Posted on 05/25/2007 10:18:53 AM PDT by EnigmaticAnomaly
One of the world's most prestigious health journals has lashed a fast-growing trend in the United States and Britain for "designer vaginas," the tabloid term for cosmetic surgery to the female genitalia.
The fashion is being driven by commercial and media pressures that exploit women's insecurities and is fraught with unknowns, including a risk to sexual arousal, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says.
Known as elective genitoplasty, the surgery usually entails shortening or changing the shape of the outer lips, or labia, but may also include reduction in the hood of skin covering the clitoris or shortening the vagina itself.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the practice is spreading fast in the United States as well as in Britain, but the picture is unclear, the BMJ says.
Not only is there a disturbing lack of data about the phenomenon, there has been negligible assessment about surgical after-effects -- and almost zero reflexion as to whether a labial "problem" exists in the first place, the BMJ says angrily.
In 2004-5, 800 "labial reductions" were conducted by Britain's state-run National Health Service (NHS), more than a doubling of the figure of six years earlier. Other operations were carried out by the private sector, although the full figures are unknown.
The authors of the article, London gynaecologist Sarah Creighton and clinical psychologist Lih Mei Liao, conducted their own small-scale probe into why women sought this surgery.
"Our patients sometimes cited restrictions on lifestyle as reasons for their decision," they say.
"These restrictions included inability to wear tight clothing, go to the beach, take communal showers or ride a bicycle comfortably, or avoidance of some sexual practices.
"Men, however, do not usually want the size of their genitals reduced for such reasons. Furthermore, they find alternative solutions for any discomfort arising from rubbing or chaffing of the genitals."
Patients who sought genitoplasty "uniformly" wanted their vulvas to be flat and with no protrusion, similar to the prepubescent look of girls in Western fashion ads, they found.
"Not unlike presenting for a haircut at a salon, women often brought along images to illustrate the desired appearance," say Creighton and Liao. "The illustrations, usually from advertisements or pornography, are always selective and possibly digitally altered."
Plastic surgery to the labia carries risks, for this zone carries nerve fibres that are highly sensitive and are a key pathway of sexual arousal, the article warns sternly.
"Incision to any part of the genitalia could compromise sensitivity," it says.
The BMJ piece suggests genitoplasty is a classic example of where commercial, media and social pressures artificially create a problem, fuel concern over it and then put forward a solution for it.
"There is nothing unusual about protrusion of the labia," it says.
"It is the negative meaning that makes it into a problem -- meanings that can give rise to physical, emotional and behavioural reactions, such as discomfort, self-disgust, perhaps avoidance of some activities and a desire for a surgical fix."
I wouldn't go that far. I'm sure you agree that it's necessary for burn victims, and the like.
But I also don't think that it's intrinsically evil for someone born with an enormous nose to get a nose job, or for a woman who is completely flat-chested to get implants. The boundary between the beneficial and the vainglorious is blurry though.
>>Taking stupid to new levels.<<
Its not that new. This was in the Godfather sequel almost 30 years ago. The Corleone casino employed a gynecologist who had lost his license - he did abortions and “improved” the show girls “down there.”
On the other hand, butt bleaching is fairly new.
I wonder if much of this surgery is actually female circumcision being done Muslim physicians and given fancy names to obscure the fact of genital mutilation?
I think female circumcision is a violation of the European Human Rights Treaty. Perhaps this is how those Muzzy get around it.
Agreed! Let's put more emphasis on performance ;-)
I have a different view. I see it as natural selection at work. Culling the herd by self-selection.
So many people have the fatal combination of low self esteem and serious psychiatric problems.
But they appear to function normally.
I actually put 95% of plastic surgery generally in that category.
Plastic surgery for plastic people.
Barbie with a “Tonka” toy.
Am I correct in thinking she was going to have the hip operation on the taxpayers money, but was refused and used her private health insurance to fund it?
How about by themselves?
What are you saying? That these females are dragged, kicking and screaming to get these procedures?
They gots no brains?
Tell me about it....the scars on my stomach and back from my spinal fusion surgery are hideous.
It's worked for Oprah.
Couldn’t the same be said about circumcision? I don’t agree with that, but it is every bit as logical as tracing this stuff to birth control (which is what you were going for).
“Sadly, too many of them respond in kind by acting that way.”
Can’t disagree there.
Reminds me of the old joke:
Old guy is walking down the sidewalk and encounters a friend.
“Are you OK? You look TERRIBLE,” exclaims the friend.
“But I feel terrific,” says the old guy.
“Are you sure? Better go see the doctor,” suggests the friend.
So old guy goes to the doctor. “Doc, my friends tell me that I look awful — but I feel just fine. Terrific, actually,” he says.
Referring to his Large Medical Text, the doctor tries finding a diagnosis. “Hmmm ... let’s see. Looks awful, feels awful — that’s not it. Looks great, feels awful — no, that’s not it. Looks great, feels great — no, not it. AH! HERE WE GO! ‘Looks awful, feels terrific’ — says here that you’re a vagina.”
“Women are treated like little mindless children by the courts and the media.
It’s worked for Oprah.”
LOL! It works for a lot of people, evidently.
Women are treated like little mindless children by the courts and the media.
- - - -
to say nothing of the Islamic culture
I just don’t know how somebody thinks that the plastic surgery of the private parts will help with things like that. And the private parts are hidden anyway ,unless you’re a nudist or with your special person privately.
I think they're trying to prevent this:
LOL!
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