The number of women seeking ‘designer vaginas’ has doubled in recent years due to the rising popularity of sports leggings, a top plastic surgeon claims.
Labiaplasties involve reducing the size of the labia minora — the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening — and cost up to £4,000.
Dr John Skevofilax, chief surgeon at Juvenis Clinic, said he performed around 50 of the procedures in 2021.
But a surge in demand in the last year meant he had already surpassed that number by the first half of 2022.
Dr Skevofilax told MailOnline women were increasingly seeking labiaplasty because tight clothing like leggings are uncomfortable and ‘draws attention to the labia’.
Exercise clothing is a little bit tighter and it’s form fitting so it does put pressure on the area,’ he said.
‘They experience pain, discomfort in general, chafing, a lot of women actually will feel so uncomfortable that they avoid trying to wear this type of clothing.
‘It’s all really interlinked, choosing a pair of leggings which causes discomfort and which in turn draws attention to the labia and the need for surgery.’
What is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is surgery to reduce the size of the labia minora – the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening.
It involves cutting away unwanted tissue with a scalpel of laser in procedure that takes about one to two hours.
Some women have labiaplasty because they do not like the look of their labia.
However the NHS advises that it’s completely normal to have noticeable skin folds around the opening of your vagina.
As in most cases this does not cause any problems labiaplasty is rarely available on the NHs.
Women considering labiaplasty are urged to speak to their GP first who may encourage them to speak to a counsellor or psychologist before undergoing surgery.
In the UK, a labiaplasty costs about £2,000 to £4,000, though the cost can vary depending on the extent of the procedure.
Labiaplasty is generally only offered in exceptional circumstances, such as to remove cancerous tissue in cases of vulval cancer.
