Designer Vaginas – It’s a strange term. A consumer and material world of sorts where we can not only design our homes, but also design our babies as well. We can easily take a holiday to an exotic country, experience a new culture and a new land. Now, in amongst relaxing and experiencing we can design a vagina.
When we think of plastic surgery we think of face lifts, wrinkle free faces and Botox, but surprisingly these procedures are on the lower end of the growth scale. Labiaplasty surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic surgery procedures in the world. Almost doubling in the space of a year and being second only to buttock augmentation, colloquially referred to as the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL).
A Designer Vagina surgery is where a woman will have her labia and genitals surgically altered to adhere to a specific look or request, which is known as Labiaplasty. Recent studies have shown that that over 80% of all vaginal surgeries are for the purpose of reducing the size of, or reshaping the labia.
What is Labiaplasty Surgery
Labiaplasty is specific type of surgery that is used in order to reduce the size or change the shape of the parts of the vagina which include the labia minora, majora or both. The labia’s are the four different folds of skin tissue that make up the vulva. Labiaplasty is usually done either as a completely separate procedure or to be combined with vaginal surgery.
There are some women out there who have become embarrassed because their labia’s are large enough to show through their clothing, resulting in the appearance of a ‘camel toe’. Some women will also experience pain when jogging, exercising, riding bikes and wearing jeans which rub against their labia during such activities and can cause chaffing.
Labia reduction surgery can provide relief from pain and chaffing. Here we will briefly explore some of the other types of surgery that are used for vaginal, clitoral and labia procedures.
Plastic surgeons are promoting a procedure that involves removing the clitoral hood, which is similar to female circumcision. This procedure helps with anorgasmia and increases sensitivity. Laser technology is also used for vaginal surgeries. Another surgical procedure known as G-spot Amplification involves the injection of collagen into the front wall of the vagina to increase pleasure. The hymenplasty surgery is performed to repair a broken hymen due to trauma or sexual activity.
Why Is Labiaplasty Becoming Popular?
Some cultures in the world have exceptionally strong religious beliefs about virginity and its importance within a new relationship. For this reason, the procedure is highly controversial as it is often deemed to be deceptive.
Most of the surgeries mentioned above are done for cosmetic reasons, except for when a woman has an abnormally large labia that causes chafing and pain during daily activities. However, this is not a common occurrence for most women who have folds around the vaginal opening, which is completely normal.
Unfortunately, more women are opting for cosmetic Labiaplasty surgery without any medical reason, which raises questions about whether it is driven by vanity or something else. In a controversial story from 2016, a mother fought for her 15-year-old daughter to have the surgery despite doctors concluding that it was unnecessary.
Researchers have found that the majority of genital surgery is driven by cosmetic reasons rather than medical conditions, with over 25% of Labiaplasty cases at the Royal Children’s Hospital being brought up by mothers.
Should Labiaplasty Be Controversial?
It’s a controversial story for several reasons. Firstly, readers of the story were concerned as to why a mother had been close enough to a teenage daughter to be able to comment on her labia, and secondly, the more important issue involves the mentality of teenagers. Teenagers are going through a rough period of life, they’re questioning their sex and sexuality, questioning their identities and bodies and experiencing a range of insecurities and social anxieties. A comment from one’s own parent unnecessarily criticising the appearance of ones genitals by saying that sexual activity will be out of the question with a look like that.
Psychologists are suggesting that the overall theme that we need to address to young people is that intimate relationships are about the quality of a relationship. About being a good and likeable person, the quality of one’s heart and not the quality and appearance of ones genitalia. Teenagers are impressionable as they go through awkward years of transitioning into an adult. Focusing on the appearance of ones genitalia sends a terrible message to youth.
Medical professionals are reporting a surge in the increase of people that are having Labiaplasty surgery. This video quickly explores what a Labiaplasty surgery is.
We Are All Not The Same
Researchers have indicated that the trend of designer vaginas may be attributed to the influence of pornographic content, much like the preference for pubic hair grooming. While women may not seek out other women for reference, they often turn to magazines and pornographic material which promote unrealistic standards of what a vagina should look like. Similar to body shapes and penis sizes, there is a wide range of what is considered normal when it comes to female genitalia.
Think about it – why do we have such a variety of condoms, penis plugs, and other toys for the penis if they were all the same?
They’re not, and the thing to remember is that there is no normal shape and size of the labia. So when there’s situations where a boyfriend has asked that his girlfriend have surgery because he doesn’t like the look of her labia. Then the issue is with the boyfriend and his understanding of vaginas, and not necessarily the individual with the vagina.
When it comes to labia size and appearance, culture will play a significant part in determining the ‘normal’ size of a labia. For example, in Japanese culture a larger labia is generally more desired and thought to be appealing whilst in Western Culture a neater and smaller labia is more sought after.
So the question then becomes, who or what is driving the shift towards designer vaginas?
Bethany Jones from the Australian National University in Canberra released a study in 2015 that looked at pornography consumption within women. And the corelation with their desire to undergo a Labiaplasty surgery. Over 1000 people completed the survey which was put on Facebook. At the conclusion of the study, whilst there were small correlating links between the consumption of pornography and the desire to somewhat likely, and highly likely, undergo Labiaplasty surgery.
This correlation was simply not strong enough to attribute the consumption of pornography to be the strongest indicator of a designer vagina. Indeed the majority of women that participated in the survey indicated that they were quite content with their vaginas.
So Why Do Women Want Designer Vaginas?
Despite the survey being listed as a preliminary study, with further studies to follow, there was not the definitive link that was expected from the results of this survey. Ms Jones noted that the pursuing of cosmetic surgery is a very interesting behaviour and that a study should more closely examine such things as individual difference, psychological characteristics and mental health indicators.
Primarily, research that has been done on the use of cosmetic surgery has demonstrated that mental health indicators such as depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphic disorder. These played a significant role in people’s decisions to have cosmetic surgery.
As with any medical procedure there are risks that are associated with Labiaplasty surgery and they include:
- Loss of sensitivity in the vaginal region
- Over cutting the labia
- Under cutting the labia
- Patient not being happy with the end result
- Inability to wear tampons, have sex or partake in exercise for 6 weeks (sometimes longer) following the surgery
- Risks of infection
- Walking, sitting down and normal daily activities can be uncomfortable for a few weeks following the surgery.
- Â Taking time off of work is necessary to have this surgery
Vaginas are as unique as every other body part that we have, whether that is our body type, our facial shape, hair, and eye colours. There is no normal definition for the shape and appearance and look of a vagina. Unless it is causing severe distress or there is an underlying medical issue which needs to be addressed, then it certainly poses an interesting question.
Considering the aim of pussy pumping is to promote the appearance of the labia, increase sensation and sensitivity -is Labiaplasty surgery really necessary?
Anna, thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Great.