3-D Origami Models Offered To Demonstrate Labiaplasty Procedures For Patient Education

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A newly published letter in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), revealed a new methodology to provide labiaplasty simulation utilizing a 3-D origami model.

A group of three surgeons, Turkia Abbed, MD, Florence Mussat, MD, and Mimis Cohen, MD, FACS, published this letter to the editor in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, highlighting their novel approach to demonstrate for their patients what a labiaplasty would look like using a 3-D origami model. The surgeons provided this low tech offering in lieu of traditional patient before and after photos, a method they discovered was less intimidating for their patients.

"As requests for labiaplasty continue to increase, I needed to develop a new method of conveying how the procedure works for my patients, as they were having a difficult time visualizing what the results would be. I wanted to give them a personalized explanation that didn't rely on other labiaplasty patient photos. I often sketched diagrams during my consults, and took this one step further when I started to draw and cut the diagram, creating a 3-D model where the patients could truly envision their own personal labiaplasty outcomes," explains Dr. Florence Mussat.

The work of Dr. Cohen and his team comes at a time where requests for the once niche procedure—correction of labia minora hypertrophy (excessive inner labia tissue) are on a steady rise. According to the 2016 annual statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, labiaplasty increased by 23.2% between 2015 – 2016 alone, with more than 35% of all plastic surgeons now offering this procedure in their practices. Reasons cited by patients range from the purely aesthetic to discomfort in clothing, exercise, and pain during sexual intercourse.

The low-cost demonstration utilizing only paper, staples, scissors and markers provides a more personalized predictor of outcomes and allays patient trepidation surrounding real patient photos. Forty-four patients between the ages of 17 – 66 years received consultations with these surgeons between January of 2015 to December of 2016. Of those 44, 28 opted to undergo central wedge labiaplasty resulting in a consultation to surgery conversion rate of 64%. Patients reported better understanding of the technique, expected outcomes and possible complications. All patients reported increased confidence in their decision to undergo labiaplasty after hands-on education with the surgeons' origami models.

This new form of pre-surgical demonstration provides a hands-on 3D reference for labiaplasty and is simple, inexpensive, and effective in patient education. This method is applicable to all female patients independent of education and can easily be reproduced by all plastic surgeons who hope to alleviate concerns and simulate patient outcomes.

To view the complete letter to the editor, visit the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

About the Aesthetic Surgery Journal
The Aesthetic Society Journal is the official publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It is published eight times per year and contains scholarly articles on new advances and procedures pertaining to cosmetic medicine and the plastic surgery industry. ASJ was indexed with MEDLINE/PubMed in 2008 and with the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Report (JCR; formerly ISI) in 2011. It is the official English-language journal of many major international societies of plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery representing South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is also the official journal of The Rhinoplasty Society. The Journal also includes Continuing Medical Education articles and exams.

Website: www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com
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About ASAPS
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), is recognized as the world's leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. ASAPS is comprised of over 2,600 Plastic Surgeons; Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic procedures. International Active Members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements.

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SOURCE American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

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http://www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com