About the technique
The DOVE Surgery Technique (Double Offset V-Plasty with Extended De-epithelialisation) was developed by Dr Georgina Konrat in 2005 and first described publicly in 2012. It is her own operative approach to labiaplasty, originally documented to share the planning and tissue-handling principles with the wider surgical community.
Originator
Dr Georgina Konrat (MBBS, FACCSM), AHPRA Registration MED0001407863. Surgical Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine. Practising in cosmetic surgery in Sydney since 1997.
ORCID 0009-0002-9581-1131 · Wikidata Q139514577 (Dr Konrat) · Q139516189 (DOVE Surgery Technique)
Notes from Practice
“I developed the DOVE Surgery Technique in 2005 because the standard trim and wedge methods at the time did not preserve the natural edge of the labia in the way I wanted for my patients. The name describes the operative pattern: a double offset V-plasty combined with extended de-epithelialisation, which lets me address length and shape while keeping the visible edge as natural as possible. I first presented the technique publicly in 2012. Since then, I have applied it to a cohort of more than 450 labiaplasty cases at the Bondi Junction practice. The technique is not a brand or a marketing claim. It is the operative method I use, selected after anatomical assessment at the first of the two consultations every cosmetic surgery patient attends before booking.”
— Dr Georgina Konrat (MBBS, FACCSM), AHPRA MED0001407863
From the Bondi Junction practice
Every patient who undergoes a DOVE Surgery Technique labiaplasty at the Bondi Junction practice attends a first consultation, a second consultation, the procedure day, a one-week follow-up, and a six-week review. This sequence is the same for every DOVE patient, regardless of the anatomy or the specific operative plan agreed at consultation.
Key Takeaways
- 1The DOVE Surgery Technique is the name Dr Konrat uses for her labiaplasty approach.
- 2Published labiaplasty literature shows high satisfaction overall, but complications and revision remain possible.
- 3Technique selection is individual. No single operative pattern is appropriate for every patient.
- 4Published outcomes for labiaplasty overall give context, but they are not a standalone outcomes series for the DOVE Surgery Technique itself.
The DOVE Surgery Technique is the term Dr Georgina Konrat uses to describe her labiaplasty approach. Patients often ask what this means in practical terms, how it differs from other labiaplasty discussions, and whether it changes recovery, scarring, or cost. The answer starts with consultation and planning rather than with a marketing claim.
During a labiaplasty consultation, Dr Konrat reviews the anatomy, the symptoms or personal aesthetic concerns being discussed, and the amount of tissue that may need attention. The DOVE Surgery Technique refers to the way that planning and tissue handling are approached in her practice. It does not mean that one fixed template is applied to every patient.
Why Dr Konrat Developed the DOVE Surgery Technique
Dr Konrat's background includes general surgical training, experience as an obstetrics and gynaecology registrar, and later training in cosmetic surgery and medicine. Over time, she saw that many patients presenting for labiaplasty were concerned not only about appearance but also about comfort in clothing, exercise, intimacy, and day-to-day irritation.
The DOVE Surgery Technique grew out of that experience. The aim is to plan carefully, preserve tissue where possible, and avoid removing more tissue than is required for the individual case. In practice, that means the procedure is mapped to the patient's anatomy rather than trying to fit the anatomy into a one-size-fits-all method.
What the Technique Focuses On
The first principle is anatomical assessment. Consultation includes a review of the shape, symmetry, tissue length, and the area responsible for the patient's symptoms or personal aesthetic choice. The second principle is tissue preservation. The goal is to remove only what has been discussed and planned, while maintaining the natural outline of the remaining tissue where appropriate.
The third principle is careful tissue handling. Patients are often concerned about swelling, wound separation, or discomfort in the early healing phase. While no technique can remove risk, careful tissue handling is intended to support a more orderly healing process.
What Published Labiaplasty Literature Shows
Published evidence is useful here because it provides context for how labiaplasty techniques perform overall. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis covering 53 studies found a pooled satisfaction rate of 94% across published labiaplasty methods, with complications generally uncommon but not absent. In that review, overall wound dehiscence was about 5.9%, and wedge-style techniques had higher reported dehiscence than some other approaches.
A 2018 cohort study of 451 consecutive labiaplasty cases reported postoperative sequelae in 7.1% of patients and a complication rate of 3.8%. A 2024 review of long-term outcomes reported that most patients in the published literature did not have long-term complications, but the most commonly reported issues were asymmetry, revisional surgery, and scarring. Those figures are about published labiaplasty literature generally. They should not be read as a direct outcomes series for the DOVE Surgery Technique specifically.
How It Differs from Trim and Wedge Discussions
Many people researching labiaplasty come across general descriptions of trim and wedge procedures. These are broad ways of describing where tissue is removed. The DOVE Surgery Technique is not simply a rebranding of either of those terms. It is Dr Konrat's own operative framework for evaluating the anatomy, planning the excision pattern, and managing the closure.
For some patients, the most suitable plan may overlap with principles seen in traditional trim-style or wedge-style discussions. For others, the plan may be modified to suit asymmetry, tissue quality, previous childbirth changes, or prior procedures. That is why Dr Konrat discusses technique choice only after assessment, rather than promising the same method to everyone from the outset.
What This Means for the DOVE Surgery Technique
The DOVE Surgery Technique is most clearly understood as Dr Konrat's operative framework rather than as a promise of a specific percentage outcome. Published trim, wedge, and composite-reduction studies are still useful because they show the importance of matching the operative plan to the tissue pattern, discussing the risk of wound separation and asymmetry, and avoiding unnecessary one-size-fits-all claims.
In practical terms, that means the value of the DOVE Surgery Technique sits in the consultation process, the anatomical assessment, and the way tissue removal and closure are planned for the individual patient. The relevant question is not whether a technique name sounds distinctive, but whether the operative plan has been tailored carefully and discussed with proper consent.
Consultation Still Matters More Than the Technique Name
Patients sometimes assume that choosing a named technique is the main decision. In reality, the more important questions are whether the doctor has examined the anatomy properly, whether risks have been explained clearly, whether the likely recovery has been discussed, and whether the planned change matches the patient's concerns.
AHPRA requirements also matter. Cosmetic surgery patients need a GP referral, at least two consultations, and a cooling-off period before the procedure can be booked. Those steps are there to support informed decision-making and should be part of any proper consultation pathway.
Recovery, Risks, and Cost
Even with a careful operative approach, labiaplasty still carries risks. These include bleeding, infection, wound separation, asymmetry, changes in sensation, scarring, and the possibility of revision surgery. Dr Konrat places the risks and complications section early in the procedure pages for that reason.
Recovery still involves swelling, time away from some activities, and a staged return to exercise and intimacy. You can read the detailed timeline on the labiaplasty recovery guide. In terms of cost, the DOVE Surgery Technique is not an extra add-on. It is the standard operative approach discussed by Dr Konrat during consultation. The fee structure is outlined on the labiaplasty cost Sydney page.
When to Read This Together with the Main Procedure Page
This page explains the thinking behind the DOVE Surgery Technique, but it should be read together with the main procedure information. The labiaplasty page covers candidacy, referral requirements, anaesthesia options, risks, healing, and related procedures such as revision labiaplasty. If you are attending the Sydney practice, the Bondi Junction page also explains location details and consultation logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DOVE Surgery Technique?
The DOVE Surgery Technique is Dr Georgina Konrat's approach to labiaplasty. It is planned around tissue preservation, anatomical assessment, and careful removal of only the tissue discussed during consultation.
Is the DOVE Surgery Technique the same as a trim or wedge procedure?
No. Trim and wedge describe broad labiaplasty patterns. The DOVE Surgery Technique is Dr Konrat's own operative approach and may use different planning principles depending on the patient's anatomy.
Does the DOVE Surgery Technique guarantee a particular result?
No. All surgery carries risks and healing varies between individuals. The technique describes the operative method, not a guaranteed outcome.
Does the DOVE Surgery Technique cost extra?
No. It is Dr Konrat's standard approach to labiaplasty and is discussed as part of the normal consultation and fee planning process.
Sources and Evidence
These sources provide published context for labiaplasty techniques, complications, and longer-term outcomes. They are about labiaplasty literature generally, not a standalone outcomes publication for the DOVE Surgery Technique.
- Géczi et al. (2024) — systematic review and meta-analysis of labiaplasty techniques, satisfaction, and complications — Reported pooled satisfaction of 94% across published studies and technique-specific complication patterns.
- Bucknor et al. (2018) — 451 consecutive labiaplasty cases — Reported postoperative sequelae in 7.1% of cases and a complication rate of 3.8%.
- Long-term Functional and Aesthetic Outcomes of Labiaplasty (2024 review) — Summarised longer-term reported complications including asymmetry, revisional surgery, and scarring.