Cosmetic surgery: more and more women are resorting to vaginal rejuvenation

Breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty are the most common cosmetic surgery procedures in the world. More generally, this market is doing well. Even very well. It has almost doubled in four years, from 5.6 to 10 billion euros. For some time now, vaginal rejuvenation has had its followers. According to the International Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), this type of intervention is even the one that developed the fastest in 2017, with growth of 23% in one year.

In search of the perfect vagina

When we talk about vaginal rejuvenation, we are really talking about several types of procedures and different areas. The term indeed covers the restoration of hydration of the vagina, the treatment of incontinence or even lip surgery, labiaplasty. Some women suffer from it and experience discomfort, such as inflammation of the labia minora, for example, vulvitis. Others, on the other hand, find their lips too big or too small and are looking for the “perfect” size. However, it is important to remember that there are as many vulvas as there are women. Evidenced by the artistic project “The Vulva Gallery” by Hilde Atalanta, who lives in Amsterdam. On her Instagram account, she publishes testimonials and drawings of vulvas from people who contact her.

Interventions that are not without risk

This boom in vaginal rejuvenation worries doctors, particularly in the United States. In 2016, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released guidelines for its members. Among them, identify psychiatric disorders that could lead young women to retouch their lips, especially teenagers. Last year, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), US health authority, warned against certain treatments and the injuries they could cause. In particular the use of the laser for vaginoplasty, an intervention which makes it possible to reduce the size of the vaginal orifice, after childbirth for example.