Woman reveals secrets about a private area surgery trend among women: 'I did it for myself'
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In the age of open conversations about body positivity and self-love, there's one topic that still remains hushed, even among the closest of friends.
It's a type of cosmetic surgery that's not about enhancing the face or contouring the body, but about altering a very private area.
This is the story of a woman’s personal journey with labiaplasty, a procedure that's gaining popularity among women worldwide, and why she chose to keep it a secret from her partner.
As we age, our bodies change, and these changes often become topics of conversation among friends.
During a recent coffee catch-up with my close-knit group, the conversation naturally veered towards cosmetic surgery.
Botox, breast augmentations, liposuction—all were discussed openly and without judgment. But when it came to the woman’s turn, she chose to remain silent.
Little did they know, she had undergone cosmetic surgery five years ago, a procedure that she had never shared with anyone.
The surgery she had was not the usual facelift or tummy tuck. It was a labiaplasty, a procedure that reduces the size of the inner or outer folds of the female vulva.
According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), labiaplasty is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries.
In 2022, there were 194,086 labiaplasty procedures, marking a 46 per cent increase from the previous four years.
Despite its growing popularity, it remains a topic shrouded in secrecy and stigma.
'I’ve performed labia reduction surgery on hundreds of women, but no one talks about it,' her gynaecologist said.
The rise in labiaplasty has been linked to the prevalence of pornography and the trend for women to remove all their body hair, exposing parts of the body that were previously concealed.
Celebrities like Gemma Collins have openly shared their experiences with vaginal tightening and rejuvenation procedures, leading some to view labiaplasty as a frivolous 'Barbie' surgery for impressionable young women.
However, her decision to undergo this procedure was far from a whim to impress potential lovers.
For a decade, she has agonised over the appearance of her labia.
During her mid to late 20s, she noticed that the inner folds of her genitals (labia minora) had become swollen and were protruding from her outer labia.
This affected her comfort, especially when cycling, and her self-esteem.
Despite having a fulfilling and active sex life, she found herself constantly comparing my body to other women's, which also fuelled her insecurities.
Her decision to undergo labiaplasty was not driven by fear of men's reactions, as she never felt self-conscious during intimate moments.
Instead, her own perception of her body led her to seek a solution.
After a thorough consultation with a gynaecologist—who said that the problem was probably due to her cycling as she commuted almost ten miles a day to and from work—she decided to go under the knife.
The total cost came out at £2,750 ($5,340 AUD), which covered the medication and private hospital bills.
Infection, excessive bleeding, and potential loss of sensitivity or nerve damage were all potential risk factors—as they were with any kind of surgery.
The surgery was straightforward and the recovery was swift.
Within six weeks, she was fully healed and ready to resume her sexual activities.
The procedure had no impact on her sensitivity or pleasure during sex, and there was no visible scarring.
Despite the success of her surgery, she chose not to share this with her partner.
She feared that revealing this secret might make it a bigger issue than it needed to be.
She believed that the decision to undergo such a procedure should be a personal one, made for oneself and not to please others.
Labiaplasty, like any other cosmetic procedure, should be considered carefully.
It's crucial to find a qualified doctor in genital surgery (in her case, she chose an experienced gynaecologist and not a cosmetic surgeon) and to discuss every aspect of the procedure thoroughly.
She also advised other women to check out testimonies of their chosen doctor’s previous patients online.
While she viewed her surgery as corrective rather than cosmetic, she knew that not everyone might share this perspective.
However, she believed that every woman has the right to feel comfortable and confident in their own body, and for her, labiaplasty was a step towards achieving that.
'I felt that my vulva was ugly, and now it is pretty. I feel so glad to be able to say I now adore it as much as every other part of me,' she said.
What are your thoughts on this growing trend? Have you or someone you know considered labiaplasty? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It's a type of cosmetic surgery that's not about enhancing the face or contouring the body, but about altering a very private area.
This is the story of a woman’s personal journey with labiaplasty, a procedure that's gaining popularity among women worldwide, and why she chose to keep it a secret from her partner.
As we age, our bodies change, and these changes often become topics of conversation among friends.
During a recent coffee catch-up with my close-knit group, the conversation naturally veered towards cosmetic surgery.
A woman shared about her personal journey with labiaplasty. Image source: Shutterstock.
Botox, breast augmentations, liposuction—all were discussed openly and without judgment. But when it came to the woman’s turn, she chose to remain silent.
Little did they know, she had undergone cosmetic surgery five years ago, a procedure that she had never shared with anyone.
The surgery she had was not the usual facelift or tummy tuck. It was a labiaplasty, a procedure that reduces the size of the inner or outer folds of the female vulva.
According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), labiaplasty is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries.
In 2022, there were 194,086 labiaplasty procedures, marking a 46 per cent increase from the previous four years.
Despite its growing popularity, it remains a topic shrouded in secrecy and stigma.
'I’ve performed labia reduction surgery on hundreds of women, but no one talks about it,' her gynaecologist said.
The rise in labiaplasty has been linked to the prevalence of pornography and the trend for women to remove all their body hair, exposing parts of the body that were previously concealed.
Celebrities like Gemma Collins have openly shared their experiences with vaginal tightening and rejuvenation procedures, leading some to view labiaplasty as a frivolous 'Barbie' surgery for impressionable young women.
However, her decision to undergo this procedure was far from a whim to impress potential lovers.
For a decade, she has agonised over the appearance of her labia.
During her mid to late 20s, she noticed that the inner folds of her genitals (labia minora) had become swollen and were protruding from her outer labia.
This affected her comfort, especially when cycling, and her self-esteem.
Despite having a fulfilling and active sex life, she found herself constantly comparing my body to other women's, which also fuelled her insecurities.
Her decision to undergo labiaplasty was not driven by fear of men's reactions, as she never felt self-conscious during intimate moments.
Instead, her own perception of her body led her to seek a solution.
After a thorough consultation with a gynaecologist—who said that the problem was probably due to her cycling as she commuted almost ten miles a day to and from work—she decided to go under the knife.
The total cost came out at £2,750 ($5,340 AUD), which covered the medication and private hospital bills.
Infection, excessive bleeding, and potential loss of sensitivity or nerve damage were all potential risk factors—as they were with any kind of surgery.
The surgery was straightforward and the recovery was swift.
Within six weeks, she was fully healed and ready to resume her sexual activities.
The procedure had no impact on her sensitivity or pleasure during sex, and there was no visible scarring.
Despite the success of her surgery, she chose not to share this with her partner.
She feared that revealing this secret might make it a bigger issue than it needed to be.
She believed that the decision to undergo such a procedure should be a personal one, made for oneself and not to please others.
Labiaplasty, like any other cosmetic procedure, should be considered carefully.
It's crucial to find a qualified doctor in genital surgery (in her case, she chose an experienced gynaecologist and not a cosmetic surgeon) and to discuss every aspect of the procedure thoroughly.
She also advised other women to check out testimonies of their chosen doctor’s previous patients online.
While she viewed her surgery as corrective rather than cosmetic, she knew that not everyone might share this perspective.
However, she believed that every woman has the right to feel comfortable and confident in their own body, and for her, labiaplasty was a step towards achieving that.
'I felt that my vulva was ugly, and now it is pretty. I feel so glad to be able to say I now adore it as much as every other part of me,' she said.
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