Expert Speaks Out Against Cosmetic Vaginal Surgeries

One of Britain’s top urogynecologists is speaking out against cosmetic vaginal surgeries, warning that not enough is known about the safety of these procedures.

Speaking at a medical meeting in Montreal, Canada, Professor Linda Cardozo of King’s College Hospital in London said there is little evidence to accurately advise women on the safety or effectiveness of these procedures. 

Cosmetic vaginal surgeries are operations that aim to reshape the vagina to counter laxity after childbirth and make the external appearance more "attractive".

A Google search revealed over 45,000 references to cosmetic vaginal surgery, however less than 100 were medical publications such as Medline or PubMed. 

The most popular vaginal cosmetic surgery is reduction labioplasty, Professor Cardozo said.  The procedure seeks to make the labia smaller, and is typically requested by women for aesthetic reasons or to alleviate pain.

"Women want to emulate the supermodel. It’s part of a trend. But they should know that all surgery can be risky,” Professor Cardozo said.

"Most of the procedures are done in the private sector and it’s totally unregulated."

Although it is not known precisely how many of these procedures have been performed, there has been a doubling of the number of labial reductions carried out by the NHS, from 400 in 2000-1 to 800 in 2004-5.    Although the procedure does have positive cosmetic results, it is not clear whether it improves sexual functioning or resolves feelings of psychological distress, she said.

In addition to labioplasties, other cosmetic vaginal surgeries include hymenoplasties, which restores the hymen and makes the woman appear a virgin, and “vaginal rejuvenation”, which repairs vaginal laxity.

But Professor Cardozo said there was little evidence that surgical “vaginal rejuvenation” improved symptoms any better than if a woman performed simple pelvic floor muscle exercises.

She said rigorous research is needed to allow doctors to properly advise patients.  Until then, she urged surgeons to remain guarded, and to operate only when all other options have been exhausted.

"Cosmetic vaginal procedures raise a number of serious ethical questions,” she said.

"Women are paying large sums of money for this type of surgery which may improve the appearance of their genitalia but there is no evidence that it improves function."

Professor Cardozo’s comments were made during her presentation at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 7th International Scientific Meeting in Montreal, Canada.

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On the Net:

• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• King’s College Hospital