomic Preservation technique — developed by Dr Kishen Nara MBBS FACCSM(Surg), General Registration MED0001201549, Surgical Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine — also aims to lift the labial tissues by approximating soft tissue not only side-to-side but front-to-back across the outer vaginal skin and the deeper underlying layers.
When this front-to-back approximation is achieved, the architecture of the labial soft tissue is altered in both the lying and standing positions. The front and back portions are less likely to protrude forwards or beneath, and there is a reduced risk of a scalloping appearance or contour irregularity through the mid-section of the labia.
Visually, even when labial tissue volume is reduced, the tissue is less likely to appear elongated underneath in the standing position. The technique preserves deeper structures beneath the skin — vessels and nerve pathways — through identification before any tailored wound closure, with internal manoeuvres that support the lift component.
A labia lift through SAP labiaplasty is possible in some patients, but not all. Suitability depends on individual anatomy, and the assessment is conducted in line with Medical Board of Australia guidelines. Some patients may be better suited to other techniques, and some patients may decide that surgery is not for them. The procedure is usually performed under local (tumescent) anaesthetic with light oral sedation; a general anaesthetic administered by an anaesthetist is an option for patients who prefer it.
Cosmetic surgical training in Australia is delivered through the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine, the only Australian college with training dedicated to cosmetic surgery. All cosmetic procedures carry potential risks and complications. Some patients are suitable; some are not.
For an overview of labiaplasty at RevAesthetic — including the consultation process and the before/after gallery (which contains adult content) — visit the labiaplasty page.
04What we discuss
The downsides
and the upsides.
Every procedure is presented with both sides of the conversation. Listing is not recommendation — suitability is assessed individually, and a procedure is one option among several.
Considerations & trade-offs
- It takes longer to perform than a standard reduction.
- It requires careful technique developed over time.
- It is performed in an accredited and licensed facility.
- Aftercare follows an individualised regime.
- All cosmetic procedures carry inherent risks and possible complications.
Potential benefits
- Preservation of vital structures beneath the skin — vessels, nerves and the deep tissue matrix.
- Reduced risk of mid-line contour irregularity in the labia minora.
- Reduced risk of “micropenis” appearance — a recognised aesthetic complication of labiaplasty.
- Reduced volume and width of the labia minora when clinically indicated.
- A more uniform front-to-back labial height that can present visually as a labia lift.
- An individualised, considered approach for each patient and each anatomy.
05Your priority, our focus
Approximation,
not elimination.
The aim of SAP labiaplasty is not to eliminate anatomy but to approximate form. The focus of cosmetic labiaplasty in Melbourne, Tasmania or Adelaide should never be solely to remove the labia minora and clitoral hood tissues — it should also include the lift effect that helps the tissues sit closer to their original position.
By understanding the principles of SAP labiaplasty, the conversation moves beyond reduction alone to include the lift component that some patients find relevant. We respect the diversity of every enquiry — psychological, scientific, surgical, cultural and personal. It is a privilege to be part of someone's aesthetic journey, and we take that responsibility seriously.
06In conversation
Dr Nara on
ABC Hobart Radio.
A conversation on cosmetic medicine in Tasmania — the consultation, the written reflection period, and how a careful practice makes decisions slowly. Recorded for ABC Hobart, around twelve minutes of listening.
07About the practitioner
Dr Kishen
Nara.
Dr Kishen Nara is a registered medical practitioner. He is actively involved in continuous professional development and research relating to cosmetic labiaplasty, and his approach to cosmetic medicine is open, balanced and considered.
He sees patients in Tasmania, Melbourne and Adelaide. The team at RevAesthetic — including practice manager Cate, Patient Liaison Jenny, and registered nurses — will look forward to hearing about your enquiry. All patient assessments are conducted in line with Medical Board of Australia guidelines.
- MBBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery — Monash University
- FACCSM(Surg) Surgical Fellow, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine — Fellow #246
- AHPRA Registered medical practitioner — General Registration MED0001201549
08Enquire
Begin a
conversation.
Consultations are conducted personally by Dr Nara across Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide. We respond within one business day. There is a written reflection period before any decision, and a second medical opinion is encouraged at any stage.
Disclaimer: All cosmetic procedures have inherent potential risks and complications. We encourage you to seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional before any procedure. Material on this page is educational in nature and is not generalisable — outcomes vary significantly between patients depending on genetic composition, medical history and individual circumstances.