Labiaplasty: search for the perfect vulva?

11.29.2009

Women are undergoing labiaplast [la·bi·o·plas·ty] surgery to create a “perfect” genitalia, or more aesthetically pleasing look of the labia minora or labia majora. Like breast implants, labiaplasty is a comestic surgery that has been on the rise as a popular elective surgery. Cosmetic labial surgery generally involves reducing the amount of tissue that protrudes from the lips which cover the vagina.  A few women elect to have the surgery because they complained that wearing tight clothes or riding a bike is uncomfortable, but the majority of women who have the surgery done do it because they are embarrassed of what their genitalia looks like in front of a sexual partner.

The thing is, according to a few studies out there, getting your hoo-hah snipped carries a lot of risk: psychologically and physically. About the same amount of risk as female genital mutilation (FMG). It’s imperative we stressed the major fact that there really isn’t any reason for any girls to get this kind of surgery – ‘discomfort’ with weird (whatever that means) labia is likely more psychological than physical. The basic risks involved in labiaplasty include reduced sexual sensation, scarring, and child labor complications in the future such as bleeding and massive tearing in labor, and even death of the infant. When you cut and restitch your lips, you make yourself more vulnerable to future traumas.

Why do we see an increase in labiaplasty over the years? Because unless have had or do have female sex partners, work in direct reproductive health, or have friends who are very open to letting you look up-close-and-personal at their vulvas, most women will not come close to recognizing what is considered “normal” labias.  What most girls who don’t have those opportunities usually have as a basis of comparison is what male partners report (which isn’t very reliable), or what women can see in pornography or art, which provide some representation, but are both limited in really showing what’s real for real people in real life.

The reality is, like body sizes or fingers or penises – labias comes in all different shapes and sizes and color and they’re all normal. You could be pale as the moonlight and still have a dark-colored lip. Or your lips could be small, but when you become sexually aroused, the rush of blood to the genitalia could result in a darker coloration. Comments and questions like:

"My inner vaginal "lips" stick out, is this normal? I'm insecure about it, and embarrassed to let my boyfriend see.”

OR

“I think my vagina lips are not normal. My inner lips are way way bigger then my outer ones! It wasn't like that when I was little! It really bugs me. I won't even let my boyfriend touch me there, cause I'm afraid he will think I'm not normal or something. My boyfriend has asked me if I wanted to have sex but I turned him down because of this. Is my vagina normal?”

ARE YOU REALLY NORMAL?

Behind the Fig Leaf.

WARNING: There are explicit pictures on the link that are for the purpose of educational information. If you are using a public computer and have neighbors who might gawk -- I would suggest viewing the link when you are alone.