Keep Your Labiaplasty Suggestions to Yourself, Doc
My ladybits are real and they're fabulous.
What a sad world we women live in. Not only do we have to submit to a yearly probing of our ladybits to make sure we are cancer-free, but now, thanks to reprehensible gynecologists more interested in performing lucrative labiaplasty procedures than in their patients’ self-esteem or dignity, we have to worry about whether our vah-jay-jays are cosmetically up to snuff.
Jezebel, dubbing the doctor in question “the worst gyno ever,” reported yesterday that a woman, writing in to the Patient Navigator column of the Globe and Mail, is warning other women that her gynecologist, during a routine visit, while she was still undressed and presumably in the stirrups, suggested that he could perform a labiaplasty for her and then proceeded to show her on a monitor where he could trim her labia.
The thought that going in for a routine pap smear can now turn into a carnival of shame because my labia are not porn-ready is the final straw on an already pretty high haystack of collected indignities. As a mother of three children, all of which were birthed vaginally, I thought I had shelved my dignity back in 2002 when, while semi-paralyzed from an epidural, my doctor and a hunky med student walked in while I was, quite literally, splayed out on the bed with a nurse’s hand up my hoo-ha. “Hey, how’s it goin’?” I said with a smile, a wave, and as much nonchalance as I could muster.
Then there’s the fact that I got a rectocele after my third child’s birth. That was a real ego-booster. The only silver lining to the surgery needed to repair it was that I got a “vaginal rejuvenation” thrown in — a surgery most mothers of 9-pound+ babies can get behind, I suspect. And I won’t even get into the time I went in for a pap smear and was told, “Well, now this is curious! I can’t seem to find your cervix.” Don’t worry, it was eventually located, but it took a lot of pressing, shifting about, and, finally, another doctor.
Despite these potentially mortifying moments, I am completely dismayed at what this woman went through with her doctor. She said that she noted the large posters for labiaplasty procedures in the waiting room, but as she was there for something else and didn’t bring it up herself, she was more than a little surprised when the doctor offered his surgical services, along with the implication that something was wrong with the way her labia look. Not that something was wrong with them, but they were just inherently wrong.
I wonder if this doctor thinks that ear-nose-throat doctors should suggest nose jobs to their patients? Or that dermatologists should recommend hair plugs to the balding? How could he be so far out of touch as to think that cosmetic procedures should be pushed on patients that are not seeing him about cosmetic issues?
Is our society really so affected by pornography that women are supposed to aspire to having “pretty” vaginas? According the Center For Vaginal Surgery, yes, it is. Their site lists “Some women just want to look ‘prettier’ like the women they see in magazines or in films” as one of the reasons that women get this procedure done. It goes on to claim, “Labiaplasty can greatly enhance the cosmetic appearance of the outer vagina giving many women greater confidence and self esteem.”
Super. One more thing to add to the list of things that women can obsess over and wonder if men expect of them. I can’t imagine falling for any person douchey enough to expect their partner to look like a porn star, but that this surgery even exists as a “cosmetic” option indicates that there are other people who can and have.
This woman took the time to write to the paper so that she could warn other women of her experience. I can only hope that her letter will stand as a warning to doctors that women will not be subjected to unsolicited opinions on the cosmetic state of their vaginas. And I hope that her doctor is reprimanded in some way for his avaricious approach to gynecology.
What do you think? Have you ever been mortified at something your gyno has said or done during a check-up? Do you think there are ever occasions when it is okay for a doctor to suggest a cosmetic procedure?
FYI: I understand that for some this issue is purely medical, but if the patient was previously too embarrassed to voice concern about the size of her labia, wouldn’t the labiaplasty promotional posters adorning the office make her feel comfortable enough to bring up the procedure?
Photo Credit: © laurent hamels- fotolia.com
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I’m so tired of constantly being confronted with everything that’s “wrong” about me. “Try this tooth whitener!” “Do you have inadequate eyelashes?” “Do your violent outbursts make you a social pariah?” And now even my labia is not good enough? I don’t think so. And neither does my husband, thank you very much.
Ladies, next time someone offers to nip/tuck your ample goody basket, kindly suggest that he consider a penis enlargement instead.
http://www.thebeardediris.com/2011/07/06/apocalips-my-take-on-the-latest-plastic-surgery-trend/
@Bearded Iris That “inadequate lashes” drug just about killed me. I get that people with alopecia might need it, but SERIOUSLY? Enough people want it that they can afford to nationally advertise on TV?? Gah. If ads for cosmetic enhancement for vaginas start showing during Desperate Housewives, I’m quitting TV.
My vagina’s beautiful and for that, I feel GREAT!!!!!! Ha!
That is so funny… suddenly women walk out of the ob/gyn offices light on their feet, a twinkle in their eye…. why? Well, because we shored up the edges. Who wants a labia dangling down to their knees flapping in the wind…. how the hell did you get that thing into your underpants, lady?!
Seriously, though… I love my “flippy flappy” and so does my husband. It serves as a reminder of the power and strength of my body! The life changing metamorphesis of childbirth, into motherhood that I am so blessed to experience, I wouldn’t change it unless there was a physiological need!
@LogicalMama It defies common sense that someone would choose to undergo surgery to cosmetically enhance something that almost nobody sees. Mine’s just fine.
Relevant fact, per the Globe article: “This is something that the college [of Physicians and Surgeons] in her province would certainly be interested in hearing about,” said Dr. Kelleher, who is responsible for complaints regarding serious boundary violations. “Just based on the small amount of information, there are significant concerns about the conduct.”
@bob I hope they contacted her for the doctor’s information. “Serious boundary violation” is absolutely correct.
That is just messed up beyond belief.
The case here in GA that resulted in a removing of punitive damages caps for med mas was because a lady who wanted a minor and fairly routine eye lift got “up sold” by the doctor such that all kinds of additional reconstructive plastic surgery was done, which he screwed up royally, resulting in chemical burns all over her face that permanently disfigured and disabled her. Sometimes, doctors are assholes and need to be sued.
This probably wouldn’t have bothered me much. Plus I would have responded, “Well I got laid last night, so I think my large labia is not an issue for my husband”
Next they’re going to hand out office pamphlets titled, The Colossal Clitoris Catastrophe! and Lamenting Your Large Labia?
ugh. Just what I needed. Another reason to dread going for my whoha examine.
This is similar to why I left my previous OBGYN practice – the doctor got certified for laser treatment for varicose veins, hair removal and other cosmetic practices and suddenly going to the doctor was like living in an infomercial, with posters and brochures offering all kinds of elective services. They never directly tried to push any procedures on me, but they didn’t seem overly concerned with my MEDICAL well being. I now go to a small no-frills practicioner who takes time to ask about my physical and mental HEALTH rather than whether I want cosmetic procedures.
Growing up in such a society where almost anything a woman does is wrong or judged for not being “perfect” I can agree that though he probably meant no harm, he REALLY should’ve just kept his mouth shut. If he’s so concerned for business in that department, he could do with some other forms of advertizing.
On a brighter note, my friend(quite skinny) had a physical yesterday and her doctor was more than thrilled to be able to actually “feel” her ovaries. “It’s so nice to actually be able to feel ovaries for once…” -her words. She was saying because most her patients were either over-weight or they had been removed. Anyway, when she told me I thought it was a rather odd conversation to have while she’s “digging” around in there…
This doesn’t bother me so much. It’s a service, he provides it. He should’ve broached the subject of these services differently, but come on, he’s a male gynecologist, what does he know about having a pussy or being a woman? He hasn’t spent his whole life learning that nothing about him is good enough, not even his nutsack.
Dude, Lam, your point is good, but speaking of men being inappropriate…
“It defies common sense that someone would choose to undergo surgery to cosmetically enhance something that almost nobody sees.”
To be fair, plenty of women who aren’t involved in adult entertainment have been getting breast implants for decades, even though a nice push-up bra would do the trick in most situations. And Brazilian waxes have become shockingly common in the last decade or so (prior to which they would have been considered somewhat kinky, if not outright barbaric). Playing on women’s insecurity is easy and lucrative – it’s not surprising that they’ve found another part of our body to make us feel lousy about, and then convince us that it’s “empowering.”
Well, this is the day of the Aquarius! Everyone seems to think it’s OK to put their junk out there! What will it be like when our kids are older….?
FRIGHTENING!!
The first time I went to the GYN when I turned 18 he tried to talk me into getting laser hair removal on my bikini line. I was so embarrassed. I found a new doc but it took a couple of years before I braved making an appointment again. And that was only because I wanted BC pills.
Lol My doctor told me mine was really pretty lol embrassing=]
@Clara, that’s equally creepy. It’s all completely unprofessional!