Clitoral hood reduction, also known as hoodplasty or hoodectomy, is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure to reduce the excess skin folds of the prepuce (clitoral hood). It is part of the designer vagina medical and surgical procedures available and it is often performed together with a labiaplasty, the reduction of the labia minora, in order to obtain an overall balanced look of the female genitalia.
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Indications for clitoral hood reduction surgery
The clitoral hood consists of mucocutaneous tissue that covers and protects the clitoris; sometimes, due to aging, genetics, trauma, childbirth or other reasons, it may protrude or become enlarged and be visible as a bulge while wearing tight pants, underwear or swimsuits. Many women are self-conscious about it and their confidence is undermined by the enlargement as they see it looking like a tiny penis; in other cases, its protrusion may cause irritation and discomfort. Excess skin may also cause hygiene issues with fluid accumulation and bad smell. Lastly, when undergoing a labia minora reduction surgery, it is important to think about the clitoral hood as well, as the labiaplasty may expose the prepuce that previously would have been covered by the labia, making it stick out and be more visible.
Partial Hoodectomy Procedure
Cosmetic clitoral hood reduction is a quick surgical procedure with the goal of achieving a clitoral hood that does not protrude past the labia majora. Surgeons must proceed with caution and be conservative when excising the excess clitoral prepuce, in order not to expose the tip of the clitoris, and to avoid the dorsal clitoral nerve.
There are two main types of excess clitoral hood skin:
- Excess sagittal (vertical) skin. It aesthetically appears as a wrinkled clitoral hood and it is usually corrected with the inverted V approach.
- Excess lateral (horizontal) skin. It may be addressed with the horseshoe technique or with Alter’s technique.
Every patient has a unique anatomy, so every surgery will be tailored to each patient’s need, addressing both excess vertical and horizontal skin. Clitoral hood reduction surgery takes less than 1 hour and is performed with local anesthesia. Dissolvable stitches are placed during the procedure and the area will have to be kept clean and dry after surgery. The recovery is quick with most patients being able to resume their daily activities in a couple of days; exercise and sexual intercourse may be resumed 2-4 weeks after surgery.
Contraindications to clitoral hood reduction
This surgery is contraindicated in patients with active vulvar or vaginal infections, unrealistic expectations or psychosexual conditions.
Risks and complications
As with any other medical or surgical treatment, there are risks and possible complications when undergoing a clitoral hood reduction. For this reason, choosing a surgeon who is experienced in this technique is of utmost importance to minimize any risk.
Deep incisions may resect sensory nerves of the clitoris with reduced sensation and sexual satisfaction.
Over resection may expose the glans of the clitoris causing irritation, persistent arousal or pain.
Hypertrophic scarring and infection are among the other possible risks.
Cost of the clitoral hood reduction surgery
The price of the clitoral hood reduction procedure varies depending on the chosen surgeon and clinic, on the surgical technique and type of anesthesia, and on your geographic location. It is generally performed combined with a labiaplasty, providing better overall results while also lowering the costs.
In the USA, the average price for the clitoral hood reduction is 2,000-5,000 USD.
In the UK, price of this surgery starts around 2,500 GBP (3,200 USD).
In Thailand, the cost of clitoral hood reduction starts at 24,500 THB (780 USD).
Sources
- Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery – Concepts, Classification, and Techniques.
C Hamori – Thieme, 2017 - Aesthetic Vaginal Plastic Surgery.
L Triana – Springer, 2020 - The Unfavorable Result in Plastic Surgery – Avoidance and Treatment, 4th Edition
MN Cohen, SR Thaller – Thieme, 2018 - Essentials of Aesthetic Surgery
JE Janis – Thieme, 2018 - American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
