Many women want to improve the aesthetic beauty of their labia. Others may request a surgical reduction procedure because the folds of skin extend across most of the vaginal opening. This condition can be due to genetic factors, but it is more often a result of the normal ageing process. More and more women are now opting for a labia reduction to remedy this. A labia reduction procedure is carried out using either a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic and will take between 1 and 1.5 hours. In most cases, a reduction of the outer labia minora section of the labia is all that is required. The excess skin is removed, and recovery takes around 4-6 weeks, during which time some soreness may be experienced. However, any nerves affecting sexual function will not normally be touched or affected by the procedure, so there should be no loss of physical sensation or disturbance of genital sensitivity. Subject to the physical constitution of each patient, the procedure can also be used to reduce and tighten redundant skin around the clitoris.