Perfect Pink Bits

Contributed by Sarah Fielding, Lavalife

How far will we go in the quest for the perfect body? From anal bleaching to foreskin restoration, our growing obsession with cosmetic surgery has just conquered new, more intimate territories.

Prepare to wrap your head around genital cosmetic surgery. Further reading is not recommended for the squeamish.

Anal Bleaching

What is it?

Anal bleaching is the cosmetic removal of darker pigmentation found around the skin of the anus.

How's it done?

First, the client has their anal area waxed to allow for perfect application of the bleaching product, a cream typically containing two per cent hydroquinone (a bleaching product) as the active ingredient. California beauty salon Pink Cheeks claim to have pioneered the procedure, though a search of the Internet reveals a number of mail order products designed for at home use.

Who would want this?

Porn star Tabitha Stevens, for one. She revealed her perfect pink bits on The Howard Stern Show, even going so far as to invite someone from the studio to apply her bleaching cream.

Labiaplasty

What is it?

Labiaplasty, the most common form of genital cosmetic surgery, is a procedure in which the labia or lips of vaginal opening are 'trimmed' to reduce their size.

How's it done?

Under local anaesthetic the protruding folds of flesh are sculpted with a scalpel or Iris scissors to create a naturally ruffled edge. The surgery takes around two hours and the recovery time is from six weeks to three months, during which time sex is not permitted. Ouch.

Who would want this?

"I noticed that my inner lips hung down a lot lower that the outer ones, and I didn't like the appearance of my vagina because of this. I had the procedure done and I love the look of my new vagina." Kerry, Austin, TX

Vaginoplasty

What is it?

Vaginoplasty, the surgical tightening of the vaginal canal, is the second most commonly performed genital cosmetic surgery.

How's it done?

The vaginal muscles and surrounding soft tissue are surgically 'tightened' through the removal of excess vaginal mucosa (vaginal lining) resulting in more friction during sex.

Who would want this?

Women who have given birth to several children often complain about a change of shape and sensation in the vagina. Vaginoplasty restores the tightness and shape of the vagina. Men undergoing gender-reassignment, or those born with ambiguous genitalia undergo a form of vaginoplasty too.

Hymenoplasty

What is it?

Hymenoplasty is the reconstruction of the hymen, the membrane covering of the vaginal canal that is usually torn when a woman has sex for the first time.

How's it done?

Under local anaesthetic, the surgeon locates the torn fragments of the hymen and stitches them back together.

Who would want this?

Named after Hymenaeus, the Greek god of marriage, the hymen symbolises sexual purity. And whether the result of sexual assault, an illicit affair or even an accident, such as horse or bike riding, the intact hymen is so highly valued in some cultures that women will pay to have their hymen surgically restored. Dubbed 'revirgination' in the U.S., hymenoplasty has emerged in some circles as the 'gift for the person who has everything' with many women opting for the procedure as a present to their husbands.

Phalloplasty

What is it?

Phalloplasty is the surgical enlargement of the penis. To date there, have been around 250,000 reported cases of penile enlargement surgery around the world.

How's it done?

If you desire additional length, the penis is cut at the base and the ligament that connects the penis to the pubic bone is also cut allowing the portion of the penis that is normally inside the body to drop forward. This can add up to two-and-a-half inches to the length. If you desire more width, filler material (such as your own body fat extracted from elsewhere) is inserted under the skin of the penis and can increase girth by up to 30 per cent.

Who would want this?

According to sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, the average penis measures 14.75 to 15.75 centimetres in length, and 7.5 to 12.5 centimetres in circumference when erect. Men who suffer from low self-esteem and unsatisfying sex lives because of the size of their penis often consider this surgery.

Foreskin Restoration

What is it?

Foreskin restoration is the re-creation of a replacement foreskin, which covers the head of the penis.

How's it done?

Surgical methods involve grafting the skin from another part of the body, often the penis itself, and attaching it to the head of the penis so that it looks and functions like a foreskin. Non-surgical methods (known as 'tugging') involve stretching the remaining tissue around the head of the penis using weights, elasticised straps and traction machines, which apply gentle but constant tension to the shaft of the penis. These methods encourage the remaining tissue to stretch and grow.

Who would want this?

Circumcision may well be the unkindest cut of all, especially for those men who feel they have been violated by this procedure, which is usually performed shortly after birth. Men opting for foreskin restoration want to reclaim their missing body part -- and the new sensations it brings.