Brooke Shields hit out at surgeon for giving her ‘little bonus’ during labia surgery

Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.

While in her 40s, actress Brooke Shields booked herself in for a labiaplasty procedure, having endured both bleeding and chafing throughout her life, caused by the length of her labia.

During the surgery, however, the medic in charge gave Shields what she later described as a 'little bonus', despite not having received her consent beforehand.

The 61-year-old opened up on the heartbreaking incident for the first time last year, ahead of the release of her then-bombshell memoir Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman.

In the book, released in January 2025, the Blue Lagoon star recalled battling severe pain and discomfort as a result of her female anatomy since her childhood years, eventually spurring her to look into a labia reduction.

"Of course, it’s not covered by insurance because it’s considered cosmetic, which is very interesting," she told US Weekly. "The last time I did check, I did not want to be a porn star."

Unfortunately for Shields, however, she received a little more than she bargained for when the doctor that recommended the procedure also gave her a 'twofer' while she was asleep - something he hadn't previously mentioned.

After recovering from the procedure, she returned to the office of her beloved Beverly Hills medic, claiming it was then that he 'proudly' informed her that he'd added 'a little twofer', in the form of a vaginal rejuvenation.

Whilst a labiaplasty sees the labia - the folds of skin in the vulva - either reshaped or shortened, a vaginal rejuvenation is a full-fledged procedure that sees female genital tissues surrounding the vagina tightened, reshaped, or reduced entirely.

The latter is a considerably more extreme procedure, being that it sees the average diameter of the vagina decreased, and is often sought in a mid to increase sexual satisfaction.

The mother-of-two admitted in her memoir that she was 'dumbfounded' to discover what had happened, describing the surgery as an 'irreversible invasion', and comparing it to a 'rape of some kind'.

"Nothing pointed toward this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there," she told the outlet ahead of the book's release, revealing she also opted not to tell her husband Chris Henchy about her experience for 'the longest time'.

After eventually filling in her other-half, Shields now believes it was vital to 'share this very intimate information', even if it is 'too graphic or simply TMI'.

“If we are to change the way we approach and talk about women’s health," she told the publication. "Then we need to bring up the uncomfortable but very real issues.

"Shame is no longer an option."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.