Why ‘designer vagina’ surgery is booming

Called a labiaplasty, the procedure shrinks the labia minora - otherwise known as the flaps on the inside of the vagina - with a price tag of more than $5,000.

Women are flocking to purchase a “designer vagina” after ultra-tight leggings have become uncomfortable or embarrassing thanks to the dreaded “camel toe”.

Called a labiaplasty, the procedure shrinks the labia minora - otherwise known as the flaps on the inside of the vagina - with a price tag of more than $5,000.

Dr John Skevofilax, a chief surgeon at Signature Clinics in the UK, told the Daily Mail that last year, he only performed 50 labiaplasties - yet in 2022 alone, that number’s already been beaten as of August.

Citing pain and discomfort as the reason for the surgery, Dr Skevofilax explained how tight leggings and athleisure clothing can cause pain below the belt.

“Exercise clothing is a little bit tighter and it’s form-fitting so it does put pressure on the area,” he explained.

“They experience pain, discomfort in general, chaffing … a lot of women will feel so uncomfortable that they avoid trying to wear this type of clothing.”

The Kardashians are big fans of activewear, including Kim’s SKIMS range. Picture: SKIMS

Yoga pants have long been the culprit for crotch-appearance suffering. In 2015, plastic surgeon Dr Richard Swift told The New York Post that the “ubiquitous” activewear plays a “big part” in the uptick in labiaplasties.

“For those whose labia are enlarged, they can make them feel uncomfortable and exposed,” Swift added.

But the issue is more than just dealing with “camel toe.” Some women simply refuse to swap beauty for pain and want to wear trendy tights despite the agony.

“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,” he added.

The Kardashians have long been touted as wearers of athleisure couture, with Kim’s SKIMS brand dabbling in the trendy aesthetic. In fact, when designing her own bodysuits, she failed to keep those with “bigger vaginas” in mind, according to her sister.

“You know you guys make fun of me for having a bigger vagina than most,” Khloé admitted to Kim during the first season of “The Kardashians” on Hulu, saying she had a “bone to pick” with SKIMS bodysuits. “It’s a sliver. Is it just supposed to cover my [clitoris]? The vagina needs a little more fabric, just a little wider.”

The Kardashians have long been touted as wearers of athleisure couture, with Kim’s SKIMS brand dabbling in the trendy aesthetic (Photo by J. Lee/Getty Images for ABA)

Despite Kim redesigning the SKIMS line to make the crotch area more suitable for all labia sizes, not every brand is willing to compromise for the sake of groins everywhere.

Dr Skevofilax noted that 80% of his patients seeking a labiaplasty blamed discomfort in tight clothing as the reason for the surgery — not just for looks.

“In fact, I have never had a patient say, ‘I want my vagina to look like such and such a porn star,’” he said.

But buyers beware: Some cosmetic operations can go awry.

One woman complained of losing sensation below the belt due to her botched labiaplasty, highlighting the risks of the surgery - infections, scar tissue and reduced sensitivity — as an urgent warning to women considering the procedure.

Yet even the most determined women who wish to undergo the scalpel - or laser - to relieve their crotch crisis must have a consultation to ensure they’re “making the right decisions for themselves,” said Dr Skevofilax.

“Women should be able to wear whatever they want to wear,” he said. “If they choose tight clothing, for instance, yoga pants because they are following a specific fashion trend or just because it’s simply more fitting for this type of exercise, they should be able to do so without anxiety and ‘a bite of the lip’ of what’s to come.”

This story was originally published by the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Why ‘designer vagina’ surgery is booming