Yahoo Lifestyle Brooke Shields on doctor performing 'bonus' unwanted surgery on her vagina
In her upcoming (and extremely topical) new book, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman, actor and model Brooke Shields shockingly shares that her vagina was operated on without her knowledge or consent.
As part of a new interview and extract shared with Us Weekly, Brooke writes that she'd initially met with the surgeon after learning via her gynaecologist that a labiaplasty (wherein the labia is shortened) could help her with the uncomfortable chafing and bleeding she'd experienced throughout her life.
Keen to have the surgery for health rather than cosmetic purposes, Brooke says she paid for it as it wasn't covered by insurance, but when she came round from the op she was informed by her doctor that he'd given "thrown in a little bonus" vaginal rejuvenation procedure – which she had neither asked for nor wanted.
The actor likened the incident to a rape and said it took her a long time to discuss what had happened with her husband, Chris Henchy.
"I’d be lying if I said I’m not embarrassed to share this very intimate information," an extract from Brooke's book reads. "But, if we are to change the way we approach and talk about women’s health, then we need to bring up the uncomfortable but very real issues. Shame is no longer an option."
On the topic of the vaginal rejuvenation procedure, also known as vaginal tightening, Brooke said, "It felt like such an invasion — such a bizarre, like, rape of some kind."
She makes the incredibly valid point that the surgeon assumed they were doing something kind for her, by carrying out the non-consensual op. As surely, all women must be unhappy about the tightness of their vagina? (Note the sarcasm).
"[The surgeon] legitimately proudly explained to me that he, you know, threw in a little twofer [meaning two-for-one]," Brooke explained. "Nothing pointed toward this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there."
The unwanted procedure is sadly irreversible and both the actor and her gynaecologist were thought to be incredible angry afterwards.
Brooke adds that she chose not to pursue legal action against the surgeon as "I thought, I don't want anybody else telling me what I have to do".
Pre-order Brooke's book here:
Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old
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