Reclaiming Womanhood: How Reconstructive Surgery Is Changing the Lives of Kenyan FGM Survivors

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Pain to Power in Nairobi

In February of 2025, an empowering medical camp took place in Nairobi, Kenya. Over 60 brave women—survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)—received clitoral reconstructive surgery in a historic bid to restore not just physical feeling, but also dignity, confidence, and wholeness.

Directed by celebrated surgeon Dr. Marci Bowers and organized by the MARCI Foundation and local allies, this multi-day project was a critical step in the journey from trauma to healing. These operations weren't medical in nature—they were powerful symbolic gestures of reclaiming self.

What Is FGM and Why Reconstructive Surgery Matters

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the partial or complete removal of the clitoris and, in some cases, other external parts of the female genitals. Performed in childhood, FGM results in:

• Permanent loss of sexual sensation and ongoing numbness
• Long-term physical consequences such as infection and trauma at childbirth
• Deep-seated psychological scarring, including anxiety, depression, and loss of self-esteem

Survivors have had no medical recourse for decades—until now.

Clitoral reconstructive surgery does this by exposing and relocating the inner clitoral structure—11 cm in length—to restore it to the surface. Sensation and function can be restored in the majority of cases. In Dr. Bowers' words, "It's like restoring sight to the blind."

Inside the Nairobi Medical Camp: 

Who Participated

More than 60 women, who included some police officers, teachers, and community members, chose the surgery. They claimed to have felt "incomplete" before—physically altered, emotionally broken, and psychologically battered.

The Procedure

Conducted at Platinum Surgery Center, the procedures were led by Dr. Bowers and supported by Kenyan and foreign medical professionals. Patients were attended to with care, dignity, and counseling before and after their surgeries.

Surgical focus: Revealing the inner clitoral anatomy

Objective: Anatomical and nerve sensation restoration

Result: Women found the experience "life-changing," "empowering," and restoration of their "womanhood"

How Reconstructive Surgery Is a Game-Changer

1. Restoration of Sexual Sensation

The vast majority of women regained sexual pleasure, including orgasmic function—something they never knew because of FGM.

2. Emotional and Psychological Recovery

The surgery is not just physical. It provides closure to decades of psychological damage. Survivors speak of newfound confidence, wholeness, and peace.

3. Bodily Autonomy as Empowerment

The choice to have surgery is a powerful declaration of resistance against outdated and harmful traditions. It's about reclaiming control over one's body.

Building Kenyan Capacity for Sustainable Change

Dr. Bowers has actively trained Kenyan doctors, including through partnerships with the University of Nairobi and groups like Clitoraid and Restore Pink Plus. The goal? Ensure reconstructive surgery is in-country, sustainable option.

Kenyan surgeons like Dr. Adan Abdullahi are becoming leaders in reconstructive medicine.

Holistic aftercare, including therapy, peer counseling, and reintroduction into society, forms part of every patient's journey.

Beyond Surgery: Towards Eradication of FGM

While surgery is groundbreaking, it's not a substitute for prevention. It's a complementary pillar in the fight against FGM.

Community-Led Solutions

• Survivor-led activism: More than 15,000 survivors are now advocates and educators.
• Alternative Rites of Passage (ARPs): Cultural ceremonies without cutting are replacing FGM practice.
• Outreach and education: Kenya's FGM prevalence declined from 21% in 2014 to 15% in 2022 through grass-roots efforts and policy reform. 

Conclusion: Healing the Body, Rebuilding the Soul

The 2025 Nairobi medical camp was a turning point event—both for the 60+ women who were operated on, but for an entire movement. These surgeries are restoring not just anatomy, but hope, joy, and self-identity.

Kenya is now leading the way in proving that there can be healing, and that survivors of FGM can lead full, empowered lives. But the process doesn't end there with surgery. It continues through education, legislation, and cultural transformation—and by amplifying the voices of those who've been tested in the fire and come out more resilient.