The Contribution of Online Content to the Promotion & 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.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/tK0TWd

By:  Hayley Mowat¹, Karalyn McDonald¹, Amy Shields Dobson², Jane Fisher¹ and Maggie Kirkman^1*

¹Jean Hailes Research Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

²Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

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Injuries Attributable to Cosmetic Procedures Performed by Unlicensed Individuals in the United States

Although only licensed professionals should be performing cosmetic procedures for patients, there are often news stories of unlicensed individuals performing procedures with serious consequences. This brief report seeks to determine the scope and magnitude of the problem by determining the number of cases of unlicensed procedures and determining the people, procedures, and states that are involved.

Various databases were used to find lawsuits and United States English-language news reports from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, which described cosmetic procedures performed by unlicensed individuals.

Twenty-eight unique cases were found. The three states with the highest number of cases were Florida (35.7%; n=10), Texas (14.3%; n=4), and California (10.7%; n=3). The type of procedures (n=28) performed were buttocks injections (n=1), face injections (n=7), laser facial procedures (n=2), liposuctions (n=4), and other cosmetic surgeries (n=4). The reported injuries (n=16) were hospitalization (n=8), death (n=4), amputation (n=1), burn (n=1), ptosis (n=1), and scar (n=1). Women and minorities appeared to be disproportionately affected by these illegal procedures.

This study likely only provides a small snapshot of a much larger problem, as many cases are presumably not taken to the news or courts. The availability of illegal cosmetic procedures can be diminished with complementary efforts carried out both by law enforcement and the communities themselves.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/Ap0Txo

By:  Mayer JE1, Goldberg DJ2.

• 1Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland;
• 2Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York; Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ, New York, New York; Fordham Law School, New York, New York. 

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