Brooke Shields has always been open about her life in the public eye. But in her new book, “Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Grow Old,” she goes the extreme mile by touching on experiences that might shock some readers. Set to hit the shelves today, Tuesday, 14th January, the 59-year-old actress opens up about an ordeal she underwent with a surgeon.

Shields writes about the time she underwent a labia reduction in her 40s to address some uncomfortable health issues, including bleeding. However, during a check-up after the surgery, her surgeon revealed something that would completely throw her off.

The doctor allegedly informed her that he had gone ahead and performed an additional procedure without her consent — a vaginal rejuvenation. This procedure is often done to deal with changes related to childbirth, ageing, and weight fluctuations, and it tightens and narrows the vaginal canal. The fact that Shields did not know this extra procedure was being performed left her feeling utterly violated.

“I was horrified, but also at a loss,” Shields writes. “I didn’t want to sue this man ,or maybe I did want to, but I didn’t feel I could — because I didn’t particularly want talk of my lady parts, once again, on the front page of every paper.”

This revelation took an emotional toll on Shields, and she even kept the details of the procedure a secret from her husband of 23 years, Chris Henchy. She admits it took her months to have the courage to talk to him about what had happened. The actress also grappled with explaining the situation to their daughters, Rowan (21) and Grier (18), as she felt it was too graphic for them to understand.

According to News24, Shield writes: “He informed me that he threw in a little bonus. It felt like such an invasion — such a bizarre, like, rape of some kind.” 

But the 80s icon doesn’t just focus on the surgery. In her book, she speaks out on the topics of women ageing and the importance of taking charge of one’s health. Having grown up in the spotlight, Shields was no stranger to the pressure of public expectations, especially as a model at a young age.

“Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Grow Old” is not the first time the actress has spoken about her life and trauma in the industry. In her explosive 2023 documentary with Lana Wilson, Pretty Baby, Shields opened up about her infamous portrayal of a prostitute at the age of 11 in a 1978 film of the same name, her complicated relationship with her alcoholic mother, and a rape in her 20s by an unnamed industry professional.

Variety film critic Owen Gleiberman called the documentary “fascinating” in his review, adding, “Lana Wilson’s accomplished film traces how Brooke Shields’ career was at the forefront of our culture’s sexualization of girls, and shows what it was like for her to live a life inside that image.”

Now, in her late 50s, Shields shares what it means to value herself as a woman, calling it “the most provocative choice” she’s made. In an age where women’s bodies are often discussed without their consent, her book is a tremendous example of what it means to be a woman in the spotlight.