One of my
biggest questions for society these days is, “Why is there only one standard of
beauty?” It seems that with the help of my plastic surgeon colleagues, young
women everywhere are morphing into doll-like clones of each other, complete
with arched eyebrows, a ski jump nose and plump Kylie Jenner lips from the neck
up.
Neck down
equals augmented breasts, a whittled waist and a big ol’ booty. As a girl who
has always had much back, I appreciate that ’90s heroin chic made its way out,
but at the same time I am very cognizant that God/Allah/Moses/Buddha/The
Universe or who or whatever you believe in, made many more body types than just
the hourglass.
There are
also many different types of facial features that one can naturally have.
Therefore, I am not sure why everyone is trying to look the exact same way
these days. More perplexing is how acceptable an immense amount of cosmetic
surgery at a very young age has become. It is completely acceptable to consider
the face and the body that you are born with as a light suggestion. If you look
completely different than you did say 15, 10 or five years ago, people will still
comment on your Instagram selfie with, “natural beauty xoxox.”
The
newest trend (and as an OB/GYN, one that I actually have some authority on) is
labiaplasty. Labiaplasty is the surgical reduction of the labia minora amongst
adolescents and young adults. At the time of puberty, the labia minora (inner
vaginal lips) enlarge and grow to adult size. Normal labia minora can vary in
size, shape and appearance. Asymmetry is common and it is also common for your
labia minora (inner lips) to protrude out from your labia majora (outer lips).
The
pornography industry has flooded the market with images of what they consider
to be the ideal vajayjay, and since removing all of your pubic hair is in
fashion, young women everywhere are starting to look down after their wax and
question if they measure up to the images that they have seen on x-tube.
If a
young woman decides that she does not have the new idealized image of a vagina,
she is informed by the many advertisements for vaginal surgery that she may
find on billboards, magazines or online that she can schedule an appointment
for surgical correction.
Most of
these advertisements portray the procedure as an easy quick fix. It is
important to understand that labiaplasty is not a quick fix. Instead, it is a
surgical procedure with risks. These risks include: the risks of anesthesia, a
risk of bleeding, infection, pain, painful scarring, painful sex afterward,
swelling and damage to your vulva (outer vagina).
Therefore,
these risks shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I do not
recommend labiaplasty for cosmetic reasons, but I do recommend it in situations
when a woman has chronic physical discomfort from her labia. When this
discomfort occurs with exercise, sex or tight-fitting clothing, it is something
that can be considered, but only after nonsurgical measures are considered.
This can include supportive underwear, arrangement of the labia during
exercise, certain moisturizers and the use of formfitting clothing.
If she
has pain that is persistent and not easily corrected then, and only then,
should surgery be considered, but please do not consider it for cosmetic
reasons.
If the
man that you are sleeping with is judging you and objectifying you to that
degree then it is time to change your man, not your girl. If you are having a
hard time accepting the way you look down there, talk to someone about these
feelings. Love your body and take time to appreciate it before putting it at
risk by going under the knife.
No comments:
Post a Comment