Friday, November 13, 2009

The Search For Designer Pussy

Women are undergoing surgery to create perfect genitalia amid a "shocking" lack of information on the potential risks of the procedure, according to a newly published study reported by the BBC. Surgeons however, say the report overplays the risks of an established procedure.

Researchers reviewed existing studies on cosmetic labial surgery (which generally involves reducing the amount of tissue that protrudes from the lips which cover the vagina) and found there had been little work to document any longer-term side effects.

Labioplasty, as it is known, costs about $5000 and is offered for a variety of reasons: some women complain that wearing tight clothes or riding a bike is uncomfortable, while others say they are embarrassed in front of a sexual partner.

But gynecologist Sarah Creighton and psychologist Lih-Mei Liao challenged the ethics of offering women surgery to address such insecurities, suggesting it was advertising for a "homogenised, pre-pubescent genital appearance" which created these anxieties in the first place. They also suggested that any pain apparently caused by protrusion may well have a psychological root - noting that male genitalia protrude far further without causing major discomfort.

Counseling and support could therefore be a preferable alternative to surgery, they argue. Either way, the Daily Dude recommends a hands-on approach to the problem.

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