Blaming porn for fuelling spike in ‘designer vagina’ ops is ‘dangerous and misleading’

August 17, 2022

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The ‘designer vagina’ tag for labiaplasties – and claims that a spike in people undergoing the procedure is being fuelled by pornography – are dangerous and misleading, a top plastic surgeon has warned.
In 2021, Dr John Skevofilax performed around 50 labiaplasties. And in the first half of 2022, he has already carried out around 60 operations.
However, he explains that the rise has nothing to do with women wanting “perfect genitals”.
“I’ve seen plenty of reports suggesting women are having these operations because of pressure to have the ‘perfect genitals’ either from peer pressure or from pornography,” he says.
“But, almost all of the women I see come because of physiological problems… discomfort wearing certain clothes, discomfort during exercise or when having sex.
“So, when people use the term ‘designer vaginas’ – they couldn’t be further from the truth.
“In fact, I have never had a patient say: ‘I want my vagina to look like such and such a porn star’.
“To make assumptions like this is both dangerous and misleading.
“Most of my patients describe a whole range of physical issues and even occasions when their problems have affected their overall health, including their mental and sexual health.
Dr John says there are still patients who want the operation for aesthetic reasons.
“There are, of course, people who want the operation because they believe their genitals are unsightly or simply don’t like how they look.
“What we’ll then do is have a long chat during the consultation session to make sure the operation really is the best option.
“This is a very personal decision for a woman to make.
“What we need to do is find a way to normalise all body types, or in this case all sizes, shapes, and colours of genitalia.
“By doing this we can make sure people are making the right decisions for themselves.”
Also known as a labia reduction, the procedure involves reducing the size or reshaping the labia minora or majora.
In many cases women can find it causes them discomfort or even pain in certain situations, such as during exercise, sexual intercourse, applying a tampon, or even walking.
Many women find themselves struggling with a pair of jeans or wearing gym clothes.
Dr John adds: “We need to educate and support women’s personal body choices whether the reasons are physiological or psychological – as well as cosmetic – without the use or promotion of the term ‘designer vagina’.”
Dr John Skevofilax is a dual-specialised surgeon in Orthopaedics and Plastics with more than 15 years of experience, operating in the US, the UK and Continental Europe.
He is proposing a new labiaplasty classification system that takes into account the shape, size, and possible asymmetry of the labia minora.
The old grading system does not take into consideration that there are different types of labia, and has no guidance for surgical treatment.
The labiaplasty procedure may involve reducing or reshaping the labia minora and/or majora as well as the clitoral hood.