Fat Grafting - Vaginal Fat Grafting
Restoring vulvar and vaginal volume lost to childbirth and aging with your own fat
This illustration was created with AI to aid understanding and does not show an actual surgical result.
After childbirth, menopause and with aging, the fat of the vulva, including the labia majora, can decrease so that the area looks wrinkled or deflated, and some women feel that the tissue around the vaginal opening has become thin and loose. Vaginal fat grafting takes your own fat from the abdomen or thighs, purifies it, and transfers it in small amounts to the labia majora or around the vaginal opening and wall to restore volume and firmness.
Anatomy and symptoms in this area differ greatly between individuals. We first examine the current condition and discuss the change you would like, then decide together whether fat grafting is appropriate or whether another approach would suit you better.
Vaginal Fat Grafting at a Glance
- What it is — An operation in which your own fat, harvested from areas such as the abdomen or thighs and purified, is transferred in small amounts to the labia majora or around the vaginal opening and wall to restore volume and firmness lost to childbirth and aging.
- Evidence — Improvements in questionnaire scores have been reported, but most studies involve a few dozen women without a control group, so the level of evidence is still low.
- Absorption — Part of the fat grafted into the labia majora is absorbed; in studies, about 10–20% extra was sometimes injected to allow for this, and some patients needed additional grafting.
- Good to know — Veins are dense around the vagina and pulmonary fat embolism has rarely been reported, so small amounts are injected slowly.
Who May Consider It
- Women whose labia majora look deflated or wrinkled after childbirth or with aging
- Those who feel discomfort when wearing underwear because of reduced vulvar volume
- Those who feel the tissue around the vaginal opening has become thin and loose
- Those whose vulva looks relatively hollow after weight loss
How the Procedure Is Performed
STEP 1 · Examination and consultation
We check the vulva and vaginal opening, left–right differences and any symptoms, and plan the areas and amounts to be grafted. A gynecological examination may be recommended before surgery when needed.
STEP 2 · Fat harvesting
Under tumescent local anesthesia, the required amount of fat is harvested from the abdomen or thighs with a fine cannula.
STEP 3 · Purification
Blood, anesthetic fluid and free oil are removed to prepare the fat for grafting.
STEP 4 · Small-volume injection
Using a fine blunt cannula, the fat is placed in very small portions in the planned areas.
Safety Principles
1. Small amounts, injected slowly.
The area around the vagina and vulva has a dense network of veins. Although rare, the medical literature reports a case of pulmonary fat embolism immediately after fat grafting to this region. We therefore avoid injecting large volumes at once, avoid layers where veins are concentrated, and inject slowly with low pressure.
2. Extra caution when combined with other procedures.
A study of labia majora fat grafting performed together with body-contouring surgery reported that complications need closer attention as more procedures are combined. When other surgery is planned at the same time, the extent and duration of the operation are decided carefully.
3. Absorption and additional grafting.
Part of the fat grafted to the labia majora may be absorbed, and some patients in the literature needed an additional session. Because graft survival differs between individuals, additional grafting is considered, if needed, after the volume has settled.
What the Research Shows: Vaginal Fat Grafting
We have summarised studies published in international journals on the questions patients ask most often in consultation. Study populations and methods differ, so the figures are for reference only, and results vary from person to person.
| Topic | Findings |
|---|---|
| Study size | A retrospective study of 38 women who received fat with PRP in the mons pubis, labia majora, around the vagina and perineum reported better vaginal laxity and sexual function questionnaire scores, but the authors noted the limitations of a small study with short follow-up. Source: Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2026 |
| Labia majora volume | In a case series of labia majora fat grafting combined with body contouring, 25–80 mL (average 57 mL) was injected per side, including about 10–20% extra to allow for absorption. Source: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026 |
| Absorption and revision | In the same study, two patients needed a revision because more than half of the grafted fat was absorbed. Source: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026 |
| Combined operations | Of the 16 patients followed in the same study, 6 had complications, 3 of which were related to abdominoplasty. The more operations are combined, the more caution is needed. Source: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026 |
| Fat embolism | A case was reported of a 39-year-old patient who received fat in the breasts (270 mL each) and vagina (50 mL) and whose oxygen saturation fell to 48% 15 minutes after surgery due to pulmonary fat embolism; she recovered after treatment. The authors attributed it to fat entering the dense venous plexus around the vagina. Source: Journal of International Medical Research, 2020 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will it improve sexual satisfaction?
Some studies report improved questionnaire scores after fat grafting, but most involve small numbers of patients and no control group. Rather than promising a specific effect, we explain the change you can reasonably expect based on your examination.
Q. Are labia majora fat grafting and vaginal fat grafting the same procedure?
Labia majora grafting restores the volume of the outer vulva, while vaginal fat grafting addresses the tissue around the vaginal opening and wall, so the areas and volumes differ. The two are sometimes performed together, and the areas are decided after examination.
Q. When can I return to daily life?
Light daily activities are usually possible after a few days, while activities that press on or irritate the grafted area are resumed gradually over several weeks depending on your recovery.
Q. Is vaginal fat grafting a proven treatment?
Some studies report improved questionnaire scores, but most involve a few dozen women without a comparison group, so it is hard to say it has been clearly proven. We explain the changes you can expect based on your examination.
Q. What if the grafted fat is absorbed?
Part of the fat grafted into the labia majora can be absorbed, and in studies some women needed another operation because more than half was absorbed. Additional grafting is considered if needed after the volume has settled.
Q. What if I feel short of breath or tightness in the chest right after surgery?
Although rare, this may be a sign of fat embolism. In the reported case, symptoms began 15 minutes after surgery. If you have these symptoms, tell the medical staff or contact the clinic immediately.
Recovery
Swelling, bruising and tightness of the vulva may last from several days to a few weeks. During recovery, please postpone tight clothing, cycling, sitz baths and sexual intercourse as instructed. If you experience shortness of breath or chest tightness after surgery, contact the clinic immediately.
References
- Autologous Fat Grafting Combined With Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Female Genitourinary Aging: A Retrospective Study — Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum (2026) PMC12813633
- Labia Majora Lipofilling During Body Contouring: Complications — Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2026) PMC13493404
- Severe fat embolism after autologous fat grafting in vaginal tightening and breast augmentation surgery — Journal of International Medical Research (2020) PMC7441288