Brooke Shields claims that a doctor operated on her without her consent, doing “irreversible” lip surgery.

Brooke Shields is opening up about a deeply personal experience in her new memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old. In the book, the 59-year-old actress reveals that she underwent labia reduction surgery in her 40s due to discomfort, chafing, and bleeding. However, during a post-op checkup, she learned that her surgeon had also performed a vaginal rejuvenation procedure without her consent.

Shields admits feeling embarrassed to share this intimate detail, but she recognizes the importance of bringing attention to women’s health issues. She emphasizes the need to address uncomfortable topics in order to change the way society approaches women’s bodies and health.

The actress describes her doctor’s reaction as alarming, as he seemed proud of what he called a “twofer” — a combination of the requested surgery and the additional, unsolicited procedure. Shields describes the experience as a violation, likening it to an invasion and feeling as though it was an “unnecessary” and irreversible procedure. She shared that, at the time, nothing in her situation indicated a need for further tightening or rejuvenation.

Shields also admitted that she didn’t tell her husband, producer Chris Henchy, about the incident for a long time, but now she’s going public to raise awareness and encourage women to have control over their own bodies and medical choices. “I thought, I don’t want anybody else telling me what I have to do,” she said, speaking out in hopes of empowering others.