Twice as many women are now having 'designer vagina' surgery to reshape their genitals because of tight leggings, according to reports. The Mail says the number of women looking for £4,000 labiaplasty surgery has doubled.
Dr John Skevofilax, chief surgeon at Signature Clinics, told the Mail he performed 50 of the procedures in the whole of 2021, and another 50 in the first six months of 2022.
Dr Skevofilax said more women want the surgery because tight leggings can be uncomfortable and some women fear the shape of their genitals is visible through the fabric. The athleisure look has been popularised by influencers and reality TV stars.
He said: "They experience pain, discomfort in general, chafing, a lot of women actually will feel so uncomfortable that they avoid trying to wear this type of clothing. It's all really interlinked, choosing a pair of leggings which causes discomfort and which in turn draws attention to the labia and the need for surgery."
Labiaplasty involves using a laser to cut away unwanted tissue from the vulva, at the entrance to the vagina. The operation is almost always cosmetic, meaning it is not available on the NHS, and women are advised to speak to their GP or a therapist about body image.
In 2018, girls were being given a tool to educate them about female anatomy in a bid to stem the rising tide of requests for so-called designer vaginas. Experts said the booklet was designed in response to an increasing number of girls and women with cosmetic genital concerns requesting surgery despite having normal anatomy.
Dr Naomi Crouch, who chaired the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (BritsPAG), said in her work for the NHS she was yet to see a girl who needed the operation. The new guide So What Is A Vulva Anyway? was launched at the Annual Update in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology, a joint event by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and BritsPAG.
The booklet, commissioned by BritsPAG, uses illustrations to describe variation in appearance in order to normalise vulva appearance.
Dr Crouch, a consultant gynaecologist, said: “There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support the practice of labiaplasty and the risk of harm is significant, particularly for teenagers who are still in stages of development both physically and psychologically.
“We hope this resource will provide information for girls and young women that their vulva is unique and will change throughout their life, and that this is entirely normal and healthy.”
Louise Williams, clinical nurse specialist at University College Hospital and co-lead of the project, added: “We see many patients in our paediatric and adolescent gynaecology clinic who have a poor understanding of the function of parts of the anatomy and also of normal genital variation.
“This educational resource will help young people to understand their vulva and how it develops during puberty, particularly if they are worried about how they look or feel.
“We hope it will reassure young people that vulvas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and if they need advice and support, they can know where to go.”
The RCOG says there are no medical reasons for a woman to have a labiaplasty, and spokesperson Dr Naomi Crouch says if women are concerned about the appearance of their genitals, they should speak to a healthcare professional. She stresses it’s important for doctors to give sensitive advice to women, and notes that counselling may help.
– The booklet is available on the website of the young people’s sexual health charity Brook as well as being available to download on the BritsPAG web page.
