Designer vaginas: a cosmetic procedure or female genital mutilation?
Size doesn’t matter, or does it?
Cosmetic surgery has always been a controversial topic. Recently, surgeries of the vagina and vulva have become more mainstream in the cosmetic surgery world. This growing trend, commonly referred to as the ‘Designer Vagina’, most frequently includes a labiaplasty. With this procedure the size of the labia minora, or inner lips, is reduced by removing excess tissue until they are smaller than the labia majora, or outer lips. This because the labia might be bothering the woman for aesthetic or functional reasons (e.g. to ride a bike). In America, there has been an increase of labiaplasties of 217% over the past five years. Other procedures to get the ‘designer vagina you have always dreamed of’ include vaginoplasty, also called vaginal rejuvenation, clitoral hood surgery and vaginal tightening.
According to cosmetic surgeons, this increase can be linked to the influence of social media and pornography. Because of these influences, issues that used to be taboo are now openly discussed. There are many reasons women chose to undergo such procedures, including dissatisfaction with the appearance of the labia, discomfort with long labia, pain during sex and cancerous conditions that require removing the cancer cells in the labia.
An important ethical note: according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons are considered to be a form of female genital mutilation (FGM). Can emotional discomfort with one’s own genitalia be interpreted as a medical reason? Is it justifiable that women in developed countries undergo these procedures while substantial progress is made in reducing FGM in countries where this is a common practice? The WHO tries to stop surgeons who perform FGM in a hospital setting because it normalises a harmful practice. Is it acceptable to tell surgeons not to perform FGM in a hospital setting while the cosmetic procedures happen in the same setting in more developed countries?
I find it difficult to form an opinion on this topic. I believe women should be able to make decisions about their own body. With FGM, which is considered a harmful practice, women may also give consent to get cut because otherwise they would be rejected by their community. It is questionable if these motives are ethically acceptable. Should we impose restrictions?
I am very interested in your opinion on this topic.