Brooke Shields Says Plastic Surgeon Performed Procedure She Called "Rape"

Brooke Shields, 59, is opening up about the time she was “violated” by a medical professional.

In an Us Weekly interview, Shields recounted how a male plastic surgeon performed a procedure on her without her consent. The Mother of the Bride star explained that this happened during her 40s when her gynecologist suggested a labia reduction surgery to alleviate discomfort she’d experienced since high school. "Of course, it’s not covered by insurance because it’s considered cosmetic, which is very interesting," Shields said, adding with biting sarcasm, "The last time I did check, I did not want to be a porn star."

Her gynecologist referred her to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who performed the procedure. But during a follow-up appointment, Shields learned the surgeon had taken it upon himself to perform an additional, irreversible procedure. The surgeon had "tightened" her vaginal canal.

Imagine sitting across from a professional, someone you trusted with your body, only to hear them say they gave you a "bonus." That’s exactly what happened to Shields. As she recounted: "He informed me that he threw in a little bonus."

Shields described her immediate reaction, calling it "such an invasion – such a bizarre, like, rape of some kind."  

What makes this even more enraging is the surgeon’s tone, which Shields described as "legitimately proudly." This man performed an unnecessary surgery without consent and then patted himself on the back for it.

Shields explained how the aftermath left her grappling with shame and anger. "Nothing pointed toward this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there," she said. “Vaginal rejuvenation” isn’t medically necessary for most women. Some risks come with the procedure, such as pain, scarring, and infections. 

How often are women pressured into "fixing" things that were never broken? Society’s obsession with youth and perfection runs so deep that even medical professionals are violating their female patients. Shields herself touched on this in her memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman, where she wrote, "I’d be lying if I said I’m not embarrassed to share this very intimate information. 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."

Hollywood sexualized Shields as a minor. Her nude Playboy photo shoot was done at just 10 years old, and she played a child prostitute in Pretty Baby. It shows how her career is littered with moments where her autonomy was seemingly stripped away.

Shields has turned her pain into purpose, hoping her story will spark conversations about the way we approach women’s health and aging. "Self-improvement, no matter what that means to you, is great. I’m all for it. But our society has become so myopically focused on youth, we lose sight of the value that comes with age and experience and time," she told Real Simple.

Looking at her daughters, Rowan and Grier, Shields hopes they’ll grow up unafraid of aging. "Everything’s higher and tighter and smoother. And I know it’s all appealing and it does sell, but I want my girls to not be terrified to be my age."