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Female Genital Surgery

As THE pioneer and inventor of many female genital surgical techniques, Dr. Gary Alter, a bicoastal plastic surgeon (Beverly Hills and New York City), has revolutionized female genital reconstructive and plastic surgery. In 1994, Dr. Alter was the first surgeon to perform the central wedge labiaplasty

technique to reduce the labia minora (inner lips). Since then, Dr. Alter has dedicated his career to helping women improve the appearance and function of their genitals. Whether your genital concerns are related to a medical condition or for aesthetic reasons, you’ve come to the right place!

Gary J. Alter, M.D.

THE Expert for Female Genital Surgery

  • Pioneer in Female Genital Surgery Since 1994

    Since 1994, Dr. Alter has been THE pioneer in female genital surgery. He is an acknowledged leader in female genital aesthetic and plastic surgical procedures. Dr. Alter has a private plastic surgery practice in both Beverly Hills, California and Manhattan, New York.

  • Inventor of Female Genital Surgeries

    Dr. Alter invented and perfected the surgical techniques that have revolutionized the way female genital procedures improve and restore a woman’s labia minora (inner lips), labia majora (outer lips), and clitoral hood. Some of his surgical techniques include the revolutionary central wedge technique and the clitoropexy with a clitoral hood reduction. He invented multiple sophisticated techniques for reconstructing botched labiaplasty surgeries, including clitoral hood flaps. He also performs clitoris reduction, pubic lifts and liposuction, and hymen restoration.

    Dr. Alter has published many medical articles in prestigious plastic surgery journals regarding female genital surgeries, including the groundbreaking article on central wedge reduction and the only published medical article regarding reconstructing the labia minora after botched surgeries, published in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®,” the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

  • Performed Over 3,000 Female Genital Surgeries

    Since 1994, Dr. Alter has performed over 3,000 female genital surgeries, including labiaplasty, labia minora reduction, labia majora reconstruction, and clitoropexy with clitoral hood reduction (these need an internal linking structure) to name a few. He also has extensive knowledge and experience regarding minimizing scars, transferring tissue, and improving the cosmetic appearance of the female genitalia.

  • Patients Travel From Over 20 Countries to See Dr. Alter

    Patients throughout the United States and from all over the world have traveled to see Dr. Alter for their female genital maladies. Dr. Alter’s international patients hail from more than 20 different countries, including the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Denmark.

  • Double-Board Certified in Both Urology and Plastic Surgery

    Being one of the rare doctors certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Urology, Dr. Alter has the unique and in-depth knowledge of a woman’s genital anatomy and how it responds to these surgical procedures.

  • Well-Respected Author

    Dr. Alter has co-edited the major medical textbook Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery of the External Genitalia, the first book of its kind in over 25 years. As an innovator in the field of female genital surgery, Dr. Alter has published numerous medical articles regarding these subjects in prestigious medical and plastic surgery journals. He published the seminal article on central wedge reduction in 2008 in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®,” the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Alter has also written the only published medical paper on how to reconstruct the labia minora from botched surgeries that was published in“Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®” in 2011.

  • Educator and Lecturer

    Dr. Alter is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He also regularly lectures throughout the United States and internationally, teaching fellow surgeons the surgical techniques he has invented.

With over two decades of specialized experience in female genital surgery, Dr. Alter is sensitive to a woman’s embarrassment and concerns regarding her sexual maladies, and he will help you feel both comfortable and confident while treating you. Dr. Gary Alter is unparalleled in both experience and expertise. Both the media and his colleagues have esteemed him as the surgeon of choice for female genital surgery. For a procedure so personal and private, it is of utmost importance to seek a well-revered and respected plastic surgeon with this level of experience and expertise.

Common Reasons for Having Female Genital Surgery

Appearance

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While there is no aesthetic standard for female genitalia, women usually want a symmetrical appearance without extra folds of skin and without excessively large inner or outer labia.

Comfort

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Either from genetics, childbearing, weight gain, or intercourse, female genitalia can appear stretched or enlarged, which can lead to discomfort during intimacy and exercise.

Botched

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Women who have had previous genital surgery that was unsuccessful or did not meet their expectations will greatly benefit from genital reconstructive surgery by Dr. Gary Alter.

What Is Your Concern?

During the past two decades, Dr. Alter has found that most women who come to see him have concerns with one or more of the following areas:

Inner Lips (Labia Minora)

If the inner lips (labia minora) surpass the outer lips or are excessively large, they can cause embarrassment or discomfort during exercise and intimacy.

Labia minora reduction (labiaplasty) with Dr. Alter’s invention of the central wedge technique will preserve normal labial anatomy, contour, and color with virtually undetectable scars.

Outer Lips

An enlarged outer labia can make it difficult to fit comfortably in bathing suits or tight clothing and will sometimes bulge noticeably.

Conversely, aging or weight loss can reduce the volume of the labia, causing it to lose its youthful fullness. Labia majora remodeling involves either a labia majora reduction to decrease the size of the outer lips or fat injections to increase fullness. Dr. Alter places the incisions for the labia majora skin reduction in areas that are unnoticeable and closes the incisions with sutures placed under the skin for better scar healing.

Clitoral Hood

A clitoral hood that is too long, thick, protuberant, or redundant can cause irritation or self-consciousness.

To reduce a disproportionately large clitoral hood, which other surgeons frequently encounter and do not correct, Dr. Alter invented the clitoropexy with a clitoral hood reduction to provide the most natural-looking appearance. No other surgeon does this procedure, as Dr. Alter has not published it yet! This specialized technique poses no risk for loss of sensation or nerve injury if, and only if, performed by a very experienced and highly knowledgeable surgeon.

Pubic Area

Excess fat or skin in the pubic area can lead to discomfort or a bulge in clothing.

Fat bulging alone can be resolved using only liposuction. However, if skin is sagging with fat, Dr. Alter’s pubic lift with tacking removes the excess skin and tissue, resulting in a rejuvenated, natural-looking appearance.

Correction of Botched Surgery

The trimming technique can result in an unwanted vertical scar on the labial edge that may be unnatural, irregular, asymmetrical, and painful.

Dr. Alter corrects these and other deformities using the specialized surgical techniques he invented for secondary labia reconstruction.

Clitoris Reduction

The clitoris may be congenitally large or can enlarge from steroid use or hormonal abnormalities, which can greatly impact a woman’s confidence.

Dr. Alter performs clitoral reduction surgery to normalize the appearance of the clitoris without injuring the nerves or affecting sensation.

Additional Female Genital Procedures

In addition to the six most common female genital concerns, the following procedures can be performed alone or in combination with other female genital procedures:

Hymen Restoration

Dr. Alter can restore the hymen to a “virginal” state with hymen restoration surgery. Most women seek this procedure for cultural reasons, while others wish to recreate the gift of virginity to their spouse or partner.

Vaginal Tightening

Women seek vaginal tightening to improve the appearance of the vaginal opening and enhance sexual pleasure for the woman and her male partner. The surgery can also tighten the walls of the vagina and improve urinary control.

Reconstruction of the Vagina

Vaginal reconstruction is performed to correct deformities of the external genitalia that result from birth defects, cancer surgery, female “circumcision,” intersex, trauma, and other causes. These procedures are also used to construct a vagina during gender reassignment surgery.