Preparing for Your Labiaplasty Consultation

From the Labiaplasty Sydney educational library

A labiaplasty consultation is your opportunity to ask questions, understand the options, and decide whether to proceed. This guide helps you prepare so the appointment works for you.

What to Expect

The consultation is a private, unhurried appointment with the cosmetic doctor. It typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes. You will discuss your reasons for considering the procedure, your medical history, and your expectations. A clinical examination is part of the consultation so the doctor can assess your individual anatomy.

You will also discuss the technique options, the risks, the recovery, the costs, and the timeline. There is no pressure to decide anything on the day.

The 7-Day Cooling-Off Period

In Australia, a mandatory 7-day cooling-off period applies between your consultation and any scheduled cosmetic procedure. This is a regulatory requirement and gives you protected time to reflect before committing.

Use this time. Reread your notes, write down any new questions, and check in with yourself about how you feel.

What to Bring

A list of your questions, written down
Any relevant medical history, including previous surgeries and medications
Details of any allergies
A notepad or your phone for notes
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
Someone you trust, if you want company (but this is not required)

Do I need a referral for a labiaplasty consultation?

You do not need a referral from a GP to see a cosmetic doctor for a labiaplasty consultation in Australia. However, if you are hoping to pursue a Medicare rebate under item 35533 for a documented functional concern, a GP referral and supporting documentation are required, and the strict clinical criteria must be met. For purely cosmetic consultations, you can contact the practice directly and book an appointment. Bringing relevant medical history, a list of medications and any allergies is helpful regardless. At the consultation you will discuss your concerns, undergo a clinical assessment, and talk through the options, risks and costs in detail. A consultation is required to assess suitability for any procedure.

Questions Worth Asking

What technique do you recommend for my anatomy and why?
What outcomes are realistic for me?
What are the specific risks and how often do they happen in your practice?
What is the recovery like day by day?
What is the total itemised cost?
When would I return for follow-up?
What happens if I am not happy with the result?
How do you handle complications?

No Physical Preparation Needed

You do not need to prepare physically for a consultation — no special grooming, no fasting, nothing unusual. Wear comfortable clothing and come as you are. The clinical examination is conducted with the same discretion as any gynaecological examination.

The all-female clinical team is present throughout the appointment.

Being Honest About Your Reasons

Be honest at consultation. If the procedure is driven by pressure from a partner, or by unrealistic ideas about appearance, a good cosmetic doctor will gently raise these concerns. The goal is not to sell the procedure — the goal is to make sure it is appropriate.

Our emotional journey page explores this further.

What happens during the clinical examination?

The clinical examination at a labiaplasty consultation is conducted privately, gently and respectfully, by a cosmetic doctor supported by the all-female clinical team. It is similar in feel to a routine gynaecological examination. The doctor will look at the anatomy and, if appropriate, take careful measurements to plan the procedure. The examination is brief and is there to help the doctor understand your specific situation and give you accurate information. You can ask for pauses or explanation at any time, and you can bring someone you trust to the appointment if that makes you more comfortable. Nothing invasive is performed at consultation unless specifically discussed and agreed. Individual results may vary.

After the Consultation

You will typically leave with a written quote, written information about the procedure, and a clear next step. If you decide to proceed, the surgery is scheduled after the cooling-off period. If you decide not to proceed, that is a completely valid outcome too.

Taking more time to think is always an option. Reputable practices welcome it.

For more context on what the procedure involves, see what labiaplasty is. For how to evaluate doctors, see how to choose a labiaplasty doctor. For cost information see the cost page.

The consultation is also an opportunity for the doctor to screen you. A careful cosmetic doctor will check your expectations, your reasons for seeking the procedure, and whether the anatomy is actually causing the concern you have described. Sometimes the answer is 'no procedure is needed' — and that is a valuable outcome.

You should feel respected throughout the appointment. If something makes you uncomfortable, say so. You can pause or ask questions at any point, and you can take a break if the examination feels overwhelming.

Bring your reading glasses if you need them. There is usually a fair amount of written information to go through, including consent forms, information about the procedure, and the itemised quote.

If English is not your first language and you would prefer to bring an interpreter, let the practice know when you book. Clear communication about a medical decision matters.

Many women bring a phone to record key parts of the conversation, with the doctor's permission. This can be helpful because it is hard to remember everything in a new and emotional appointment. Ask before recording.

After the consultation, give yourself some time to sit with the information. Do not make the decision in the car on the way home. Reread the materials over a few days and note any follow-up questions that come up.

If you need a second consultation to have your remaining questions answered before committing, that is always possible. Reputable practices welcome thoughtful patients, not rushed ones.

A consultation is not a sales appointment, and it should not feel like one. You should leave feeling informed rather than sold to. If the appointment felt transactional or rushed, trust that impression and consider seeing a different cosmetic doctor before making any decision.

The written quote you receive at consultation should be itemised and detailed. You should understand what each item covers — surgical fee, anaesthetic fee, facility fee, follow-up appointments — and there should be no hidden extras.

Take the quote home with you and review it calmly. If anything is unclear, call the practice and ask. There is no time pressure, and no reputable practice will object to follow-up questions.

The consultation is also your opportunity to clarify practical details: where the procedure will take place, how long it will take, when the follow-up appointments are, what happens if complications arise, and how to contact the practice after hours.

Finally, consider how you feel after the consultation. Do you feel respected? Were your questions answered honestly? Did you feel pressured or comfortable? These impressions matter and should feed into your decision.

Additional Considerations

Labiaplasty is a decision that benefits from time, good information and an unhurried consultation. If you are researching the procedure, take your time, ask questions, and trust your own judgment about when — or whether — to proceed.

Have a Question?

Book a consultation with Dr Georgina Konrat to discuss your situation in a private, unhurried setting.

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