Eek.

Women’s eNews wrote an interesting/scary-ass article this week about a newly popularized form of plastic surgery that makes me quiver — labiaplasty.
Originally, labiaplasty was performed primarily for women in the sex industry who needed their labia reduced for infection or pain. But more recently, it looks like the average Jane is coming to the doc’s to get her vagina “looking pretty.” Some do get the surgery due to physical discomfort, but it seems to be quite a trend for women who feel like their pussy is “old looking” and want it nice and, er, perky again.
And what does it actually mean to get your labia “reduced?” Exactly what it sounds like. “In a labiaplasty, the surgical reshaping of female external genital structures, larger or uneven inner vaginal lips are cut and shortened.” Ahhhh!
Another form of vaginal cosmetic surgery is called vaginal rejuvenation, which is a tightening of the vaginal and perineum area (which can be stretched during childbirth). I won’t lie, I am a bit scared of damaging my goods while giving birth, but my cooch could be wider than Texas and I still wouldn’t let someone take the knife to any part of it. On top of that, there is speculation of whether vaginal rejuvenation actually increases pleasure or severely decreases it — seems that there’s risk for cutting nerves, creating scarring and causing future pain during intercourse. Gulp.
And it seems that much of the time, according to two doctors that perform labiaplasty and vaginal cosmetic surgery, the reason for the surgery is due to a comment by a partner. “The bulk of the women getting this surgery are ultimately being pressured by men who want them to conform to a idea of beauty most often seen in the porn industry…Doctors Loftus and Young say feedback from male partners is the number one reason women request the surgery.”
Should we be surprised? Sigh.
Also check out Echidne of the Snakes’ take on this scary shit.