More and more teen girls are seeking plastic surgery to shorten their labia minora for aesthetic reasons, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). This growing trend of Labiaplasty among teenagers has prompted the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to issue a warning about the uncertainty and dangers of the procedure.
The New York Times reports that ASAPS's data showed that 400 American teen girls, aged 18 years old and below, underwent Labiaplasty in 2015. This overall number is 80 percent higher from the 222 girls who opted for plastic surgery on their labia in 2014. The figures appeared small, however, ASAPS's record did not include Labiaplasty procedures performed by gynecologists.
The Growing Interest On Labiaplasty Alarmed Gynecologists
In response to the growing trend of Labiaplasty among American teen girls, ACOG's Committee on Adolescent Health Care issued a warning to doctors last week. The committee urged doctors to enlighten patients about the procedure, suggest nonsurgical treatment options and test them for a psychiatric disorder.
Dr. Julie Strickland, chairperson of ACOG's Committee on Adolescent Health Care, reminded American teen girls that Labiaplasty is a major surgery. She said that this plastic surgery on the labia may result in pain, numbness, scarring and decreased sexual sensation.
Strickland also advised American teen girls to wait for their body's complete growth and development before considering Labiaplasty. She added that ACOG even discouraged Labiaplasty among adults because of its possible complications and unproven efficiency.
Factors That Drive American Teen Girls To Seek Labiaplasty
ACOG disclosed that it does not have exact knowledge why there is a growing interest on Labiaplasty among teenagers. The group, however, cited several factors that may drive American teenagers to undergo plastic surgery on their labia. These include the trend in pubic-hair removal and the awareness of the procedure itself, which is "idealized" online.
According to the Slate, teenage boys have been notoriously spreading a myth online that the shape of women's vagina changes depending on the number of men they have sex with. This has made teen girls to question their changing bodies and resort to Labiaplasty to boost their confidence.
Would you allow your teenage daughter to undergo Labiaplasty? Share your thoughts below.
