Can Botched Plastic Surgery Be Undone? ... Read California Girl's Story
Ilena Rose
www.ilenarose.blogspot.com
Read California Girl's story:
www.breastimplantAwareness.org/californiagirl.htm
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/78539/
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/78539/?page=entire
Can Botched Plastic Surgery Be Undone?
By Luiza Sauma, Independent UK
Printed on March 14, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/story/78539/
Excerpts:
What goes up must come down. Although the cliché is not generally
applied to Victoria Beckham's assets, rumour has it that last year the
Queen of WAGs allegedly went under the knife -- not to make her
breasts bigger or firmer, as is usually the case, but to make them
smaller; closer, indeed, to how nature intended. Then there is Katie
Price, aka Jordan, the poster girl for oversized breast implants. Last
December, she flew to the US to have her 32FFs reduced to a rather
more humdrum 32D. Courtney Love, meanwhile, has been completely
upfront about her plans to go surgically back in time, so to speak. "I
just want the mouth God gave me," she wrote on her blog. "It was
perfectly cute."
There is nothing new about celebrities treating themselves as works in
progress -- their faces are their fortunes, botched or otherwise. But
as plastic surgery increases at an alarming rate among us mere mortals
(up 12.2 per cent from 2006 to 2007), surgeons have seen an upsurge in
people going under the knife to repair damage caused by previous
procedures. Somewhere along the line, this trend was dubbed
"undo-plasty", and its prevalence has brought home what a complex and
unpredictable business it is to have a nip and tuck.
When Georgina Graham booked herself in for some plastic surgery, all
she wanted was a confidence boost after an altercation with a burglar
had left a dent in her face. After much thought, she opted for a
face-lift and -- to repair the damage -- for fat from her stomach to
be injected into her cheek. Unfortunately, things did not go to plan.
"The surgeon injected the fat too high in my face and it sat in a bag
under my eye. I was left with really bad scars," she says. "I was
pretty devastated."
In the end, the fifty-something Londoner chose not to have more
invasive surgery ("I didn't want to go through all that again"), but
undertook a course of injections with non-invasive specialist Dr
Michael Prager. "He injected my face with something that dissolved the
fat and then built the area back up." Unfortunately, Graham's scars
are there to stay. And therein lies the truth about "undo-plasty" --
there is often no such thing as "undoing" plastic surgery. There might
be room for improvement, but there is no going back.
Bristol-based surgeon Nigel Mercer has experience of this rising
demand for repair work. "From infected breast implants to areas of
skin that have died, in the past month alone we've had three patients
admitted who had surgery done elsewhere for a variety of things," he
says. Indeed, in November, the British Association of Aesthetic
Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), of which Mercer is president-elect, reported
that a third of plastic surgeons had dealt with "much more" repair
work in the past five years; in the past year alone, 14 per cent had
seen nine or more patients requiring repairs after undergoing cheap
overseas surgery.
With so many risks involved, it does seem, nevertheless, that people
are ever-more ready to pay a heavy price -- financially, emotionally
and physically -- to improve their appearance. "Like it or not, we
live in a world where appearances are important," says Alex Karidis.
As a result, the most pertinent issue for the industry to face is not
one of ethics, but of standards. "It could be better regulated,
there's no question about that," admits Karidis. "We need to tighten
regulations -- for the sake of the public."
A plastic surgeon's guide to getting it right
Make your own decisions. The real expert on your appearance and your
concerns is you. Do not let anyone else talk you into a procedure.
Be informed. Anyone considering any cosmetic procedure should ensure
that they are fully informed and accept the limitations and risks --
no surgeon or procedure is 100-percent risk-free.
Be comfortable. Make sure you feel comfortable with the surgeon and/or
clinic you have chosen.
Know your surgeon. Many practitioners boast impressive sounding
qualifications, but these can have little meaning. BAAPS can help you
find an accredited surgeon in your area.
Get the timing right. Avoid surgery if you have recently experienced
major life events, such as changing jobs, losing a loved one or the
break-up of a relationship.
Beware of 'free' consultations. Avoid booking fees or non-refundable
deposits. No reputable surgeon would normally impose any penalty for
cancellations.
Consider the location. Do not travel a long distance for any surgery
unless you are comfortable with follow-up arrangements and the
management of complications which might arise.
Talk to your GP. Your doctor has no interest other than your welfare,
so many GPs will be perfectly happy to independently advise patients.
You can always change your mind. Everything should be to your
satisfaction and you have the option to cancel right up until the time
you go to sleep for surgery.
Take your time. Undergoing any kind of surgery is a serious
commitment, so make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Nigel Mercer
Nigel Mercer is BAAPS' president-elect and a consultant plastic
surgeon