Brooke Shields She has lived her life in the public eye since her childhood, but she reveals many private and sometimes painful moments In her new memoir, Brooke Shields is not allowed to grow old: Thoughts on aging as a woman (Which will go on sale on Tuesday, January 14). More than one of those traumas came at the hands of medical professionals. One harrowing story – about an unwanted (and unnecessary) vaginal rejuvenation procedure – stands out among the others.
Shields, now 59, exclusively reveals in the latest Us Weekly COVER STORY In her 40s, her gynecologist asked her if her long labia caused her any discomfort. It had been happening — along with bleeding and chafing, since high school — and the doctor (whom Shields described as “awesome”) told her that surgery was possible.
“Of course, insurance doesn't cover it because it's considered cosmetic, which is very interesting. Last time I checked, I didn't want to be a porn star,” Shields joked. weExplaining that she “heard about porn stars doing this” for aesthetic purposes.
In the book – the actress writes an apology to readers who may find the story “too graphic or simply TMI, as some generations still call it” but makes it clear that her intentions were pure.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn't embarrassed to share this very intimate information,” she wrote. “But if we want to change the way we approach and talk about women's health, we have to raise the uncomfortable but very real issues. Shame is no longer an option.”
Shields decided to go ahead with the procedure Recommended by her gynecologist. During a post-op checkup, she had a shocking conversation with a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.
“He told me he had offered a small reward,” Shields said. weExplaining that regardless of her reduction – which is the procedure she agreed to – she Received a renewal (or narrowing the vagina). “It felt like such an invasion — like this weird rape of some sort.”
The doctor “proudly explained to me that, you know, he had thrown a little piece out of the bottle,” Shields recalled. The actress said we I was “stunned” by his announcement.
“There was no indication that this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there,” Shields said, noting that she and her gynecologist were angry.
It's often thought that celebrities who have undergone plastic surgery will go to great lengths to hide their secret, but stars from Ronnie Ortiz-Magro to Courteney Cox have been candid about their experiences going under the knife. Some celebrities even shared their plastic surgery nightmares. Heidi Montag, for example, developed health problems because of (…)
Shields neither wanted nor needed the “irreversible” procedure, nor did he want to talk about it – feeling both “ashamed” and “angry”. (The armor said we She didn't do that Tell her husbandproject Chris Henchywhat happened “for the longest time.”)
I decided not to take any further action, legal or otherwise. “I thought I didn't want anyone else telling me what to do,” Shields added.
For more on Shields, Pick up the last issue to Us Weekly – On newsstands now.
With reporting by Karla Sosenko
