In the past five years, of these procedures have been carried out on girls under While the reasons for the procedures are unknown, they are likely to have been performed for medical reasons or to correct congenital abnormalities. In another paper, published by the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology BritSPAG , clinicians are advised to inform girls under 18 that labiaplasty surgery before puberty is complete can lead to long-term problems.
Although no research has been carried out on these long-term risks, it is thought that damage to sexual function and sensitivity can occur after labiaplasty. Bleeding and wound infection can also occur in the short term. The paper also recommends that girls showing signs of psychological problems should be referred to a paediatric clinical psychologist. Consultant plastic surgeon Paul Banwell, from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, welcomed the recommendations published in both papers and said patients should always be given full, accurate information and be properly counselled before surgery.
But he said clinicians should also be sensitive to potential problems. Only a small proportion are there for purely aesthetic reasons. He also said he had seen the number of patients requesting labiaplasty increase dramatically in the past few years.
Tim Goodacre, head of professional standards at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and a consultant plastic surgeon, said he supported the recommendations as a means of improving patient care.
Although the female genitalia comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, some women find that they are not happy with the appearance of their labia. The labia are the flaps of skin on each side of the opening of the vagina. In such cases, labial reconstruction surgery might be recommended.
Continue reading as we discuss what a labiaplasty entails and the type of patient who typically undergoes this procedure. The goal of this type of procedure is to correct any functional problems that a person may be experiencing, as well as creating a more aesthetically pleasing labia. There are several reasons as to why a woman might wish to undergo labiaplasty. For some people, it is purely cosmetic, as a woman may be unhappy with the appearance of her labia. The labia may be particularly enlarged, distorted or asymmetric, which, in most cases, does not cause any medical problems.
It can, however, create self-esteem issues and make a woman feel unattractive, which may lead to a lack of interest in sex and affect their intimate relationships.
It is important to note that wanting a labiaplasty for cosmetic reasons alone does not warrant NHS coverage. In exceptional circumstances, the surgery may be offered on the NHS, but only for medical reasons. Labial reconstruction surgery may be advised for women experiencing discomfort due to enlarged or distorted labia, which could be catching on their clothing, making having sex or inserting tampons painful, or preventing them from doing exercise or sitting down comfortably.
In some circumstances, a woman may not be able to wear the clothes she wants to due to the size of the labia. All of these would be considered medical reasons for labiaplasty. As a profession and as a society, we need to explore why so many women are choosing to have surgery. This is a surgical procedure with very real short-term and long-term risks as well as psychological issues that are often not adequately addressed. The labial skin is rich in highly sensitive nerve endings.
Amputating or trimming this skin can lead to bleeding, scarring, chronic infection and longstanding pain from nerve damage. Other risks include reduced sexual pleasure and dissatisfaction of the overall appearance resulting in further surgery in some cases.
Failure to acknowledge deep-seated issues can result in the young woman setting off on a path of repeated cosmetic surgery on various parts of her body which is not only expensive but also comes with a possibility of surgical complications.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RCOG has recognised the concerns of gynaecologists in the UK regarding these procedures and has come out with guidance , making several recommendations.
The RCOG urges clinicians to provide accurate information and to be aware that in many cases, there is no medical evidence to suggest that treatment will truly benefit the individual.
So what role can responsible professionals play? Educating women early in their high school years about how our anatomy varies is important. Equally necessary is boosting confidence and body image through education and open discussion.
Health professionals must not be afraid to recommend psychological assessment and counselling before agreeing to surgery. Negative attitudes towards natural female genitalia does not just lead to labiaplasty, but also to the popular practice of removing all or most of one's pubic hair.
That hair is there for a reason: to protect the external parts of the female genitalia vulva and removing it - as well as wearing thongs - can lead to chafing, pulling or trapping of skin. In removing hair, women are also more aware of the appearance of body parts that were previously covered and protected. We don't all look the same, so why would we expect our labias to look the same? We need to encourage young teenagers to love their body and build their confidence.
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