This procedure is undertaken on the labia minora, which are the inner "lips" that are composed of skin on the outside and mucosa on the inside.

The most common cause of enlarged labia ("labia minora") is simply heredity. Women can be self-conscious about having excessive labial tissue. It can be embarrassing when they wear a bikini or tight-fitting clothing, or when they visit the gynecologist, not to mention intimate relationships. Women do not want to have any noticeable bump or irregularity in the genital area (which is also why I often perform liposuction of the pubic area along with the abdomen). This can be a professional concern for models and actresses.

Sometimes enlarged labia can chafe and cause pain while playing sports, or get in the way during intercourse.