Who really pays for designer vaginas?

[ismnotwasm]

This is not, of course, limited to Australia. But as I was reading this article, I was wondering, where the bloody HELL women get the idea that their genitalia needs, er, 'improvement'; but men's, outside the myths of relative size (and I so want to rant about monster penises in anime porn, I mean ew ew ew. And Motherfucking OUCH. Just No fucking way. I'd rather watch "The Human Centipede" over and over)

So what is it? Is there a process for lopsided testicles? Or a piebald penis? Or a crooked one? Or a unaesthetically pleasing ratio between the glans and shaft? (We don't even need to mention circumcision do we?--the one unnecessary surgery that men usually never get a choice about; they get that decision taken from them, personally I don't think it's either fair or right, but I'm talking about adult women thinking their stuff is ugly enough to merit surgery) In fact, is there there a clean and fresh product for those embarrassing oders? Do men check regularly for possible oh, say yeast infections? Or do they think stinky testicals are 'normal'?

Do the men look at thier sexual organs and think, that's some nasty shit, think I'll get painful unnecessary surgery?

Hell no they don't.


(Disclaimer, in my career as a nurse I've seen hundreds of genitals from both men and women, oh the stories I could tell)

Increasing numbers of Australian women are asking their doctors for a designer vagina. So many, in fact, that the government is reviewing whether such surgery should be publicly-funded via Medicare.

Over the last ten years, claims through the medical benefit scheme (MBS) for labioplasty have increased from 200 to over 1,500 per year. The resulting cost, rising from $40,000 to $740,000 annually, has led to a government review questioning the procedure.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists strongly discourage labioplasty, unless there are compelling medical reasons. They cite a range of potential complications, including scarring, permanent disfigurement, infection, pain, and altered sexual sensations.

So why are so many Australian women demanding labioplasty, a surgical operation that involves reduction of protruding labial tissue surrounding the vagina? The main reason given is dissatisfaction with the appearance of the genitals.

http://theconversation.com/who-really-pays-for-designer-vaginas-12360

[NYC_SKP]

1. What a damned shame.

But it's the logical extension of the decades long mission to create a market by projecting inferiority where it shouldn't exist, no?

[ismnotwasm]

4. Yup

As plastic surgery procedures improve, and costs drop--which will happen someday, I suspect both women and men will indulge in various procedures.

What's disturbing about this, outside of being gendered, is women attempting to capture a pubescent look at best and a completely artificial one at worst. And you're right, the feeling of shame and inferiority especially from women drives a lot of profit.

[redqueen]

9. And wat is behind that decades-long mission?

Porn.

It fuels all kids of dick-embiggening dumbass shit, and now this too.

Yet more evidence of Idiocracy.

[MADem]

2. The answer to your question is "Oh yes, they do!" (Get unnecessary surgery, that is)

At least if the celebrity pages are to be believed....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/george-clooney-ball-ironing_n_3428225.html

For that...youthful glow?


George Clooney's Ball Ironing Caught On, And Now Men Everywhere Get Their Balls Ironed (VIDEO)

Oh, what men wouldn't give to be George Clooney. Apparently, they're even willing to sacrifice their family jewels to feel a wee bit closer to Hollywood's reigning king.

In a 2008 interview with Esquire magazine, Clooney joked that he's had some work done. "I did get my balls done ... I got them unwrinkled. It's the new thing in Hollywood -- ball ironing," he said.

Though obviously meant as a joke (we think?), Clooney apparently inspired the cosmetics world to come up with such solutions. According to Salon, there's now a procedure called "tackle-tightening" being offered to men which -- as the name implies -- tightens one's nether region.

"Down there the skin ages, it's a thinner skin like that around the eyes," a cosmetics expert explained to the Daily Mail, adding that the $575 treatment is non-surgical. "Men are becoming more comfortable with their grooming habits." After Clooney's snarky remark, her male clientele shot from 15 percent to 40 percent, she says.....

[ismnotwasm]

3. Now that is interesting

I had no idea this was a 'thing' Although I would submit its not anywhere near as mainstream as labiaplasty, vaginal tightening ect. is becoming.

[MADem]

6. Actually, it's not uncommon--just not talked about.

The Beverly Hills "rejuvenations" are a point of pride, it would seem--some customers like to boast about their procedures and how good their doctor was and how pleased they are with the results.

The gents would prefer that everyone think that whatever they had done was "natural." No intervention at all. That's how they were made, aren't they lucky!

There used to be a show on in UK years ago, called Men Behaving Badly, where one of the sitcom characters got his johnson extended, and the rest of his pals laughed at him mercilessly about it. The mocking and cruelty were unending and extreme, leaving the guy quite upset and perturbed. IIRC, they provided the viewer with a very brief view of something that looked a bit like an abused salami-pepperoni sausage stick!

NIH has a primer on a variety of aesthetic (as opposed to medically necessary) "down south" procedures for the fellows: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312189/

A man's perception of his genitalia has a significant effect on self-esteem and sexual identity. Many cultures associate penile length with virility and sexual prowess. With increased exposure to popular media and pornographic material, men and women may develop a misconception of male genital norms, with the corresponding erroneous belief that genitalia of extreme length and girth is, in fact, commonplace.

Hence, male patients present for aesthetic genital surgery with the aim of altering the external appearance of the penis or scrotum despite the fact that they are often normal in size and shape. Advances in surgical techniques have made possible aesthetic improvement in the male genitalia. However, it is always crucial to examine the patient's underlying motivation for the surgery, as well as to rule out psychiatric problems. Because male genital appearance is often linked to self-confidence and may affect intimate relationships, it is important to address the underlying mental and physical issues before scheduling a patient for aesthetic genital surgery. Patient understanding of realistic expectations will result in greater satisfaction for both the patient and surgeon....

Much more at link...!

[ismnotwasm]

7. That's one thing I noticed

Whereas women's genital surgeries are not laughed at--just criticized or accepted, the initial reaction to the first article posted was Beavus and Butthead humor. I dislike that whole "mens junk"= funny intensely.

What the second article linked to largely concerned itself with penis size, which I did in fact know there were procedures for, but didn't realize it was as common as the article indicates, as well as congenital conditions causing discomfort--that second which which fall more into an area of say, quasi-necessary surgery if the condition causes discomfort during sex or effects self esteem, since its well out of the norm. I note that these surgeries seem extremely risky. There are also a number of penile conditions that can require surgery sometimes at birth, such as hypospadias.

While I don't think that men and women's genital surgeries are quite analogous, they come from a different mindset, I find it extremely sad a man would go though an unnecessary penis enlargement surgery for at so much risk. There's a whole conversation to be had out of that alone.

The last thing is, unless its a congenital defect or causing other conditions, no insurances are covering these surgeries. I know they can be financed.

[Half-Century Man]

5. WHAT?

How did anyone connect "somebody take a knife" and "my genitals" in their heads? That would be like connecting "piano" and "as a suppository" in the same sentence.

Furthermore, wasn't part of the Hippocratic oath "do no harm" ? Shouldn't part of a procedure like this be pyscological counseling?

[ismnotwasm]

11. Good question

I dont have an answer


And I'm stealing that piano as a suppository line.

[Half-Century Man]

13. Be my guest

[Sheldon Cooper]

8. It's certainly possible that some women have unusually large labia,

which can get in the way of sexual relations and other activities of daily life. But I'm guessing that's not what is driving this plastic surgery fad. I think it's all related to porn, just like the hairless look, the bleached anus, etc. That stuff was really never commonplace prior to the advent of free porn everywhere.

For the record, I don't care what surgical or grooming activities an adult practices. It's none of my business, but I will reserve the right to think it's mostly just sad.

[ismnotwasm]

10. That's about where I'm at with it except

Women in general don't actually know what their labia is supposed to look like and are making poorly informed choices. Another thing is unless labia is so large as to be causing physical problems, that's still sensitive partially erectile tissue.

Porn now has fetishized everything including large labia, nipples. etc. so while mainstream porn can take certainly a lot of the blame, to me it's a disgusting marketing ploy by the plastic surgery industry. Like the whole 'Mommy makeover' thing

Then of we have, of course, entire cultures removing the whole thing up to and including the clitoris (FGM), which I've seen, and I've never figured how the end result of that is suppose to be attractive either.

I don't believe in judging, because its not my business either, but I believe people have the right to fully informed decisions prior to any surgery

[Sheldon Cooper]

12. Agree with everything, 100%