Plastic No So Fantastic



Plastic surgery is nothing new, particularly in Southern California. It is after all land of the beautiful people. A while back, however, while on holidays, I saw adverisments offering women genital cosmetic surgery, “labiaplasty” (nipping women’s genital lips), “vaginal rejuvenation” (tightening the vaginal muscles) and “vaginal reconstruction” (tightening, shaping, sculpting).

One advertisement reads, in part: "Women experiencing sexual dysfunction or embarrassment because their labia (labia minora) are over-sized or asymmetrical. Also women who dislike the large size or shape of their labia, which may cause inelegance or awkwardness with a sexual partner.”

Inelegant or awkward! Well, hello?? Sex isn't always going to be an erotic version of Mills and Boon novel, now is it? Will cutting away part of the labia really make a woman more sexually attractive? Is an "over sized labia" really such a handicap? Or an "asymmetrial labia" really so ugly?

What sort of society is it where women fret about what's between their legs to the extent of considering, and obviously in many cases submitting to, this type of surgery?

Sure, women worrying about their body size and shape is nothing new. Look at our society's obsession with ideal body. It's turning countless teenage girls into anorexics, and it's leaving a legacy of women suffering the effects of fad diets, body scarring, and leaky fake boobs.

Now, it should go without saying, I have no problem what so ever with anyone taking full advantage of reconstructive surgery. Certainly, people who have birth defects or accidents, and women, who have suffered major changes to their bodies due to pregancy and childbirth, should certainly have the option of corrective procedures without compunction.

But, it seems to me that pharmacists, plastic surgeons, and marketing companies are getting richer every day by convincing us all that our bodies are inadequate!

Surely being able to accept yourself, love your face and body, and to use it confidently with your partner is what good sex and body image should be all about.