Soaring demand for female genital surgery sparks debate in Brazil

[webfact]

Soaring demand for female genital surgery sparks debate in Brazil

By Alexandra Alper

 

Plastic surgeon Andre Hazan shows a picture of the vagina that he uses during consultations with his clients at his office, during an interview with Reuters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 4, 2017. Picture taken September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

 

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - In Brazil, a country famed for its obsession with the body beautiful, women are increasingly opting for surgery aimed at improving the appearance of their genitals, stirring a debate about sexual empowerment and the pressure for physical perfection.

 

Plastic surgeons in Latin America's top economy, known for pioneering the Brazilian Butt Lift that transfers fat from other areas of the body to the buttocks, have seen a massive spike in demand for labiaplasty, a surgery that slims or plumps the labia.

 

The number of women in Brazil having such surgery soared by 80 percent to 23,155 in 2016, the highest in the world, according to figures from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

 

By comparison, the United States, which has around 55 percent more people, registered 13,266 procedures.

 

Women are opting for the surgery in record numbers despite Brazil's deepest downturn since the 1980s, with the economy shrinking more than 7 percent between 2015 and 2016.

 

Critics say the trend is a worrying sign of how pornography is warping women's sense of their bodies, as a cultural preference for pubic hair removal pressures them to conform to new notions of genital perfection, labelled by some "the designer vagina."

 

Plastic surgeons, meanwhile, argue that it is a form of female empowerment.

 

"Latin women live in a macho culture: he is the one who rules in the office, in the home, in the sex life. Now as women ... we are leading at home and in jobs and we want to lead in our sex lives," said Lina Triana, a Colombian plastic surgeon who performs the procedure, and has written and lectured about it.

 

"Even in a bad economy, this is something that we need."

 

Labiaplasty originated in the 1970s with reconstructive surgery to remove excess tissue from labia minora that could cause pain during sexual intercourse and physical activity, Triana said.

 

But techniques have improved and demand soared 45 percent worldwide from 2015 to 2016, making it the fastest growing cosmetic surgery, according to ISAPS.

 

The popularity of genital procedures has been boosted by celebrities, including U.S. television personality Khloe Kardashian, who said lasering to tighten the vagina was a hot topic of conversation for her sisters Kim and Kourtney after childbirth.

 

In Brazil, labiaplasty is still not as popular as liposuction or silicone implants - there were more than 200,000 of those procedures each in 2016. But the spike in popularity is likely not just due to celebrities.

 

Darlane Andrade, a gender studies professor at the Federal University of Bahia, said women in Brazil face increasingly sexualised ideals of beauty transmitted through pornography, coupled with a uniquely Brazilian pressure to be physically perfect.

 

"It is the culture of the Brazilian woman being sexualised, that she must have a body and genitalia that are sexually attractive," Andrade said, expressing skepticism that the procedure's popularity was due to growing female liberation.

 

If the woman is seeking to please a man, Andrade asked: "What sort of empowerment is that?"

 

REALITY TV STAR

 

Fernanda, a 33-year-old dentist living in Sao Paulo, had the surgery in July along with her twin sister Bruna. She said she had felt self-conscious about the appearance of her labia as a single woman and was relieved to get married four years ago.

 

But then, around a year ago, her husband made a comment that led her to opt for surgery.

 

"My husband said, 'wow, it looks like a hanging bag ... I've never seen anything like that,'" said Fernanda, who asked to have her last name omitted. "I would look in the mirror and think: 'It really does look like a bag'."

 

She said the procedure took under an hour, caused minimal pain, and she is pleased with the result.

 

Fernanda first heard of the surgery from Brazilian reality TV star Geisy Arruda, who said in a 2012 interview that it turned her private parts from a "cauliflower" into something more akin to a budding rose.

 

Sergio Almeida, an economics professor at the University of Sao Paulo, said the rise in demand despite the recession may be in part because Brazilian women who would have otherwise undergone the procedure in the United States, a popular cosmetic surgery destination, are saving money by doing it at home.

 

While the procedure - which some doctors warn can cause scarring or infection - costs some 6,000 to 12,000 reais ($1,900 to $3,800) in Brazil, U.S estimates range from $2,600 to $7,200.

 

Another possible explanation, Almeida said, is that cosmetic surgery is so important for consumers they are willing to sacrifice other luxuries to afford it.

 

Demand for plastic surgery in Brazil rose 18 percent in 2016, even as the wealthiest class saw its real income hardest hit, according to consulting firm Tendencias.

 

Bruna, Fernanda's sister who works as a federal tax employee in Sao Paulo, agrees.

 

"Even in times of crisis, people, especially women, don't stop taking care of aesthetics," she said. "You economize precisely to be able to do these sorts of things."

 

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Additional Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Rosalba O'Brien and Susan Thomas)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-02

[canuckamuck]

The success of western civilization has created billions of lives without struggle searching for affirmation through vane exploits which are meaningless and costly. But the collapse of it will bring things back into perspective. 

[RickBradford]

It would be nice to think that we could recreate meaning in life in the West, without completely collapsing Western society.

 

The best-selling book on Amazon at the moment, 12 Rules for Life, basically tells Westerners (especially the young, and even more particularly young men) to pull themselves together and realise that responsibilities are the way to find meaning, not rights, and that they have a duty to fix themselves so they might be of some use to society.

 

You wouldn't think that would be a popular message in this day and age, but its success shows that people are starving for a serious dose of reality to their existence.

[Enoon]

 

1 hour ago, RickBradford said:

The best-selling book on Amazon at the moment, 12 Rules for Life, basically tells Westerners (especially the young, and even more particularly young men) to pull themselves together and realise that responsibilities are the way to find meaning, not rights, and that they have a duty to fix themselves so they might be of some use to society.

 

You wouldn't think that would be a popular message in this day and age, but its success shows that people are starving for a serious dose of reality to their existence.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMcjxSThD54

 

Interesting to hear this after being told, nearly 50 years ago (by the father of a girlfriend) that it seemed to him that post-teen males were living in a state of "extended adolescence" compared to his generation.

 

 

Edited February 2, 2018 by Enoon

[RickBradford]

^^

The best video of 2018, the most-watched video ever on Channel 4, and the most comprehensive take-down of a snotty TV lady in reported history.

 

That guy has just made a 5-minute short video for Prager U, outlining his views for restoring reality to the West. It's been online for 3 days and had over 2 million views already. Astounding.

 

https://www.prageru.com/videos/fix-yourself#.WnJkgwyPa10.twitter

 

It seems that huge sections of Western society  have never before heard the message: "Quit whining, and get on with it."

Edited February 2, 2018 by RickBradford

[Enoon]

11 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

^^

The best video of 2018, the most-watched video ever on Channel 4, and the most comprehensive take-down of a snotty TV lady in reported history.

 

That guy has just made a 5-minute short video for Prager U, outlining his views for restoring reality to the West. It's been online for 3 days and had over 2 million views already. Astounding.

 

https://www.prageru.com/videos/fix-yourself#.WnJkgwyPa10.twitter

 

It seems that huge sections of Western society  have never before heard the message: "Quit whining, and get on with it."

 

The link was sent to me without the first subject as the point of interest.

 

But it was that part that I found most "satisfying".

 

Relating, as it does, to the conversation I had so many years ago (my previous post is re-edited).

 

 

Edited February 2, 2018 by Enoon

[Darcula]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the Brazilian Butt Lift

Is that the new Brazilian now?

[kotsak]

Decadence always precedes the collapse of a civilization.. We are getting there sooner than we thought.. if the nukes don't get us first.. 

Edited February 2, 2018 by kotsak

[stevenl]

26 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

^^

The best video of 2018, the most-watched video ever on Channel 4, and the most comprehensive take-down of a snotty TV lady in reported history.

 

That guy has just made a 5-minute short video for Prager U, outlining his views for restoring reality to the West. It's been online for 3 days and had over 2 million views already. Astounding.

 

https://www.prageru.com/videos/fix-yourself#.WnJkgwyPa10.twitter

 

It seems that huge sections of Western society  have never before heard the message: "Quit whining, and get on with it."

Yes, just as our parents were saying about us, and their parents about them before that.

[PETERTHEEATER]

I'm remaining tight-lipped on this one......

[DoctorG]

4 hours ago, RickBradford said:

The best-selling book on Amazon at the moment, 12 Rules for Life,

A fellow Jordan Peterson fan I see.

The C4 interview was pure gold.

[Destiny1990]

Where are the before and after photos?

[Emster23]

Number one plastic surgery in Japan was reputed to be "restoring virginity" years ago. Makes sense, real estate is expensive there, and that little patch you'd want to think you're the first tenant. Thought it might be the same in Brasil. Oh well, trends move on

[RickBradford]

58 minutes ago, Emster23 said:

Number one plastic surgery in Japan was reputed to be "restoring virginity" years ago. Makes sense, real estate is expensive there, and that little patch you'd want to think you're the first tenant. Thought it might be the same in Brasil. Oh well, trends move on

This was a massive industry in Vietnam several years ago. Virginity in a bride was considered mandatory (especially when flogging the girls off to old Taiwanese,  who  came over to Saigon on virtual package tours), but was rarely encountered, and so some clinics did almost nothing else except sew-ups.

 

And some of the girls went through the procedure a few times over the years, but apparently there's a limit to how often that can be done.

 

Edited February 2, 2018 by RickBradford

[canuckamuck]

Of the senses this fabled organ might offend, sight is usually in third place

[Krataiboy]

6 hours ago, RickBradford said:

It would be nice to think that we could recreate meaning in life in the West, without completely collapsing Western society.

 

The best-selling book on Amazon at the moment, 12 Rules for Life, basically tells Westerners (especially the young, and even more particularly young men) to pull themselves together and realise that responsibilities are the way to find meaning, not rights, and that they have a duty to fix themselves so they might be of some use to society.

 

You wouldn't think that would be a popular message in this day and age, but its success shows that people are starving for a serious dose of reality to their existence.

This what happens when a society loses its faith in religion and itself. Professor Jordan Peterson, who came up with the twelve rules, is the ideal antidote anyone who feels that there is more to life than a quick labiaplasty or a slow-motion lobotomy via social media. 

 

TV presenter Cathy Newman found out the hard way when she interviewed him about his new book. He also has an Internet blog.

 

 

[thaiguzzi]

Nowt wrong with a fine pair of beef curtains...

[katana]

Some memes of the Jordan Peterson Cathy Newman interview:

 

Edited February 2, 2018 by katana

[hgma]

Women have a mind and body of their own, so let them decide.

[bendejo]

I suspect this surgery also involves "tightening up."   Anyone see the TV series "SMILF"?  There was an episode about this female insecurity, pretty funny.
This trend may also have something to do with selfies: after all, every gal wants to look her best...

 

 

[connda]

My standard statement to all women:  You all look great.  You do not need cosmetic surgery.  Most of you who get it end up looking, well, freakish.  I love women, just the way they are.  The most important thing any woman can to to improve her looks - get physical, exercise, get in shape.  And the same for men. 

[steven100]

[arithai12]

"Now as women ... we are leading at home and in jobs and we want to lead in our sex lives,"

 

Says the surgeon who is making bucketloads out of it.