designer vaginas
by Jenny Bryan
a word of warning
Leading British gynaecological surgeon, Professor Linda Cardozo, is cautious about designer surgery:
'If a woman wants a designer vagina, her idea of what it should be like at the end is not always the way it turns out. If you come to have your vagina tightened and it was not too lax in the first place, you might find that sexual intercourse is painful, you're sore, and that you get recurrent urinary tract infections because the bacteria which normally live around the anus get pushed up inside, so you may feel let down by your surgery,' she says.
Those who have labial reduction may also be disappointed if they swap fleshy folds of tissue for scarring and, possibly, a protruding clitoris. Sometimes they discover, too late, that their partner liked their labia the way they were and, as Professor Cardozo points out, 'All cosmetic surgery has major risks and it has a high discontent value associated with it.'
In the UK, gynaecological surgeons who perform cosmetic vaginal surgery rarely advertise their services in the way that US enthusiasts, such as Dr Matlock, do. British women wanting tightening of their vagina or trimming of their labia would be very unlikely to get such operations on the NHS. This only happens where there are overriding psychological or physical reasons for doing it. This is decided by the consultant, who may ask you to undergo psychiatric counselling before agreeing to the operation. If you believe you fall into this category you should first visit your GP to discuss your options.
But most people have the procedure done privately. For details contact one of the organisations in help and info or ask for advice through their local BUPA or other private hospital about gynaecologists with a special interest in reconstructive surgery.
In addition, visit the Department of Health's website on cosmetic surgery. This was set-up three years ago by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sir Liam Donaldson. The CMO also launched an analysis of private cosmetic surgery provision and has set up a steering group to examine ways of making cosmetic surgery safer.
(February 2002, updated August 2008)
