designer vaginas
by Jenny Bryan
what the surgeons do
American and a small number of British surgeons are offering a growing range of operations to change the size and shape of the vagina and/or labia.
Some use scalpels, others lasers, to tighten the vaginal muscles and support tissues and reduce flaccid or floppy vaginal linings (vaginoplasty). They can also build up the area between the vagina and the anus and repair any internal damage following childbirth which may have resulted in urinary or faecal leakage.
For those who don't like the look of their labia, they can trim the inner folds so that they no longer protrude (labioplasty) – either by reducing the edges of the labia or snipping out a 'V' shape wedge of tissue and sewing the remaining edges back together.
Surgery can be performed under local, regional or general anaesthetic, so that in some centres, women may leave hospital within a few hours of their operation, though they usually stay nearby for four or five days. They also need follow-up checks to ensure that everything is healing properly. Women are advised to wait six weeks before having sex.
Prior to having surgery you should make sure your surgeon is a registered member of the General Medical Council (GMC) and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). BAAPS members have six years of training in plastic and reconstructive surgery as well as basic surgical training. You should also look for surgeons who have experience in the type of procedure you require and choose an establishment that is registered with the Healthcare Commission (the UK's health watchdog).
Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey, of the London Plastic Surgery Associates described 'intimate surgery' as a 'serious commitment and a life changing experience'.
'We need to remind patients that they should do their homework – finding out more information about the procedure, location and practitioner before going for any kind of cosmetic treatments.'
(February 2002, updated August 2008)
