We’ve all recently heard the news about The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reporting a 40% drop in the number of people in the UK, male and female, undergoing cosmetic surgery. The BAAPS figures also show that the fall among women was actually 47.8 %. The sort or cosmetic procedures referred to in this particular survey include Breast augmentation or reduction, Face/Neck Lifts, Liposuction, Abdominoplasty etc.
The reasons given by various analysts for the lowest slump in demand for a decade for popular cosmetic surgery procedures include:
- People opting for stability and the delaying of big economic or social decisions in a time of political and global uncertainty.
- The influence of relatable celebrity trends and behaviour as reported on social media.
Labiaplasty – Practical as Well as Cosmetic
One pertinent point to take away from the survey was that numbers were not down on surgical procedures where there is no real non-surgical alternative, or where there are strong practical as well as cosmetic reasons for having the operation e.g. the removal of excess skin after significant weight loss.
It was also interesting to note that one procedure that didn’t feature in the survey results and conclusions, but is often regarded (wrongly in many cases) as being purely cosmetic, is a Labiaplasty. This is a procedure, whereby the inner “lips” or labia minora flanking the vaginal opening are trimmed.
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) figures show that in 2015, more than 95,000 women worldwide underwent the procedure, and it was the 19th-most popular surgical procedure that year (with 22nd with vaginal rejuvenation / tightening in 22nd place with just over 50,000 procedures).
Media reports often, for example, focus on trends and possible reasons why some women may want this operation, such as
- Tends like genital shaving causing females to focus on, and want to improve the appearance of their genitals.
- Worries about sexual partners’ perceptions, as shaped by popular images of what female genitals ‘should’ be.
The fact is that Labiaplasty is often sought by women for many practical as well as more visual and cosmetic reasons. For example, many women are born with, or develop long / large, pigmented and sometimes painful labia. These can cause urine to spray around when they go to the toilet, and / or can get in the way and be uncomfortable in daily life and in sporting activities. There is also a perfectly understandable element of women also feeling conscious, and not feeling entirely happy with the appearance of their labia, which in turn can affect their confidence and self-image in the sexual part of their relationships with partners.
How I Can Help
I have been carrying out Labial surgery for over 15 years. I carry out reconstructive surgery and also reduction surgery. The types of operation include labial trimming, flap Labiaplasty and the De-epithelisation. Labiaplasty is a day case procedure and I carry out Labiaplasty in Central London, West London and Birmingham. You can find out more on the Labiaplasty page on my website here.
For further information please contact me via my contact page here or ring my personal assistant on 0208 371 150.
