Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery: The Horror, The Horror

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Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery: The Horror, The Horror

Lissa Rankin, July 28, 2010

Okay, let me warn you. I’m about to rant. So if you’re having a peaceful, quiet day and feel like keeping things serene, you might want to click on over to our Owning Spirituality section, ‘cause this one is gonna get hot, loud, and sassy. So get ready to turn up the volume. I’ve got something to say.

Can I just say ENOUGH WITH THE SURGERY, ALREADY?

Okay. There. I said it. First we women are supposed to get our boobs cut up so some plastic surgeon can insert silicon and saline just to make us perkier and bustier? Then we’re supposed to get the fat sucked out from our muffin tops, butts, and thighs? Then we’re supposed to endure painful facial reconfiguration so we have little ski lift button noses and tight, blink-less eyes? Then we’re supposed to inject ourselves with a potentially lethal neurotoxin just so we don’t have wrinkles? And now we’re supposed to get our vaginas rejuvenated? I mean ENOUGH ALREADY!

When I was collecting questions for my upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, one of the Pinkies in our community asked, “Do you recommend labiaplasty or vaginal rejuvenation surgery?”

My answer was this:

No. On the contrary, I recommend against these surgeries, as does the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Those who advocate for what some call “designer vaginas” turn me beet red and make steam come out of my ears. I’m a generally loving person, but I think these people -- especially the doctors who are out there trying to convince women that there’s something wrong with them -- should be hog-tied and forced to spend the rest of their days telling women they are gorgeous and perfect just the way they are.

We women have enough pressure to appear a certain way: stick-skinny with big breasts, small noses and shapely thighs, tight little buns and thick, shiny hair. The last thing we need is someone suggesting that our coochies are supposed to look a certain way too. I mean seriously, people.

Surgery should never be undertaken lightly.

Many women considering these procedures don’t understand that the procedures are not without risk. During my training, I was involved in a “vaginal rejuvenation” surgery aimed at trimming up a woman’s labia and tightening the vaginal opening. Audrey had always felt self-conscious about the size of her labia, and she felt like her partner used to get more pleasure out of intercourse before she gave birth. With his encouragement, she opted for a little vaginal nip and tuck.

We counseled her regarding the risks of surgery, primarily the risk of scar tissue and painful sex, but Audrey and her husband insisted. After she recovered, she ended up experiencing so much pain at the site of her surgery that she and her husband couldn’t have intercourse for almost a year. It took loads of patience and three years of pelvic physical therapy before they could once again enjoy sex.

Vaginal rejuvenation surgeries may also lead to decreased sensation of the clitoris and other genital tissues, potentially interfering with the ability to orgasm. These surgeries also have the same risks as other surgeries – bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding organs, scar tissue, and anesthesia complications. Surgery should never be undertaken lightly.

In my practice, I have only agreed to perform vaginoplasty or labiaplasty on patients who suffer health-related symptoms due to their long labia or loose vaginas. In other words, if the labia are so long that they’re chafing or causing a rash, or if the woman experiences pelvic prolapse or urinary incontinence, then surgery may be indicated. If my patients insist on going under the knife for cosmetic purposes, I support their autonomy but do not choose to do these procedures myself.

Can I just have at that guy?

Now, someone in our community just asked me this question again because her boyfriend had heard about it and suggested that, after three children, she might just want to have her vagina nipped and tucked so she could be tighter, prettier, and feel “younger.”

Can I just have at that guy? Darling (you know who you are), forgive me for speaking my truth, but will you please please please tell your man that he is so fucking lucky to have you that he should be worshipping at the altar of your vagina, rather than suggesting that you have it cut? He should be bringing your vagina roses and whispering sweet nothings into your vagina’s ear. (Ear? Well, you know what I mean.) He should be kissing and hugging and buttering up that beautiful vagina of yours so much that she says, “Come on in, buster. You’re in for the ride of your life.” If he’s not honoring you and your vagina, I say tell the guy to go take a hike.

Maybe I’m being too harsh. Maybe he thinks he’s doing you a favor by educating you about a procedure you might not know exists. Maybe he worships your vagina but thinks this will benefit you in some way. I’ll cut him some slack and assume that he’s a great guy who’s just a bit… ignorant. So forgive me if I’m coming on too strong.

But I’m just so sick of women being delivered the message that we’re not good enough the way we are, that what we have needs to be enhanced, injected, perfumed, styled, dressed up, and cut. He may not realize it, but every time he whispers something like that into your ear, you squirrel it away and it eats away at your self-confidence. You may never have questioned whether your vagina is losing her mojo and needs to be rejuvenated. But the fact that he just pointed it out will certainly make you think next time he goes down there (if he’s lucky enough to ever get to go down there again). Will you wonder if you’re pretty enough? If your vagina is tight enough? If he feels stimulated enough? I say you tell him that if things aren’t tight enough for him down there, he might need to go get his penis cut open so someone can enlarge it. See how he likes that.

If you've had plastic surgery, that's cool.

I don't mean to dis those who have chosen to use plastic surgery to enhance what they've got. If that's what jazzes you up and makes you feel sexy, revived, and beautiful, more power to you. If your implants, tummy tuck, nose job, or facelift gives you the confidence to go for it in the world, that's awesome. OWN it! Don't be afraid to talk about it. Live fully in spite of and because of your nips and tucks. Just don't do it for anybody but YOU. Because deep down, you're the one who matters. Changing your body to please anybody else will never work. Your true beauty lies within, and isn't that what you want others to admire and appreciate?

Okay. Deep breath. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Here’s what I think.

You are beautiful and perfect just the way you are.

Let me say that again.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

Do you hear me?

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

Okay. Good. Just wanted to make sure you knew it.

Loving you and your beautiful and perfect vaginas,

Lissa

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

Comments

I like this blog very much .

By Cosmetic surgery abroad (not verified) on Tuesday, 08/31/2010 at 2:51 AM

I like this blog very much . It was very interesting to read it.

I just discovered this blog

By Cynthia Scott (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 10:34 PM

I just discovered this blog and you have become one of my girls with that powerful rant!

AWESOME!

By jen (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:24 PM

Didn't episiotomies start partially so the physician attending the birth could sew everything up nice & tight for the man's enjoyment?

I suppose getting vajazzled is an entry step leading towards this kind of surgery.

Sick!

Another side to the issue?

By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:17 PM

Hi There. I just wanted to throw my two cents in. I get what you're saying and I too think that as a society we are too hard on women. Women need to love there bodies more, but I wanted to add something that wasn't considered. During the birth of my first child my labour was completely mismanaged by my care provider. Anyways, I ended up with extremely disfiguring tearing of both my vagina and labia. This was extremely upsetting for me, and I have always said that after I'm done having children I'm getting this surgery done. I would be upset with any part of my body being severely disfigured and would likely elect to fix it through plastic surgery if I could. I don't think that makes me vain or insecure, I love my body. I realize that surgery carries risks and when I come to the point in my life when I begin making decisions in regards to this procedure I will weigh them carefully. I think we need to be careful not to judge the women who get this done too harshly, everyone makes choices based on their own life experience.

the author stated that the

By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 7:22 PM

the author stated that the exception is in the case of medical necessity - vaginal prolapse, loose labia that causes chafing etc.

Vagina Perfection - Pretty in Pink

By Kathy (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 5:58 PM

Your rant is so perfect Lissa ~ In my opinion, as long as your man does not have to strap a board across his ass to keep from falling in your beautiful vagina, why should we opt to get them cosmetically altered. As each of us is individual in looks, so are our vaginas. That is what makes us each unique. If a man does not like the looks of mine, well he can keep on keepin on. And by the way, not every penis is work of art to say the least. I have to laugh cause just today a sexually explicit ad for erectile dysfunction came in the mail for my husband. This one involved placing a small magnet in your pocket that would magically give you a hard 'tool' LOL, how much money will they make from that one? I can hear the phone lines ringing off the wall now.
The vagina is beautiful and remarkable and certainly in no need of mutilation or worse, what happens after the mutilation. Medical reasons, yes, but I would first look in to alternative methods as many have suggested.
My sister had a botched bladderpexy (sp) and when it fell again, to urinate she used to have to insert her finger in her vagina to move her bladder to urinate. I was mad as hell that she went through a hysterectomy and the bladder repair only to have it fail a few years down the road.
Hail to the vagina, pink and perfect.

Perfection - Pretty in Pink

By Deborah E-Platt (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:29 PM

I am in full agreement with everything you wrote Kathy! No man should be telling any woman that she's not good enough, firm enough, tight enough, etc. We are just fine - thank you very much! If and only if a woman wants to alter her natural terrain for her own health & well being should it be done. Ideally that would only be if she's had an injury from childbirth or some abnormality that she feels needs to be dealt with. Of course women are constantly told by the media, society, & the men we're with that we are less than perfect. This begs us to stop & think through just what perfection is supposed to look like anyway?

Personally I've never seen a pair of feet that looked the same - or a smile, a hairstyle, etc. unless it was on a manikin. The last time I checked I was still breathing so I doubt I'd qualify as one of those things & I wouldn't want to be mistaken as one of them! Unless women really want to become like one of the so called women in the Stepford Wives movies - they had better start educating themselves & respecting the temple that their bodies are, or should be! We need to stop allowing others & ourselves from giving up on what makes us unique & proud to be who we are. It's time to honor ourselves & our bodies for the life we've lived, and let the body be the living embodiment/history book that it is meant to be! It's very imperfections are the proof of a life that's been lived & erasing that takes away from who we are.

Kegels

By Lissa Rankin on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 10:19 AM

Absolutely-
There are a whole slew of natural things you can do to remedy urinary incontinence or to tighten up the vaginal area. Kegels are very effective if you do them right! Thanks for the reminder Tracy.
xoxo

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

Kegels are not the only answer & may in fact be the problem

By Deborah E-Platt (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:14 PM

You may be interested in reading the article on this site which discusses why Kegels may actually cause more problems with incontinence! http://www.katysays.com/2010/06/23/no-more-kegels-an-on-line-course/

This link is also an excellent bit of reference info: http://www.katysays.com/2010/06/14/4-fast-fixes-for-pelvic-floor-disorder/

Katy Bowman, MS is a biomechanical scientist focused on educating people on how their body works, so they can make informed and educated decisions. She is the creator and talent behind the Aligned and Well™ DVD program, the Director of the Restorative Exercise Institute, and the creator of the Restorative Exercise™ DVD kits for Gaiam.

Reading your wonderful rant I

By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 5:42 PM

Reading your wonderful rant I was just going to say: Kegels! And at the risk of being considered a paranoid man-hating bitch - oh, I forgot this is anonymous! LoL! I think this is all a scheme by male medical/pharmaceutical marketers & male doctors to deflect attention from their own intrinsic and/or worsening inadequacies as their population ages along with us! Thank you!

Reading your wonderful rant I

By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 5:42 PM

Thank You!

By Tracy (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 10:13 AM

Lissa,

Thank you for a wonderful post! I'm going to post a link to this at my own blog.

Surgery, and especially of this nature, should only be in cases that it's NEEDED, such as you suggested if the labia is too big or there are other complications to address.

There are natural ways to tighten up after child birth and I'm sure you educate your patients on the benefits of kegel excercises, not only for the toning up benefits, but to also aid in urinary incontinence down the road.

Thank you again for a wonderful article!

"Needing" tummy tucks

By Lissa Rankin on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:50 AM

Emma,
I TOTALLY hear you. As an OB/GYN I too see all the surgeries women choose to have. I can't tell you how many women I've seen who receive public aid- food stamps and Medicaid- but have had breast implants. I mean, seriously people!

I hope we all come to value ourselves more than that. And save money for more important things, like following our dreams...

And Sylvia, don't feel bad about that eye surgery. That's not cosmetic at that point. Just like I don't think breast reduction is cosmetic. When you've got debilitating back pain- or you can't see- it's medically necessary! Which is a whole different thing...

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

YES!

By Lissa Rankin on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:47 AM

Sylvia, that's exactly what I'm trying to do- and my book is ALL about that. The whole gist of my book is YOU"RE NORMAL AND YOU"RE BEAUTIFUL- just the way you are. I do hope it spreads like wildfire and women start to really hear it.

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

Hear hear!!!

By Sylvia van Bruggen on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 6:43 AM

I am SO happy that you ranted like this, Lissa. Thinking about women having this surgery to seem younger makes me sick to my stomach.

I think the whole obsession with looking like a 20 year old has gotten so over the top nowadays. And not only for women. Penis enlargements are on the rise too, apparently, and chest implants. It's getting rediculous, and I am feeling like I should do something against looking older.

I have no qualms whatsoever about people having reconstructive surgery because they have problems. I know I will have to have surgery on my eyelids at one point. There always was too much skin and now I get older the skin starts to hang on my eyelashes, and that starts to hurt. I hate the idea of having to do that, but I do want to be able to see :)

I think it is time to start a movement to tell women and especially teenage girls that looking the way you were born is actually OK!!

Blessings,

Sylvia

Oh for heaven's sake!

By Emma Hurt (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 10:17 PM

Lissa, thank you for the rant.

I'd never heard of vaginal rejuvenation surgery, but I've spent plenty of time being saddened/disgusted by the pressure to be perfect and its surgical implications. My career puts me in contact with a number of young women, so many of whom opt for breast augmentation over things like a reliable car, and for the thinnest of reasons. A few years later, after the babies are born, the same women "need" tummy tucks.

This all makes me wanna rant too.

Emma

Intersection of Health and the Marketing Monster

By Anonymous (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 8:32 PM

I guess what's weird is that I feel like the commercialization of this kind of procedure has made it REALLY hard to get accurate feedback about the real risk/benefit tradeoff. It just seems like there's a whole industry devoted right now to convincing women that surgery on our lady bits will have no negative impact sexually at all, and then there's other folks saying hold on a second, it could cause pain and inability to orgasm and all sorts of un-fun side effects-- and the marketing issue gets in the way of real, honest conversations about percentages and actual risks.

But thank you so much for your support! I think I am going to try talking to women my Urogyno doc has treated who've actually had the surgical procedures she's advocating and see what their personal experiences have been... I feel like it's the only way I can get insight into whether it's helped them enough to be worth considering.

Much love to the Posse and all things Pink!

Dearest Anonymous!

By Lissa Rankin on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 8:14 PM

Honey, it's one thing to undergo elective cosmetic surgery of the coochie. It's another to treat a medical condition, which it sounds like you're dealing with. Don't feel bad for treating your issue surgically.If you were my patient, I would talk to you about the alternatives, and surgery is always a last resort. But if that's what it takes, don't feel bad!
What you're talking about is TOTALLY different than what I'm talking about.
Trust in yourself darling...
xoxo
Lissa

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

What she said!

By Simone (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 10:05 AM

I was going to Reply same "definitions" differences (which I feel actually qualified to do), and glad you got the medically-qualified same answer. Girl. Take care of yourself by also weighing forever-till-death lifestyle along with orgasms and your sexuality. Not sure if I'm off my reading comprehension rocker here, but my interpretation was that this element was not getting equal airtime. Support, sistah.

HELLPPP!!!!

By Anonymous (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 6:51 PM

Ok-- I LOVE the rant, and agree with all of it, and find myself (living in L.A.) wanting to slap a lot of people a lot of the time for trying to sell every woman every kind of procedure under the sun-- and we all end up looking the same! It's freaky and Stepford-ish (I'm looking at you, Madonna. But in a loving and supportive way!)

And now I find myself in a weird situation, and I'm asking for collective advice here.

I have 3 kids, all born vaginally, and I have both urinary stress incontinence and posterior wall retrocele. BLECH. It's not killer but it's bad enough that I have to wear a pad if I want to run with the kids or play ball, anything that moves fast or side to side.

I've avoided doing anything for years, and Kegel'd like crazy, because I like my little hoochie and she does good by me. And we're talking some FABULOUS orgasms here. But now my gyno-doc has told me I might want to consider getting repair surgery (which is covered by insurance.)

I'm kinda worried that it will interfere with said orgasms, which, did I mention? REALLY GOOD. So bother. Not sure what to do. Urogyno doc says she hasn't had anyone complain about change in orgasm quality, but then she admitted she hadn't asked either. I guess I could talk to all her patients and ask...

Anyway, this seemed like a good place to inquire-- what's your opinion about this type of surgery and its effect on sexual function? Cause honestly, I've got a doc telling me she's had about a 1% complaint rate of pain during intercourse (?!?!?) post-surgery, and then various published papers citing up to 40% sexual dysfunction after vaginal surgery. I am flummoxed.

Although I admit, I'm thinking I'd rather wander around slightly prolapsed in various places than take any risk with the REALLY REALLY GOOD SEX.

Thoughts???

Pink and (apparently) Protruding

HELPPP!!!

By Shayna (not verified) on Friday, 07/30/2010 at 8:22 PM

How old is your youngest? if less than 3 or 4 I'd definatly wait for sure. Try other things first,the acupuncture idea maybe, bellydance, yoga, stand on your head a lot! Sounds like its a bit outside the normal range, but not too too far. I had 4 kids naturally, so I have had varying degrees of issues and varying times to recover. Wish you the best of luck, and no loss of awe inspiring orgasms, however you decide to proceed!

Aloha HELLPPP!!

By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 8:31 PM

Have you ever considered Acupuncture? I'm biased because it is my field of practice, but Acupuncture can do wonders to lift the organs back into place! Really amazing stuff!! And I honestly doubt it would ever effect your Fab-Orgo's that you speak of. I'm so jealous, (single for almost six months).
So please, try Acupuncture for any incontinence--there are wonderful herbal formulas and the needles are nothing once you've tried it once, believe me! People think they are big, but they are teeny tiny and make you feel SO relaxed and rejuvenated! Plus, you save thousands of dollars and you don't go under knife nor anesthesia!
Please try! Sending double hugs to all these BEAUTIFUL women. Your kind words make me smile with joy!

Amen, sisters!

By Lissa Rankin on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 2:19 PM

Grrrr indeed, Diva Carla! And thank you all for your support (and for reading all the way through my rant!)

This just makes me CRAZY (can you tell?) And I just want to shout it from the rooftops. You're beautiful! You're normal! Don't change a thing!!!

Lissa Rankin, MD
Founder of OwningPink.com and the Owning Pink Center and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist

Grrrrrrr Sekhmet!!!!!

By Diva Carla (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 2:16 PM

GO GO GO Lissa! Rant away, and THIS IS A SPIRITUAL POST.
And so is the beet red, blood boiling rage. Let's call it what it is: Cosmetic Genital Mutilation.
ELECTIVE Cosmetic Genital Mutilation.

Oh my we have our work cut out for us, Diva Sisters, who are Divine Intelligence Vulvically Awakened. Let's get spiritual about this, and roll some heads, and love on our sisters, who do not know how beautiful they (WE) are.

I refer you to the work of Australian Healer Andrew Barnes and Yvonne Lumsden and their beautiful new book, Heart of the Flower.m

Small Penises

By Simone (not verified) on Thursday, 07/29/2010 at 9:59 AM

Period. NO PAYING FOR genital self-mutilation. Buying it isn't synonymous with owning it. LIke Lissa, I respect everyone's own values for themselves, but it does bring to my mind the phrase "sliding scale."

I have to say that when I

By Ti (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 12:42 PM

I have to say that when I first heard of this surgery, I was stunned. I asked everyone who I trusted what in the world a perfect vagina/vulva looked like! Let me tell you that every straight man and lesbian who answered said that every vagina/vulva was beautiful! I wish every woman I had asked had answered that theirs was perfect. It never occurred to me that mine could be anything BUT beautiful.

designer vagina???

By Jamie (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 12:59 PM

In response to Ti's question, what does a perfect vagina look like? You know what I fear? I fear that the same bozos who promote this surgery think our coochies should look like 10 year old girls.
Disgusted.

Glorious Shapes and Sizes

By Kim Lampe (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 8:47 AM

Dance with the shape and size God has given you and REJOICE. I am in awe with all the beautiful shapes and sizes God as given women, including their vaginas.

love a good rant

By Jennifer Shelton on Wednesday, 07/28/2010 at 5:11 AM

Love a good rant when it's well done and for a good cause. Good job, Lissa. I know little about this subject, having only heard about it a year or more ago. Thanks for educating everyone. I'll be sharing it with my networks.

Blessings,

Jennifer
Astrologer, Educator & Founder of
FemCentral, the Virtual Institute for Women