BellaSugar

Do You Even Notice Other People's Earlobes?

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:41 -0700

Earlobe rejuvenation, a quick, less-than-an-hour, outpatient procedure to lift sagging ears is fast becoming a growing trend, particularly for American women in their 50s and 60s. "We make the earlobes look plumper, more rounded and smaller, giving a more youthful image," plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman told the Daily Mail.

Just like the neck and hands are known to show your age, the ears are often an area where people forget to apply sunscreen, thus speeding up the aging process. That, coupled with heavy earring wearing, has some women willing to spend £1,100 (about $1,750 USD) on the 40-minute procedure. But is that money well spent? Unless someone's ears are stretched out by earplugs or they're wearing lots of earrings, I hardly ever notice other people's earlobes at all. (And if I do, I don't think, "Wow, what a hag. She should really do something about that.") What about you?

Should Plastic Surgeons Turn Patients Away?

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:22 -0700

An article in yesterday's New York Times brought up the issue of patient selection for cosmetic surgeons. Apparently, "problem patients" come up a lot. Surgeons turn away candidates because they have had too many procedures or think they are seeking surgery for the wrong reasons (like to find a husband or keep a job). According to the article,

Facial plastic surgeons estimate that roughly 10 to 15 percent of the potential patients in consultations harbor outright hostility toward past surgeons or have unrealistic expectations about how radically surgery can transform the chin they hate.

But what about the fact that beauty ideals vary over time and individual opinion, as New York Magazine's article on "The New Face" detailed last month? Should it be up to the person paying for surgery to decide what they want and whether it's for a good reason?

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Bigger Boobs in 30 Minutes

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:30:25 -0700

Whether you're a fan of breast augmentation or you think it's just for boobs (yuk yuk), you probably know that getting implants isn't a quick and easy procedure. Most women take two to five days off to start healing, and it can take weeks to do so completely.

Not for long, though, according to a Dallas plastic surgeon. Dr. John Tebbetts, shown here, is appearing at the annual meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons this week. He'll present information on his 30-minute breast augmentation procedure, which requires low levels of anaesthetics and promises to get the newly ample-bosomed recovered in just a few hours.

"The level of pain that our patients experience does not require any medications other than Ibuprofen which is available over the counter without a prescription," Dr Tebbetts said. ... "After the surgery we tell the women to go home and have a little nap, then get up after two hours, wash their hair, which helps them stretch their muscles, then go to dinner."

If it takes off, the so-called "out to dinner" breast augmentation could change the way women view surgery. You could wake up a 32A, then go out that evening a 32D-all with a procedure that takes less time than a dental cleaning. In effect, getting implants becomes a simple, quick procedure. I'm curious to know what you think of this development. Does it change the way you look at cosmetic surgery at all?

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Free Implants! (But There's a Catch...)

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:08:09 -0700

For women who want breast implants, money is often a huge roadblock. (Read this story to find out how people are affording these pricey procedures.) That's why an entrepreneur named Jason Grunstra has come up with Myfreeimplants.com, a site that connects small-chested females with men who'll donate money to help them reach that goal. The guys pay $1.25 to send a message to the women, and $1.00 of that fee goes to their surgery fund (Grunstra keeps 25 cents).

Some women auction their underwear to potential benefactors, while others pose for nude photos. Ashley, the 23-year-old shown here, is looking to have her second breast augmentation. Through the site, she earns $50 for sending users topless photos (sometimes in a schoolgirl outfit) and $100 for a nude photo. She estimates she's sent out approximately 200 of these photos, saying:

"It's a business thing for me. I mean, I hate to feel that way. Because I know some of these guys are thinking I'm their friend," she says. "I'm not really a fake person, so it's kind of a challenge for me. But at the same time, you know, you got to make the money."

Unsurprisingly, the concept has earned the ire of people who say it's an exploitative venture. But with more than 5 million page views per month, there's clearly an audience of women who can't afford augmentation on their own (and, of course, men who are willing to pay to help them reach their goal). What do you think? Is this a savvy move for the small-chested, or is it just a sign of small self-esteem?

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Plastic Surgery Patients Aren't Who You Might Expect

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:10:41 -0700

A few weeks ago, I read Beauty Junkies, the book about cosmetic surgery by New York Times reporter Alex Kuczynski. It's a fascinating read, and one of the most surprising things I learned was that the majority of people who undertake cosmetic procedures have moderate incomes. Then, today's Times reports about a third of people considering plastic surgery reported household incomes of below $30,000; only 13 percent made more than $90,000.

How are people affording pricey procedures that can cost up to a third of their incomes? Loans, of course-some of which boast interest rates of 25%, plus loan-processing fees of around $600. Dr. Robert Kotler, a surgeon in Beverly Hills, puts it this way:

“What does it cost to amortize a nose over the useful life of it?” Dr. Kotler said. “It costs 30 cents a day, cheaper than a can of soda, and unlike a car, you get the benefit of a nose for the rest of your life.”

To find out why people are literally buying into his theory, read more

Whether it's because of advertising, makeover television shows or insouciant celebrities with nose jobs, many middle-class Americans are buying into the belief that a better life is just a nip, tuck, slice or injection away. “In a bosom-obsessed society where you think you can earn $20,000 more with bigger breasts, is it insane to consider taking out a loan to have surgery?” sociology professor Dr. Laurie L. Essig told the Times. “The demographic is teachers, law enforcement officers and stay-at-home moms.”

A few things about this story make me uneasy. I think it's one thing to decide to have surgery, but it's another thing to do it if you have to take out high-interest loans to afford the procedures. While people might be happy with their new noses and breasts, paying off loans with 25% interest rates (by the way, 25% is above the usury limit in some states) is bound to cause significant stress. And what's really bizarre to me is this: If middle-income people are going into debt to afford surgery so that they can have better (and wealthier) lives, isn't there a weird irony in the relatively small percentage of high-income people considering surgery?

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Is There a Link Between TV and Plastic Surgery?

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:00:05 -0700

A new Yale University School of Medicine study followed 42 people through their initial consultations for plastic surgery, and found that they were more likely to watch television shows about surgical makeovers such as Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover:

Only 12% of those studied had never seen a cosmetic surgery show; 79% reported that television influenced their decision to pursue a cosmetic operation.

The research team also found that people who watched frequently always thought they knew more about the pros and cons of surgery. While the study doesn't find a direct causal relationship between TV viewing and the decision to get surgery, I'm going to go ahead and make this observation: I think the shows have made plastic surgery more socially acceptable, which may make people feel more comfortable with the decision to go under the knife. (Then again, there's a strong argument that these shows, with their magical transformations, imply that happiness is just a nip, tuck and snip away.) Either way, this study gives a new meaning to the phrase 'boob tube.'

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Insatiable Plastic-Surgery Addict? There's an App For That

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:06 -0700

OK, there are a million bad apps out there already, but the Shafer Plastic Surgery App really puts the "terrible" in the "terribly useless." An "informational database of over 1,000 FAQ’s covering invasive and non-invasive plastic surgery procedures and treatments," this iPhone app seems designed mostly to tell young, trendy women about procedures that, if you're at all considering, you should be discussing directly with a doctor instead of a gadget. If plastic surgery is going to make you really, truly happy, then OK, go for it. But taking advice from your phone on how to look your best is probably not a wise idea. Plus, the graphics on this thing are kinda sleazy. A headless female torso with water running down it and just a hint of boob - really? I think surgery is a serious thing, and your self-esteem is too. What about you? Would you download something like this?

A Peek Inside the Plastic Surgery Beauty Pageant

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:38 -0700

I'd heard about the Hungarian Miss Plastic Hungary beauty contest a few months ago, but now there's footage of this unprecedented event. The contestants, all of whom have gone under the knife and are oddly dressed like Leeloo from The Fifth Element, competed for prizes including a car and an apartment. (In case you're wondering, no, cosmetic procedures such as Botox didn't count - only surgery such as rhinoplasty did.)

I find this concept odd, but then again, I have always found beauty pageants unsettling. At the same time, there's something refreshing about this one's frank acknowledgment of the nips and tucks. After all, in traditional beauty pageants, many contestants have had some surgical tweaking, but that's not disclosed. At least this Hungarian pageant says, "Nope, nothing fully natural here." Do you think that's a better way to go about pageantry, or do you find the whole thing bizarre in the first place?

Should Teenagers Have Plastic Surgery?

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:00:37 -0800

As a teenager, I was involved in a minor car accident. Since then, I've had a little bump on the top of my nose. And while I possibly could have had it fixed along the way, I now consider the imperfection unnoticeable - a unique part of me.

Today, the New York Times published an article on the topic of teenage plastic surgery. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, procedures for those under 18 have tripled in the past 10 years, with breast augmentations occurring six times as much - surprising figures, eh?

Some argue that the problem is more about low self-esteem, causing young girls to feel they must change their bodies to be accepted. Others view plastic surgery as a self-esteem booster, with supporters claiming it can actually prevent destructive behaviors such as eating disorders. What do you think? Is teenage plastic surgery just too risky, or are you all for it?

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With Plastic Surgery, What's Best For Teens?

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:00:32 -0700

Most teenagers find something that they don't like about their appearance. Later, some of us grow to live with these quirks - check out these "flaws" that are actually gorgeous - and many grow to love their crooked noses or big ears. These days, though, they don't have to: More teenagers are turning to plastic surgery to fit in.

Last year, approximately 87,600 plastic surgery operations were performed on teenagers unhappy with an aspect of their appearance. "Sometimes, one hour for an operation and a few days to recover are better than a lifetime of psychoanalysis," said Dr. Frederick Lukash, a New York plastic surgeon who has specialized in adolescents and has performed breast lifts on girls as young as 14.

Plastic surgery is a personal choice, one that I think most adults can consider for themselves. But I'm not sure I would have learned how to be confident with myself if I hadn't pushed past some of the teasing I got as an adolescent - and I certainly know that at 15, I wasn't ready to pick out a car, much less a new face. So what do you think? Is it healthier for teens to endure the teasing from an awkward appearance, or to avoid the emotional pain by going under the knife?

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