Medically Reviewed April 2023, by Claire Clarke - Head of Surgical Services for The Harley Medical Group
Why everybody’s talking about Cosmetic Gynaecology
Cosmetic Surgery… for your vagina. Once this might have seemed like an outrageous suggestion, something women were reluctant to discuss and an area of the body generally approached with great coyness. In the world of modern medicine, however, all this is changing.
Whether minor beautification treatments, like steaming, exfoliation or moisturising that cleanse and replenish the skin, or surgical procedures like the Labiaplasty, an increasing number of ladies are looking to improve and repair the appearance of their vaginas.
So what’s caused the recent interest in Cosmetic Gynaecology?
There are a couple of reasons Medical Experts think Cosmetic Gynaecology is becoming more popular. The first is changing fashions in hair removal. Women now commonly choose to remove most, if not all, of their pubic hair. Whether by waxing, shaving, or more permanent reductions in hair growth achieved by Laser Hair Removal, going bare means the vagina is more exposed and women are much more aware of the appearance of their genitals.
The other motivation for many women to undergo Cosmetic Gynaecology is child birth. Operations like a Tummy Tuck or Breast Lift have long been popular with new mums and it makes sense that that a woman might want to repair the other area of her body significantly affected by having a baby with the help of Cosmetic Surgery.
Patient Story
Hannah was a patient who underwent Vagina Tightening Surgery with The Harley Medical Group after the birth of her second child. She was unhappy with the changes she noticed to her genitals and it began to affect her physical and emotional relationship with her partner, though Hannah didn’t feel it was something she could discuss openly.
“It wasn’t something I could talk to the other mums about over coffee and friends who aren’t mums certainly didn’t want to hear about it over a glass of wine! I thought it was something I would just have to get over, which was easier said than done”
Initially Hannah came to The Harley Medical Group to discuss Laser Hair Removal, but her Nurse put her so at ease Hannah soon felt comfortable enough to discuss her real insecurity.
“Lisa made me feel so at ease that I felt I could talk to her about anything from the treatment I was getting that afternoon to the thing that was really bothering me. She was a Nurse after all, was there really anything I could tell a Nurse that she hadn’t heard before? Lisa listened to me and understood where I was coming from, I finally felt that I wasn’t abnormal, many women feel this way but no-one wants to talk about it.”
Hannah met with a Specialist Gynaecologist and decided to go ahead with Vagina Tightening Surgery. She’s delighted with the results and the surgery has been a real boost to her confidence, “it doesn’t seem like such a taboo subject to me anymore, now I tell all the mums so they know they’re not alone!”
What is Cosmetic Gynaecology?
A lack of accurate terminology means several different genital procedures tend to be referred to as Cosmetic Gynaecology. The Harley Medical Group offers three types of operation.
- Labiaplasty - A Labiaplasty (also sometimes called Labial Reduction Surgery) reshapes and reduces the labia minora/majora, the inner and outer of the ‘lips’ that surround the opening of the vagina.
- Vaginoplasty – a Vaginoplasty is the surgical tightening & reshaping of the vagina. This is particularly popular with new mums as the vaginal muscles can be left loose and weak after child birth. The vaginal tightening and refashioning procedure improves the way a vagina looks, feels and functions. The operation can also be combined with procedures such as a Labiaplasty.
- Perineal Refashioning - this is a procedure to improve the appearance and muscle tone of the perineum area when it has been damaged by an episiotomy or tear during childbirth. This operation has been known to enhance the feeling of sexual gratification.
The Conclusion
While Cosmetic Gynaecology may seem like a contentious topic, much of the controversy purely media speculation and the reality is that these procedures are becoming increasingly common. 2,000 women in the UK underwent genital procedures on the NHS alone in 2013 and a far greater number are presumed to have had operations at private clinics.
As Rachel Jones, Client Advisor from The Harley Medical Group explains…
As the women who visit our clinics will tell you Cosmetic Gynaecological procedures are not a quick fix undertaken without consideration. Most have spent considerable amounts time performing Kegel exercises, choosing clothes for increased comfort and trying to find confidence to be intimate with their partners... Being able to choose what happens to your body, and being able to be comfortable with yourself is the right of everyone, no-one has the right to judge.
There is no reason to suffer with an insecurity about any of your body parts especially if it is impacting on your lifestyle and self-esteem. For more information about Cosmetic Gynaecology visit our detailed procedure pages or book a consultation with a Cosmetic Surgery Nurse.