Labiaplasty: What It Is and Why It's Stupid
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Ok, I can’t take it anymore. This subject really ticks me off. If you don’t know what labiaplasty is, it’s pretty much the surgical reduction of the labia – usually the labia minora. Before I continue, let me be clear: If the size of a woman’s labia are causing her discomfort during sex, or creating other physical problems – fine, have a little nip and tuck if it will make your life better. God knows I don’t want anyone to be in pain. That said, this article is about having it done purely for cosmetic purposes.
The majority of women seeking this procedure are doing so because they’ve been brainwashed by magazines like Playboy and Penthouse.
These magazines typically only use models who have nonexistent labia minora. And you’d better believe that many, many adult film stars only look that way because they’ve had labiaplasty themselves. Or, they've been airbrushed. Since women don’t normally sit around inspecting each other, these magazines are often the only time most get to see what the rest of the gender looks like. And because all the chicks look identical (read: labia-less) it leaves them with the impression anything else is abnormal.
Why wasn’t this procedure popular in the past?
Because most women weren’t going Brazilian in the 70’s. Hard to feel bad about the size of your labia when they’re completely obscured by a jungle of hair.
It's not just adults!
I find it incredibly distressing that 15 year-old girls are having this kind of body image problem. Where is it coming from? What are the parents thinking, letting a kid have this surgery? Are they thinking? If she asked for breast implants, would those be next? More importantly, what kind of doctor would do something so drastic to a child?
Invisible labia minora are no more common than 36EE breasts.
Seriously. Ask an Ob/Gyn. They'll tell you labia minora come in all shapes and sizes. They can be long, short, etc, etc. And all of these are normal. All of them! I worked in medicine for a long time and I've seen it all. I promise you, whatever you have is normal.
But.. do men think it's unsexy?
There have been scientific studies done on this exact subject. Men were hooked up to machines and shown photos of female genitalia - the majority were more aroused by larger labia than small. And, if you want another statistic, most men don’t care either way!
Well, I think I’d look better snipped.
Honestly, I’ve seen hundreds of before and after photos of this procedure. In every single case, the woman looked better beforehand. Really. She may think she looks better, but that’s only because her self-image is already amazingly poor. And if her partner thinks she looks better.. well.. don't get me started on that one.
So who really benefits from this surgery?
Your friendly neighborhood plastic surgeon. The guy you’re paying. The one who can’t possibly have gone to med school if he thinks your labia are abnormal just because they're visible. If you loathe your labia so much you can’t go on, alright, do what you have to do. But just realize your perception is probably distorted by what you’ve seen in the media. I promise, you’re not nearly as unattractive as you think. Don’t let Playboy dictate whether or not you’re happy with your body. And, if you're looking into this because your boyfriend or partner have asked you to - you should really consider looking into getting a new partner, instead
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Comments
I agree, Shayze!
Wow...its as if the cosmetic surgery industry is inventing new things to be frantic about just to be able to charge people to "correct" it. Weird.
Yeah, they don't mind collecting money for it, huh.
Wow..things seem to be getting out of hand now aren't they?
Great Hub! Completely agree. If there's a serious medical condition, then go for it, otherwise, leave things as is.
Taylorblue - Yes!!
Whitney - Thanks, and I agree!
Ridiculous. How long before men start getting their ball skin tightened? Oh God. Do they already?
Some things are fine just the way they are, and ought to be left alone. Labia falls within that group.
One word- freaky. I had no idea. Great hub.
Melissa - LOL! That's next!
Angela - Thanks! And yes its freaky!
I was circumcised as a newborn...nothing uncommon about that, but I think the ability to choose that option for myself as an adult should have outweighed the presumed difficulty of teaching me some important personal hygiene skills as a child.
...I'd better read the faq now.
I never knew this was an issue or even an option! Eek.
Terrible surgery and looks weird to me, personally :(
I too was circumsized as a newborn and would have liked to make that choice as an adult.
I do not believe anyone should have any surgery for purely cosmetic reasons. But I believe in the freedom to do so.
As far as this particular subject goes, there's no such thing as an ugly labia IMO.
hii. im glad i came across this website and this page. i am actually 15 and was researching this surgery. ive been unhappy with my labia for a few years now. but your right in saying that if i didnt see so many pictures concentrating on perfection i wouldnt be worried about how i look. so i think your totally right, im not self absorbed or naiive for thinking about this, i was browsing to find out some info on it. so dont think i am. theres too much focous on whats 'normal' these days, that no one seems to be happy with what their given anymore. i was thinking about it but only because all the media and magasines were getting to me. thing is. people like me are left thinking were abnormal because of the constant focous on perfection, so much so people who arent quite as 'trim' as girls in playboy or whatever wouldnt admit to it. i was swaying but youve pulled me back to sense so thank you =] ive always been a "be happy with what your given" girl. but something needs to be done about all this platic surgery and stuff. or we'll all end up being clones. its rediculous. i think its getting to the point where people are just making up parts of the body and saying whats normal so they can find another thing people will get insecure about and therefore have surgery and they'll get more money. yeah thats my say. xxx
Thanks everyone for your comments! I'm glad we seem to be in agreement!
To Beth - Most of the women you will see in those magazines have been airbrushed, or have had labia surgery already. Most women do not look that way, and guys do NOT care about this kind of thing. Honestly, you're just going to have to believe that! This isn't a matter of being happy with what you were given - cos that makes it sound like you just have to accept your looks, as though they aren't the best you could have. They *are* the best you could have, and when you are older, you'll understand why. I'm glad you decided against it. You're already perfect, don't worry! :) x
Wow, this is a bit frightening. I had no idea that people were even doing this to themselves and each other. It honestly made me think of Female Genital Mutilation. O.o
Hmmm, maybe those surgeons can make my kidneys cuter... *rolls eyes*
I'm so happy you wrote this. I was very insecure about this. I know my boyfriend has a lot more experience than I do, and he thinks I have a nice vagina. It's the strangest compliment I'd ever gotten, but anyways I still thought it was odd looking. Now that I know this I'm much more comfortable about myself =)
Megan - You're plenty normal, I promise. :)
i have a really large labia that to be honest hangs down and it rather prominent even in knickers! i absolutely hate it. it makes me so nevervous when thinking (let alone getting to) about being naked in front of someone else, i dont even like to look at myself naked. i really wish that i could come to grips with it but cannot help but feel asthough im abnormal and unattractive due to it. ive read the thread and understand that i shouldnt let it get to me but i cant help it, if i think its as bad as i do i cant help but think others think the same if not worse of my labia.
I am 22 years old and Ive had large labia since I was 13 years old. I am extremely insicure of my vagina that I only have sex with my partner with the lights off. Everytime I look at it i feel disgusted! I know its "normal" to have this problem, but I absoloutly HATE it! I know that alot of people are against getting cosmetic surgery down there, but for me, i am all for it! I really dont mind getting my excess labia trimmed down there. If it benefeits me for feeling better about myself with my partner, then its soo worth it! Im getting labiablasty done on the 25th of may. I am soo excited! I will finally be able to look at myself in the mirror and think that i really look sexy down there.
I'm glad I read some of the comments. I needed to see if it was normal to look like I do.... I have a large labia and I was very self conscience about it. I have never been comfortable with it. I've always thought of it as ugly. Thanks for letting everyone know it's the pictures we see that dictates how we see ourselves. It's a shame we can't see that we're beatuful. My partners have always seen it as sexy. Now I'm going to! Thanks
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shayze says:
10 months ago
I'm stunned that anyone would think that this is an acceptable surgery! You're completely right that it's things like Playboy and Penthouse that's even making women think that this is necessary. The only time that I think something like this would be a consideration would be if it was massively deformed and impeding with sexual or bodily function or causing discomfort and I think that would be rare. So, unless an OB/GYN is recommending the surgery for medical purposes, it should be outlawed!