After years of discomfort, friction and bleeding, Brooke’s gynecologist told her she was a candidate for a labia reduction. She had the surgery in her 40s, according to an excerpt from her book she shared Us Weekly.
But during a follow-up visit with her surgeon, she learned he had also performed a vaginal resuscitation procedure without her consent.
“He informed me that he dropped a small bonus,” he said Us. “It felt like such an intrusion—such a strange, like, some kind of rape.”
Brooke added that her doctor seemed “justifiably proud” to do the extra procedure – even though she didn’t want it – noting that the operation was “irreversible”.
“There was nothing to indicate that this should be tighter or smaller or firmer or newer, especially there,” he said. Brooke and her gynecologist were “furious” at the news.
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The story of the actress raises many questions about these surgeries. Here’s what you need to know.
What is lip reduction?
The labia minora are folds of skin that surround your urethra and vagina. If you have excess skin, it can twist and pinch, leading to discomfort in a range of activities, including exercise and sex. Cleveland Clinic explains.
Lip reduction surgery, also known as lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure to reduce or increase the size of your lips. The average age for a labiaplasty is 18 to 50, and women are usually advised to wait to have the procedure until after they have had children, since childbirth can cause stretching of the lips.
What is vaginal resuscitation?
Vaginal rejuvenation is a broad term used to describe vaginal corrective treatments. Procedures can vary, but may be done to help relieve vaginal tightness or urinary incontinence, Cleveland Clinic.
Although Brooke did not specify what she had done, the procedures may include:
- Lipoplasty (consented to)
- Colpoplasty, which tightens or repairs the vaginal canal after childbirth
- Clitoral hood reduction to remove extra tissue above the clitoris
- Monoplasty for the removal of fatty tissue from the area of the pubic bone
- Vulvoplasty for the reshaping of the vulva area
- Perineoplasty to strengthen the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus
It was important for Brooke to talk about what happened. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t embarrassed to share this very personal information,” she wrote. Us Weekly. “But if we want to change the way we approach and talk about women’s health, then we need to highlight the uncomfortable but very real issues.”
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamor and more. He has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.