Mum, 21, left with ‘fist-sized hole’ where her baby’s head tore through during childbirth gets NHS ‘designer vagina’ op
A MUM claims she was left with a fist-sized hole where her baby’s head tore through her during childbirth.
Aimee Mountjoy says her labia looked like a “stretched ear lobe” following the traumatic delivery of her son on a toilet almost five years ago.
The 21-year-old endured years of agony, being unable to wear jeans and forced to sport clothes “two sizes too big” so they didn’t rub.
The ordeal even “ruined” her career as a gymnastics coach, Aimee said.
But earlier this month, she had “designer vagina” surgery on the NHS – and felt happier than ever.
“I’m on cloud nine,” Aimee said after the procedure.
The nursery worker, from Coventry, gave birth to her now-four-year-old boy on the loo in September 2019.
“Most people rip to their bum, but I ripped the opposite way on my sensitive bits,” Aimee said.
“Because of how I was sitting, I wasn’t in the correct position at all to give birth.”
She was left with an “adult fist-sized hole” in her right labia from where her baby’s head had “torn” through, she claims.
“My baby had come through the side of my flap,” Aimee added.
“I was stitched up but it basically never healed.
“The doctors said that they wouldn’t be able to re-stitch it because of the type of tissue it is. That’s why I had to have surgery.”
Aimee was “so self-conscious” about the appearance of her intimate area, she didn’t let her boyfriend Owen Mitchell, 24, look at it for the first two years they were together.
She said: “It looked as if you had a piercing in your lobe and put a stretcher in it and stretched it out.
“I have looked at myself but not much because I don’t want to.
“I was self-conscious because I was so young. I didn’t let anyone look. It didn’t feel nice.
“I was still dating and I thought I couldn’t do it because I thought something was wrong. I was more nervous in those situations.
“My boyfriend’s never actually physically noticed it but I don’t let him look. He’s been amazing and he works round it.
“I had to do things slightly differently to the average person.
“Because it’s my boyfriend, it’s fine, but if it was someone else that wasn’t so understanding it wouldn’t be. I’m quite lucky on that one.”
I still look like a crazy person when I’m shopping for clothes and checking seams
Aimee Mountjoy
The situation also dictated her wardrobe, and her job prospects.
“Jeans were an absolute no for about three years because the pain was just too much,” she added.
“I had to wear leggings that don’t have seams in the middle or really baggy jeans.
“I used to do gymnastics quite a lot and I couldn’t do that after I had a baby.
“It was a shame because it was a hobby since I was a child.
“I struggled with coaching it because I couldn’t get up and down like everyone else could. It ruined my job as well.”
What is a designer vagina and can I get one on the NHS?
What is a 'designer vagina'?
A designer vagina is one of the fastest growing cosmetic operations worldwide.
The procedure’s actual name is a labiaplasty, which involves altering the size of the labia minora.
It can be for both aesthetic or practical reasons, such as the extra tissue causing discomfort during sex or exercise.
This type of surgery should not be done on anyone younger than 18 because the labia continue to develop beyond puberty into early adulthood.
It involves shortening or reshaping the vaginal lips, with the unwanted tissue cut away using a scalpel or laser.
The loose edge may then be stitched with fine, dissolvable stitches.
From start to finish, the operation takes one to two hours, and usually, patients can go home the same day.
Can I get a labiaplasty on the NHS?
A labiaplasty is not usually available on the NHS, but it may be offered in some circumstances.
For example, if the vaginal lips are abnormal, to repair tears after childbirth, or to remove cancerous tissue if a woman has vulval cancer.
In the UK, a labiaplasty costs about £4,000 when done privately.
The cost of any consultations or follow-up care may not be included in the price.
Source: NHS
Aimee said despite her struggles, she was “parred off” by doctors for more than four years.
“If they’d found it earlier, it might’ve just been some stitches,” she added.
“I was told a lot it would just heal. But obviously it never did.”
The mum finally had an NHS labiaplasty – a procedure usually done to reduce the size of the skin folds either side of the vaginal opening – on July 9.
She let her partner have a peek afterwards, but she’s still unhappy after doctors allegedly “refused” to operate on her left side, leaving her labia looking “botched again” and still causing discomfort.
Aimee said she wishes she had paid for the procedure privately, which can cost around £4,000.
“At least they would have lined it up and it would look right,” Aimee added.
“I did say before going into surgery that if both sides can’t be done, I don’t actually want the surgery, but it changed at the last second so I didn’t really get much choice.
“In my opinion, it will still look botched when it heals.
“I don’t want to look, I will not look. I’m not ready yet. It still leaves the hole.
“I don’t want anyone to look because it doesn’t look right; from the angle I can see it, I know it doesn’t look nice.
“It takes about two months to look normal. Time will tell. Owen’s been helping me recover now.
“I still look like a crazy person when I’m shopping for clothes because I’m looking at the seams to see if I can wear them.
“I should be able to wear normal clothes now and not two sizes too big.”
PLANS FOR HER NEXT BIRTH
Aimee, who said she had no idea you could have a labiaplasty on the NHS, shared her story on TikTok.
Footage shows her in hospital immediately after the procedure, with the caption: “Only took four years. On cloud nine because I got a designer vagina on the NHS.”
She wants to spread awareness to help other women online.
Aimee said: “It’s nice that the NHS actually offers it because I didn’t think they would.
“They definitely do it in niche circumstances and you have to work to get it.
“I’ve had loads of people message me saying they didn’t think it was possible.
“However, I’m definitely having a home birth next time.”