With so many of us looking for a ‘quick fix’ when it comes to our facial and upper body appearance, it’s hardly surprising that this trend has migrated somewhat further down south! ‘Designer vaginas’ are all the rage, and the soar in popularity of vaginal cosmetic surgery means it is becoming one of the fastest growing surgery types within the entire cosmetic industry.
But, where does this need and desire to be ‘perfect’ come from? As females, we are constantly reminded of what is ‘beautiful’. Flawless images of women, the beauty of whom we could only ever aspire to have, are everywhere. The pressure is on us to conform to this ideal, or risk being branded as ‘ugly’. Well, this concept has now gone one step further, with many of us seeking perfection in our most intimate areas. Many doctors and medical experts attribute the rise in vaginal cosmetic surgery to our increased exposure to internet porn. Airbrushed images of ‘faultless’ models cause us to question our own appearance, inspiring feelings of insecurity and abnormality. In addition, vagina surgery is becoming hugely popular amongst well known celebrities, Sharon Osborne being the latest star to admit to having a little ‘nip and tuck’ in her nether regions. But isn’t sexual intimacy all about the way we feel, rather than how we look? After all, we are all different and surely it’s our uniqueness that attracts others.
So, “what is a ‘designer vagina’?” I hear you ask. Well, you’ve almost certainly heard the term labiaplasty before, and in cases of the ‘designer vagina’ this is the procedure that is likely to be performed. It involves reducing the size of the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) or the labia majora (outer vaginal lips) and making the vulva region appear more symmetrical. This is the most common of all vaginal plastic surgery and demand for this procedure continues to rapidly increase.
It’s the best job in the world isn’t it, being a Mum? However it doesn’t come without its challenges. One such challenge is the impact that it has on our bodies. During pregnancy and childbirth the pelvic floor is put under immense pressure. Not only does it support a great deal of additional weight, it stretches to accommodate your growing baby. The real test, however, is labour itself, when the vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles expand to assist your baby through the birthing canal. With all of that stretching, is it any wonder that you don’t feel as ‘tight’ as you once were? In addition to reduced muscle tone, this can result in a loss of sensation, making sexual intercourse less enjoyable and in some instances making orgasm an impossibility.
Many women that are unhappy with their post baby body opt for vaginal rejuvenation surgery. This is a non-reconstructive form of vaginoplasty that is designed to tighten, tone and reshape the muscles in the vagina. The amount of women that view this as their only option is a cause for concern, especially when we consider that there are alternate methods available for achieving this desired goal. After childbirth and as we get older our bodies change, but certain aspects of this process are not inevitable and can be treated, without putting our bodies through the undue stress that goes hand in hand with surgery.
From childbirth to virginity! It may seem like an impossible step, but people’s virginities are popping up everywhere these days. A hymenoplasty, or as many like to refer to it, ‘revirgination’, is a procedure in which the torn hymen is repaired. The thin skin like membrane that partially covers the vagina is surgically reconstructed. Contrary to how it is marketed, a hymenoplasty won’t turn anyone into virgin; it is simply a case where ‘appearances can be deceptive’. The sensations, or lack thereof, will remain the same, as will the ‘tightness’ of the vaginal muscles. A reconstructed hymen should be looked upon as a temporary measure; the lining is weak and certainly not built to last.
There are some instances where surgery is the best and indeed the only option. People who have suffered vaginal agenesis (absence of the vagina) or vaginal shortening as a result of congenital conditions or surgery may view this as their only choice. In this instance a vaginoplasty would be performed. A vaginoplasty refers to the surgical correction of the vagina and surrounding tissue. Two of the most popular vaginoplasty procedures are the balloon vaginoplasty and the colovaginoplasty. A balloon vaginoplasty is a simple technique for treating congenital defects and it is a good alternative to a neovaginoplasty (complete reconstruction of the vulvovaginal area). A colovaginoplasty involves reconstructing the vagina from part of the colon. In some cases a labiaplasty will also performed to correct congenital or medical conditions, including intersex genitalia or an enlarged labium.
Vaginal cosmetic surgery has been subject to increased scrutiny over recent years. A 2008 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that 37% of women were now choosing to have a labiaplasty for aesthetic reasons alone. This number continues to rise, sparking concern amongst many medical professionals who question the safety and therapeutic efficacy of these surgical procedures. In addition, the cosmetic surgery industry is completely self-regulating, which makes it difficult to know whether the surgeon or gynaecologist performing the operation is fully qualified and trained to do so. In 2007, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists voiced opposition to what they saw as commercial misrepresentations of labiaplasty, and associated vaginal plastic surgery procedures, as medically “accepted and routine surgical practices”. They also advised that women needed to be fully aware of the potential dangers, including surgical-wound infection, pudendal nerve damage, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), tissue adhesions and painful scars.
So, are women fully aware of the ramifications before going ‘under the knife’? Well here at Kegel8, we can’t give you a new vagina, or a new hymen for that matter, however we can make you feel like a born again virgin! If your reasons for considering vaginal surgery are purely aesthetic, we urge you to fully explore your options before taking the plunge. If it is vaginal rejuvenation that you seek then look no further; the Kegel8 Ultra 20 Pelvic Toner has twenty clinically proven programmes designed by physiotherapists to tighten and tone all of those important muscles. Discover the benefits of Kegel exercises for women; tighter muscles mean much more enjoyable sex!
The Kegel8 unit works simply with the insertion of a probe, and used once or twice daily will deliver fantastic results in just twelve weeks. Why put your body under undue pressure and strain? Get a ‘designer vagina’ on the inside, where it counts!