Brooke Shields reveals doctor performed intimate surgery without her consent

Brooke Shields has lived her life in public since childhood, but she reveals many private, sometimes traumatic moments in her new memoir, Brooke Shields Can’t Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman (which goes on sale on Tuesday 14 January). More than one of these traumas came at the hands of doctors. One disturbing story—of an unwanted (and unnecessary) vaginal rejuvenation procedure—stands out among the rest.

Shields, now 59, is exclusively revealing the latest Us Weekly cover story that her gynecologist in her 40s asked if the length of her labia had ever caused her 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. “Last time I checked, I didn’t want to be a porn star,” Shields said Usand explains that she “heard of 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 explained that her intentions were pure.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t embarrassed to share this very intimate information,” she wrote. “But if we’re going to change the way we talk about women’s health, we need to address the uncomfortable but very real issues. Shame is no longer an option.”

Shields decided to undergo the procedure recommended by her gynecologist. During a checkup, she had a shocking conversation with her male Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.

“He told me he was giving a little bonus,” Shields said Usand explained that apart from her reduction – which was the procedure she had consented to – she was having a rejuvenation (or vaginal tightening). “It felt like such an invasion — such a bizarre, like rape of sorts.”

Shields recalled that the doctor “legitimately proudly explained to me that he, you know, threw in a little topher.” The actress told Us she was “amazed” by his revelation.

“There was no indication that this needed to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there,” Shields said, noting that both she and her gynecologist were furious.

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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 did not tell her husband, the producer Chris Henchywhat happened “for the longest time”).

She decided to take no further action, legal or otherwise. “I thought, I don’t want anybody else telling me what to do,” Shields added.

For more on Shields, download the latest issue of Us Weekly – on newsstands now.

With reporting by Carla Sosenko