Let’s just say it: every woman deserves a doctor who makes a conversation about her labia feel as normal as asking about a mole on her shoulder.
Almost every woman I meet has quietly wondered if she’s “normal down there.” Most just haven’t said it out loud — not to their best friend, not to their gynecologist, not even to themselves.
And honestly, I get it. Between filtered photos, curated porn, influencers in the barely-there clothing, it’s easy to believe everyone else has matching, tucked-in, symmetrical everything — and that you’re the odd one out.
So let’s start here: You’re human. And human anatomy comes in an infinite number of variations of normal.
Let’s Talk Anatomy
First, a quick terminology reset.
- Most people say vagina when they actually mean vulva.
- The vulva includes everything you can see: the mons (that soft mound above your pubic bone), the outer and inner labia, the clitoral hood and clitoris, the vaginal opening, and the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus).
- Think of the vulva as the house, and the vagina as the hallway inside it. And just like houses, no two look the same.
Some women have shorter inner labia that sit tucked neatly inside the outer ones. Others have longer, more visible inner labia that extend beyond the outer edges — sometimes just on one side. Some are smooth, others textured. Some lighter, some darker. All of it is normal.
There’s no “ideal” look. There’s only what feels comfortable, functional, and confident for you.
How Porn and Social Media Warped Our Perception
Here’s where things went sideways: for decades, magazines and porn defined “normal” as “neat and hidden.”
- Fun fact (or depressing one): adult magazines literally banned visible labia for years because they were considered “too explicit.”
- Then came social media and its filters, retouching, and “perfect” post-op photos — all reinforcing the same “standard”.
So now, I meet women who say things like:
- “I thought I was the only one who looked like this.”
- “I never told my gynecologist because I was embarrassed.”
- “I thought something was wrong with me.”
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you; society just gave you a wildly limited definition of normal.
When ‘Normal’ Doesn’t Feel Comfortable
BUT. Normal doesn’t always mean comfortable.
Some women experience rubbing, tugging, or pinching with exercise or even intercourse. Some feel discomfort in jeans or swimsuits. Some notice irritation, dryness, or tearing after childbirth or hormonal changes.
And here’s the thing: wanting relief from that doesn’t make you high-maintenance or weird.
Procedures like labiaplasty (reshaping the labia) or vaginal tightening aren’t about chasing trends. They’re about restoring comfort and confidence when your anatomy causes friction — literally or emotionally.
My Take as a Female Surgeon (and a Woman)
Here’s the truth: you’re allowed to have preferences about your body — without shame. You’re allowed to want comfort and aesthetics. And you’re absolutely allowed to talk about your labia without whispering.
Some of us are just born with a little extra tissue. For others, it changes over time — pregnancy, hormones, menopause, weight shifts — all the things life throws at us. Pregnancy, especially, is this beautiful contradiction: it gives us life, love, and family, but it also stretches and reshapes parts of us we never expected to change. Our bodies are built for it, but that doesn’t mean we always love every part of it.
And here’s what I tell every patient — you can love your body for what it’s done and still want to make changes. Those two things aren’t opposites. They’re both deeply human.
If something about your body doesn’t feel right, look right, or move right — you don’t have to just live with it. The beauty of modern medicine is that we can take action.
That’s what I do. I help women feel comfortable and confident in their own skin again — not because they need to, but because they can.
The TLDR
“Normal” is a wide spectrum, and what matters most isn’t how you look — it’s how you feel.
If you’re comfortable and confident, amazing.
If you’re not, that’s valid too — and that’s where I come in.
If you’re experiencing discomfort or self-consciousness about your anatomy, Austin Face & Body can help. Our team offers personalized consultations to discuss labiaplasty, vaginal tightening, and other treatments designed to restore comfort, function, and confidence. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward feeling completely at ease in your own skin.
Thanks for tuning into The Edit, where we keep things real, keep things feminine, and keep things you.
xo,
Dr. Dallas Wolford
The Edit: Where we keep things real, keep things feminine, keep things you.