Distortions of lip size bias perceived facial attractiveness

Perceiving faces as attractive or not guides decisions to approach or date a person and can sway opinions in recruiting and legal proceedings. However, the mechanisms underlying facial attractiveness are not fully understood. While popular models of face recognition emphasize holistic processing, individuals often attempt to enhance their own attractiveness in feature-centric ways (cosmetic surgery, make-up, injectables). Here, we use a local feature manipulation (lip expansion/contraction) and show that it alters the perceived attractiveness of male and female faces. Females showed peak preference for expanded lips when viewing female faces; males showed peak preference for contracted lips when viewing male faces. Distortions of lip size therefore mostly influence own-gender attractiveness ratings. Next, we tested whether visual adaptation to expanded or contracted lips would bias subsequent attractiveness judgements, and found peak attractiveness shifted towards the adapted lip size (e.g. expanded lips were preferred following exposure to expanded lips). Viewing faces with artificially altered lip size therefore powerfully influences attractiveness judgements. Outside the laboratory, cosmetic procedures to increase lip size are popular. Our findings indicate that (i) lip plumping will mostly appeal to women rather than men (who prefer thinner lips), and (ii) exposure to expanded lips renormalizes attractiveness to a larger baseline and may lead to lip dysmorphia.

Evaluation of knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty among Egyptian gynaecologists: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to evaluate the knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty among gynaecologists in Egypt.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2020, in which a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 120 gynaecologists at private clinics and hospitals in Ismailia, Egypt. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items relating to participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight (73.3%) participants were not able to give an accurate definition of the hymen; furthermore, 65 (54.2%) were not aware of the different types of hymen. Forty-nine (40.8%) participants were able to define hymenoplasty and 39 (32.5%) knew the different hymenoplasty procedures. Hymenoplasty had been performed by 35 (29.2%) participants. Of these, 26 (74.3%) had carried out the procedure in a private clinic; the median annual number of procedures performed was four. Only two (5.7%) participants reported the occurrence of complications during the procedure. There were no sociodemographic differences between gynaecologists who had and had not performed hymenoplasty.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of sufficient knowledge about hymenoplasty among Egyptian gynaecologists; nevertheless, it continues to be practised in private clinics.

Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery: Patient Characteristics, Motivation, and Satisfaction

BACKGROUND

Female cosmetic genital surgery is rapidly growing. However, controversy reports raised around these procedures question their indications, motives, and safety. Warning against performing this surgery might unjustly restrict surgical alleviation of symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

Through anonymous research, the authors explored patient characteristics and motivation, when women started to think about surgery, and effects of surgery on psychosocial and cosmetic aspects.

METHODS

Of 125 patients who underwent female cosmetic genital surgery at Oslo Plastic Surgery Clinic between 2010 and 2016, 69 patients were reachable by email. A questionnaire with 40 questions was completed anonymously. Answers were processed by a third, independent party via QuestBack return mail system.

RESULTS

The response rate was 77%. Mean follow-up time was 31.4 months. Mean patient age was 30.8 years. Motivations for surgery were cosmetic (69.8%), physical/practical (62.3%), emotional (54.7%), and intimate (49.1%). When emotional reasons were involved, media (39.7%), pornography (31.5%), and negative comments (28.8%) influenced the decision to undergo surgery. Genital concerns had negative effects on self-esteem (63.2%) and sexual attractiveness (57.9%) among others; 90.5% thought about surgery for more than 1 year. The overall cosmetic result was satisfactory for 69.8%, and the operation as a whole was satisfactory for 75.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, level of education, and gross income of patients who underwent this surgery seem high compared with those of breast implant patients. Genital dissatisfaction arose early in life and affected various psychosexual aspects. Most patients are satisfied with the outcome of surgery and would recommend this surgery to others. Additional anonymous multicenter studies are recommended.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

How variability in hymenoplasty recommendations leads to contrasting rates of surgery in the Netherlands: an ethnographic qualitative analysis

Hymenoplasty is surgery to alter the shape of the hymen membrane in the vaginal canal, commonly performed to minimise the aperture. This medical operation is often requested by women who expect that their virginity will be under scrutiny, particularly during their first sexual encounter on their wedding night. Despite increasing demand for the surgery all over the globe, there is no one standard of practice in performing hymenoplasty. In the Netherlands, the manner in which medical consultations concerning the procedure take place depends heavily on the consulting physician. This paper looks at two different approaches to hymenoplasty consultation in the Netherlands: a pedagogical philosophy adopted in a public hospital and a practical approach employed by a private clinic. Each approach culminates in a contrasting result: patients in one medical establishment are twice as likely to undergo hymenoplasty than those visiting the other.

A Prospective Evaluation of Female External Genitalia Sensitivity to Pressure following Labia Minora Reduction and Clitoral Hood Reduction

BACKGROUND

Little research has been conducted into the effects of labiaplasty on sensitivity of external genitalia. This study aimed to determine the effect of labia minora and clitoral hood reduction using the edge resection technique on external genitalia sensitivity.

METHODS

Female subjects electing to undergo labia minora and clitoral hood reduction were enrolled. Subjects underwent sensitivity testing using monofilaments at five locations (one at the clitoral hood and four labial with each labium measured 0.5 cm from the leading edge and 1.5 cm distal to the hymen) at baseline; 2 weeks; and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Self-evaluations using the Sexual Function Questionnaire were performed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven subjects undergoing labia minora and clitoral hood reduction were enrolled. Subjects experienced a median increase in sensitivity at month 6 of 0.118 mN at the 0.5-cm right labial location (p = 0.027) and 0.059 mN at the 0.5-cm left labial location (p = 0.046) compared with baseline. No change in sensitivity was demonstrated at the clitoral hood or either of the 1.5-cm labial locations. At 6 months, an increase in the number of sexual relations was observed in 44.1 percent of subjects (p = 0.011), an improvement in orgasm frequency was exhibited by 35.3 percent of subjects (p = 0.013), and an increase in orgasm strength was observed in 35.3 percent of subjects (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Labia minora and clitoral hood reduction as performed by the trim/edge resection method does not result in diminished sensitivity.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.

The contribution of online content to the promotion and normalisation of female genital cosmetic surgery: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Women considering female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) are likely to use the internet as a key source of information during the decision-making process. The aim of this systematic review was to determine what is known about the role of the internet in the promotion and normalisation of female genital cosmetic surgery and to identify areas for future research.

METHODS

Eight social science, medical, and communication databases and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed papers published in English. Results from all papers were analysed to identify recurring and unique themes.

RESULTS

Five papers met inclusion criteria. Three of the papers reported investigations of website content of FGCS providers, a fourth compared motivations for labiaplasty publicised on provider websites with those disclosed by women in online communities, and the fifth analysed visual depictions of female genitalia in online pornography. Analysis yielded five significant and interrelated patterns of representation, each functioning to promote and normalise the practice of FGCS: pathologisation of genital diversity; female genital appearance as important to wellbeing; characteristics of women's genitals are important for sex life; female body as degenerative and improvable through surgery; and FGCS as safe, easy, and effective. A significant gap was identified in the literature: the ways in which user-generated content might function to perpetuate, challenge, or subvert the normative discourses prevalent in online pornography and surgical websites.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed to contribute to knowledge of the role played by the internet in the promotion and normalisation of female genital cosmetic surgery.

"What Motivates Her": Motivations for Considering Labial Reduction Surgery as Recounted on Women's Online Communities and Surgeons' Websites

INTRODUCTION

Increasing numbers of women are seeking labial reduction surgery. We studied the motivations for considering labial reduction surgery as recounted on women's online communities and surgery provider's websites.

AIMS

The study analyzed motivations for considering labial reduction surgery expressed by women on online communities, looked at the role of the women's age and nationality, compared findings with motivations indicated on the websites of an international sample of surgery providers, and identified similarities to and differences from what is known from extant studies.

METHODS

Quantitative content analysis of the posts of 78 American, British, and Dutch women on online communities, and 40 international surgery providers' websites about labial reduction surgery was conducted.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Main outcome measures concerned the incidence and prominence of different motivational categories (functional/emotional and discomfort/enhancement related). Differences in motivations as a function of age, national background, and women's vs. surgeons' stated motivations were tested.

RESULTS

Emotional discomfort regarding self-appearance and social and sexual relationships was found to be the most frequent and most prominent motivation for considering labial reduction surgery on women's online communities, regardless of age and national background. Functional discomfort and desired emotional enhancement ranked second. Very few age or national differences were found. The surgeons' websites recognized functional discomfort more and elaborated upon emotional issues in sexual relationships less than members of the online communities.

CONCLUSIONS

Feelings of emotional and psychosexual distress in addition to functional distress are a highly prevalent motivation among women considering labial reduction surgery. Emotional distress appears to be greater and more freely emphasized when women communicate on online communities, while functional issues appear to receive greater notice on surgery provider's websites. Zwier S. "What motivates her": Motivations for considering labial reduction surgery as recounted on women's online communities and surgeons' websites. Sex Med 2014;2:16-23.

Restoration of virginity: women's demand and health care providers' response in Switzerland

INTRODUCTION

As a result of transnational migration, health institutions are faced with growing demand for "restoration" of virginity. The practice of hymen reconstruction constitutes a challenge for health care providers in medical, ethical, judicial, social, and cultural dimensions, for which they are not well prepared.

AIM

The aim of the presented nationwide survey was to investigate the experience of Swiss gynecologists with women requesting hymen reconstruction.

METHODS

A questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose was sent to 100 public hospitals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Main outcome measures included demands for (number of requests, origin of women) and attitudes toward hymen reconstruction (requests granted, decision-making for or against intervention, surgical technique applied, problems associated with the requests for hymen repair, cost coverage, need for further information) in Switzerland.

RESULTS

The response rate was 68%. Of the 43 clinics (63.2%) confronted with requests for hymen reconstruction, 38 (90.5%) claimed to see up to five patients per year. The predominantly mentioned countries of origin were Turkey in the German-speaking part and Arab countries in the French-speaking part. More than half of the clinics (27/64.3%) reported that they always (12/28.6%) or mostly (15/35.7%) granted the request. Decision for surgery was made after intensive counseling in 44.2% and on demand of the patient after brief counseling in 32.7%. The so-called approximation method was the most frequently applied surgical technique. A third of the participants (19/35.2%) reported problems with confidentiality. More than half of the clinics expressed their need for further information on this topic.

CONCLUSIONS

Hymen reconstruction is rarely performed in Switzerland, even though two-thirds of the responding hospitals are confronted with this issue several times per year. No guidelines exist on how health professionals should deal with these requests. Interdisciplinary research on how to meet the needs of women and health care providers in such cross-cultural encounters is needed.

Genitals and ethnicity: the politics of genital modifications

The discrepancy in societal attitudes toward female genital cosmetic surgery for European women and female genital cutting in primarily African girl children and women raises the following fundamental question. How can it be that extensive genital modifications, including reduction of labial and clitoral tissue, are considered acceptable and perfectly legal in many European countries, while those same societies have legislation making female genital cutting illegal, and the World Health Organization bans even the "pricking" of the female genitals? At present, tensions are obvious as regards the modification of female genitalia, and current legislation and medical practice show inconsistencies in relation to women of different ethnic backgrounds. As regards the right to health, it is questionable both whether genital cosmetic surgery is always free of complications and whether female genital cutting always leads to them. Activists, national policymakers and other stakeholders, including cosmetic genital surgeons, need to be aware of these inconsistencies and find ways to resolve them and adopt non-discriminatory policies. This is not necessarily an issue of either permitting or banning all forms of genital cutting, but about identifying a consistent and coherent stance in which key social values - including protection of children, bodily integrity, bodily autonomy, and equality before the law - are upheld.

Special commentary on the issue of reinfibulation

Policy on reinfibulation exposes the interface between individual or micro-ethics and population-wide or macro-ethics. If, following childbirth, an infibulated woman requests reinfibulation, a gynecologist may respectfully advise her of its negative implications, but would not act in breach of ethical or usually legal requirements in undertaking the procedure. However, as a matter of health policy and professional responsibility, physicians should refuse to initiate infibulation, and advise their patients and communities that the procedure is harmful, not required by religious or other ordinance, and frequently if not always unlawful. Reinfibulation is not genital cutting (or "mutilation") in itself, but when undertaken by a physician may appear to condone infibulation. This is contrary to medical professional ethics, which condemn medicalization of infibulation and generally of reinfibulation, even as a harm-reduction strategy to spare women the risks of injury and infection from unskilled interventions.