Porn

Women who have cosmetic surgery on their vaginas are being made insecure by pornography, according to Australia's premier gynaecological college.

And doctors say surgery for "designer vaginas" is becoming increasingly popular.

"One of the reasons [why women have the procedure] is that women look at pornographic magazines and see other women who look different and they want to look like them," said a spokeswoman for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

RANZCOG argues that labiaplasty — where surgeons trim the inner vaginal lips — is rarely medically necessary.

"Labias vary greatly and for most women, it's not something they give a lot of thought to."

The comments come in the wake of a rising trend in labia-related procedures being performed for cosmetic reasons. In the US, women not only have labiaplasty but many also have surgery to enlarge their G-spot.

Labiaplasty takes around an hour and is largely performed by cosmetic surgeons. The operation can cost around $10,000.

One Sydney cosmetic surgeon who performs the operation around 20 times per year hit back at suggestions the procedure is a vanity exercise for insecure women.

Surgeon Colin Moore said he has seen a gradual increase in the patients seeking the procedure over the last decade.

"For the majority of females that require this [operation] have issues with discomfort during penetration, wearing tight clothing and urinary tract infections," Dr Moore said.

"It's a very satisfying operation to perform, patients are almost universally grateful."

Dr Moore said he was "disgusted" with the attitude displayed by some gynaecologists in relation to labiaplasty.

"They consider it kind of beneath their dignity in a way, they regard the procedure as unnecessary."

Dr Moore said his patients find the operation makes a huge difference to their quality of life.

"Often when they come in for their follow up they just hug you because it has made such a difference to them," he said.