Brooke Shields has lived her life in the public eye since infancy, but she reveals many private, sometimes traumatic moments in her new memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman (which goes on sale Tuesday, January 14) . More than one of those traumas came at the hands of medical professionals. One distressing story — about an unwanted (and unneeded) vaginal rejuvenation procedure — stands out among the rest.
Shields, now 59, reveals exclusively in the latest Us Weekly cover story that in her 40s her gynecologist asked whether the length of her labia had ever caused discomfort. It had — along with bleeding and chafing, ever since high school — and the doctor (whom Shields described as “wonderful”) told her a surgical reduction was possible.
“Of course, it’s not covered by insurance because it’s considered cosmetic, which is very interesting. The last time I did check, I did not want to be a porn star,” Shields quipped to Us, explaining that she “heard about porn stars doing this” for aesthetic purposes.
In the book — the actress writes an apology to readers who might find the story “too graphic or simply TMI, as some generations still call it” but explained that her intentions were pure.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not embarrassed to share this very intimate information,” she wrote. “But, if we are to change the way we approach and talk about women’s health, then we need to bring up the uncomfortable but very real issues. Shame is no longer an option.”
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Shields decided to go through with the procedure recommended by her gynecologist. During a post-op checkup, she had a shocking conversation with her male Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.
“He informed me that he threw in a little bonus,” Shields told Us, explaining that aside from her reduction — which was the procedure she had consented to — she received a rejuvenation (or vaginal tightening). “It felt like such an invasion — such a bizarre, like, rape of some kind.”
Shields recalled that the doctor “legitimately proudly explained to me that he, you know, threw in a little twofer.” The actress told Us she was “dumbfounded” by his revelation.
“Nothing pointed toward this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there,” Shields said, noting that both she and her gynecologist were enraged.
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Shields neither wanted nor needed the “irreversible” procedure, and didn’t want to talk about it — feeling both “shame” and “anger.” (Shields told Us that she didn’t tell her husband, producer Chris Henchy, what happened “for the longest time.”)
She decided not to take any further action, legal or otherwise. “I thought, I don’t want anybody else telling me what I have to do,” Shields added.
For more on Shields, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
With reporting by Carla Sosenko
