When most of us think of a woman suffering from poor body image, we usually don't think of our vaginas being the target of those negative emotions. But a scary new trend shows a growing number of women feel like plastic surgery is the best way to feel better about their vajayjays that have been stretched by either aging and/or childbirth, and gynecologists, as you can imagine, are none too pleased by the fact that 2,140 women in the U.S. underwent "vaginal rejuvenation" last year.
The docs are positive the procedure has been precipitated by women getting a good media brainwashing about how our ladyparts are supposed to look like a porn star's no matter what! Not to mention that unless we go under the knife, we likely won't be having "good enough" sex. Ugh. And one of the scariest parts is that these procedures can cause serious complications.
Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, who published an editorial in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, argues that claims about the medical wonders of "vaginoplasties" have been largely exaggerated or, worse, totally unfounded. And there's potential for harm, like you could end up with ... "insensitivity of the clitoris." Aggghh! Seriously, who in their right mind would want to risk that?!
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It could be that these physicians simply don't understand what plastic surgeons are trying to offer women ... Maybe they'd be the same type to discourage a woman from getting a nose or boob job, but I'm not so sure. I tend to think they gynecologists are in the right here. Mostly because it's absolutely ridiculous for us to think our vaginas must be surgically "enhanced" after a certain age/number of kids. To think that we're not good enough the way we are ... and grow to be. And finally, to think that there aren't other, natural ways to "tighten" vaginal muscles, like Kegels or Ben Wa balls. Hellooo ... Have these women undergoing vaginal rejuvenation really exhausted other, natural, risk-free ways to get the same/similar effect? I would guess not.
Even if they have, is there really a need to go to the extreme of having a vaginoplasty?! It just sounds like a made-up, sci-fi-esque procedure perpetuated by jerks who prey on women's fears that they don't have a perfect vagina. Come on, ladies, don't fall for it. Know that you're beautiful just the way you are, and it's the knife-wielders who are the ones who need some "work done."
Could you ever imagine considering a procedure like this?
Image via Balaji.B/Flickr
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Comments 26
*T.M.I. ALERT*
After kids, sometimes one or both sides of the labia can become streached. Do you know what it feels like to try to wear panties/bathing suits when you have to literally tuck your labia into your vagina to keep it from chaffing and becoming irritated, inflamed, and sore? Possibly even causing a yeast infection?
It sounds like you don't.
I am going to get this procedure done through my insurance ASAP, as one side of my labia is elongated enough to cause the problems I described above.
Its not all about vanity and wanting a perfect Vag. Its about comfort, sanitation, and peace of mind.
@the4mutts, just make sure you have a good surgeon and that you understand the risk for loss of sensation, if only partial. You may even have prolapse too. Yours sounds like medical necessity, but most of those women do it for vanity reasons, not medical. There's even collagen plumping for the outer labia to contour the whole thing, then finish it off with permanent laser hair removal and custom tattoos or jewel embedding — an invitation for the very thing [infection] yours, as a medical necessity, is trying to avoid.
We have to agree to disagree on the topic of women doing it for vanity though. I haven't seen that the majority do.
It's amazing to me how stupid women can be.
Like most cosmetic type surgeries there's people who can really benefit from it and people who just want to look "better". Rhinoplasy for deviated septums, Breast reduction and lifts for women with really huge breasts that cause back pain, implants for those with obviously asymetrical breats, etc...this is the same thing, I personally have thought about doing it because I have to admit having large labia that just generally get in the way and causing pain isn't fun. I'm in my very early 20's by the way. I don't feel the need to look like a porn star but I definitely like the idea of not having to physically move my labia.
Oh and to the above commenter, I think there is something like a scrotoplasty. Men just are less likely than women (in my experience anyway) to let someone go near their junk with a knife if it isn't necessary. I've heard some stories from men about how they end up accidentally sitting down on their testicles and how painful that is (and how women are always complaining about them adjusting all the time even though it prevents stuff like that).
And the attitude some people have about natural imperfections of bodies is simply disgusting and immature. People should get over themselves.