Making the cut
Six genital surgeries you may have heard of—and some you probably haven’t
MANY MEN AND women are constantly seeking new forms of changing and improving their bodies through various surgical procedures. Whether they are done for medical or purely cosmetic reasons, these six surgeries exist to improve the appearance and sometimes the function of your private parts, according to various North American cosmetic-surgery clinics.
Circumcision
All men are born with foreskin, a retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the penis when it is not erect. Circumcision—the surgical removal of this skin—is typically performed for religious or cultural reasons on a child during infancy; however, the procedure is becoming increasingly popular among adult men for medical, hygienic, or aesthetic reasons.
Foreskin restoration
Foreskin restoration is the reverse of circumcision and aims to create the appearance of foreskin that has been removed. The primary reason for this surgery is a desire to restore a more “natural” appearance to the penis by grafting skin from the scrotum onto the shaft of the penis. Non-surgical methods attempt to restore foreskin through tissue expansion using devices such as tape and weights.
Scrotoplasty (a.k.a. scrotal reduction/tightening surgery)
Scrotal reduction surgery is designed to treat stretched scrotal skin or muscle, which can cause a man to feel self-conscious about his body or make some physical activities—such as jogging or bike riding—uncomfortable or even painful. The most common methods of this surgery are the removal of excess skin and tightening the skin or muscle of the scrotum.
Vaginoplasty (a.k.a. vaginal-tightening surgery and vaginal rejuvenation)
Over time, many women experience weakening of the muscles in their vagina and perineum areas, either naturally with age or due to childbirth. The result can be decreased pleasure during intercourse, for both partners. A vaginoplasty can involve the tightening and/or shortening of loose muscles, the reduction of the diameter of the vaginal opening by minimizing the amount of vaginal lining, and the removal of excess skin.
Labioplasty (a.k.a. labiaplasty, labial reduction, and labia beautification)
This procedure surgically reduces the labia majora—the lips on both sides of the vulva—and labia minora—the lips at the entrance of the vagina. The surgery is designed primarily to improve the look of the vagina; however, reasons for pursuing this procedure may also be performed to reduce discomfort during activities such as sex or exercise due to the existence of long or thick labia. During the procedure, both sets of lips are reshaped, shortened, or made thinner, and asymmetry can also be corrected.
Hymenoplasty (a.k.a. hymen restoration)
Although sexual intercourse is the most common way to rupture the hymen—the thin membrane of skin over the vaginal opening—virginal girls can also break or tear their own hymens through normal, everyday activities and exercise. For some women, an intact hymen represents virginity, which is important for cultural, social, ethnic, or religious reasons—particularly for a newlywed. The hymenoplasty procedure is designed to restore a woman’s hymen by stitching the edges of its remnants together, allowing the hymen to grow back together as it heals.
Taking 'cocky' to a whole new level
Some men are willing to go to extreme lengths in their quest for perfect private parts. A procedure called penis-lengthening surgery, also known as phalloplasty, was first performed in 1984 by a Chinese doctor—Dr. Long Daochau—in order to repair the damage done to a man’s penis after it was bitten off by a dog when the man was an infant. In the 1990s, Canadian doctor Robert Stubbs travelled to China to learn more about the surgery (yes, that’s right: Long taught Stubbs about penis lengthening—the jokes write themselves, folks), and it is now available in select cosmetic surgery clinics across North America.
The procedure is performed by making incisions at the root of the penis and then releasing it from its attachments—suspensory and fundiform ligaments—to the pubic bone, which is possible because one third of the penis is actually hidden inside a male’s body. Cutting those attaching ligaments can add up to two inches in length. Skin from the penis and/or pubic area is used to cover the new extended penis. Although this surgery is being performed in select clinics around the world, it remains highly controversial. It is not approved by the American Urological Association, which questions the ability of the operation to produce “safe and efficacious” results.
