Farrah Abraham sparked a flurry of excitement on Saturday as she admitted getting surgery on her vagina.
The 26-year-old mother-of-one, best known for appearing in Teen Mom, posted an image of herself posing at Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center with her doctor.
She captioned the photo: ‘Loving my lady parts! #vaginalrejuvenation’
Within hours, Google searches for ‘vaginal rejuvenation’ had sky-rocketed.
Here, we explain the non-invasive procedure that has become so popular in the last few years.
Rejuvenated: Farrah Abraham took to Instagram on Saturday to share her vaginal rejuvenation procedure ahead of an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday
Sparked interest: Within hours of posting Farrah her photo on Instagram on Saturday, Google searches for ‘vaginal rejuvenation’ had sky-rocketed (pictured)
THE RISE OF THE ‘DESIGNER VAGINA’
Plastic surgery in general is experiencing a boom. Last year, Americans spent a record $16 billion on procedures.
The most popular operation was Botox, a non-invasive face-tightening procedure, followed by collagen injections, another non-invasive facial operation.
Breast augmentations were the third most-popular, and easily the most popular invasive procedure.
Farrah has gone under the knife multiple times, including breast augmentations in 2010 and 2013, a rhinoplasty (nose job) and a chin implant in 2012, and a third breast augmentation in 2015.
But she is one of thousands of women – particularly Millennials – who are flocking to get work done ‘down there’.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 5,000 women underwent the procedure in 2013.
As of 2015, that figure was estimated to have risen to around 8,745 women.
Farrah’s gone under the knife multiple times, including breast augmentations in 2010 and 2013, rhinoplasty and a chin implant in 2012, and a third breast augmentation in 2015; seen at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday
It is equally popular in the UK, particularly among young girls.
In 2015/16 more than 200 girls under 18 had the operation, known as a labiaplasty, on the NHS. More than 150 of the girls were under 15.
WHO NEEDS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
The procedure is designed to ‘rejuvenate’ the appearance and structure of the labia (the vagina lips).
It is recommended for women with conditions including:
- Pelvic Floor Disorder (PFD)
- bladder and bowel problems
- vaginal prolapse after a hysterectomy
- tears in vaginal connective tissues
- weakened pelvic muscles
- issues after childbirth
Patients are promised their vagina will be ‘restored’ to a younger appearance.
Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center says patients can correct:
- Uneven, hanging, large, or wrinkled labia minora
- Pain and discomfort caused by sports and physical exertion
- Odor and hygiene concerns
- Decreased sensation during sexual intercourse
- Multi-directional urine streams
- Stress incontinence
HOW IS IT DONE?
It is about a one-hour outpatient surgical procedure designed to enhance sexual gratification by increasing friction.
Healing is quick and you can resume normal activity in a few days to weeks.
A wand type instrument attached to a laser is inserted in to the vagina. It is performed while the patient is awake and is relatively painless.
This stimulates collagen (which gives tissues tone and elasticity) production, as well as increasing fluid production by enhancing blood flow. Repeat treatments are usually required annually.
Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center uses its own method called the Exilis Ultra Vaginal Rejuvenation.
It is performed using a heated tool, in three sessions that each last eight minutes.
The center recommends spreading the sessions out over a course of three weeks.