by Phyllis Tannenbaum
During the last ten years, Christine has had her nose fixed, eyelids lifted, breasts enlarged, thighs reduced and she is already planning for her next cosmetic surgery - a face lift.
Christine is a forty-year-old computer executive from Peabody. Look, she says, I know some people would call me a plastic surgery junky, but as I see it, there is always some physical part of you that you don't like. Ordinarily, people dont do anything but complain. I do something about it. Say I have some extra money. I can take a trip or maybe have my small breasts, which I've always been very sensitive about made larger. A trip lasts one or two weeks. New breasts last forever. Now which one makes more sense?
Christine is an extreme example. Most people don't have multiple procedures, but cosmetic surgery is on the rise. And the reasons people are doing it are as varied as the results.
There's the mother of three from Swampscott who has devoted her life to her family and now, at fifty, she feels its time to do something for herself;
...the flat-chested eighteen year old who thinks that if she goes off to college filling out a B cup bra, shell be more popular.
...the thirty year old woman who is tired of suffering from the back strain, poor fitting clothes and snide remarks caused by her large breasts.
...the male vice president of a large corporation, threatened by the younger men in the market place, feels that a facelift will make him better equipped to compete.
...and then there's the man who thought cosmetic surgery might make him looks less sad and thus more lovable.
The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons statistics appearing in a recent Newsweek article, showed that plastic surgery rose sixty-one percent between 1981 and 1984, and that the most popular procedures were breast enlargements and eye lifts. There were 72,000 cases of breast enlargements and 56,000 cases of upper and lower eye lifts. The article stated that the Society estimates that its 2,700 certified surgeons performed some 477,000 operations last year and what it calls esthetic surgery.
People have cosmetic surgery for many reasons. Dr. Barry A. Davidson, clinical instructor of plastic surgery at Tufts Medical School, says, People have eyelid surgery because they worry about wrinkles,sagging of eyelid skin, looking tired even when they've had a good night's rest, and sometimes when the condition of the eyelid has progressed to the point of visual impairment.
Women have their breasts enlarged or reduced because they feel bad about themselves, explains Dr. Robert M. Goldwyn, clinical professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.
Overly large breasts can be a real impediment, says Dr. Goldwyn.They're cumbersome and can cause neck pain and rashes. There warm in summer, they can distort interpersonal relationships and restrict physical activity.
Dr. Goldwyn adds that five to ten percent of cosmetic breast surgery is performed on men. Fat or overly muscular boys have breast reductions as a release from psychological embarrassment. Men with prostate cancer, who are given estrogen sometimes develop breasts. Some older men suffer from breast enlargement as do many men who smoke marijuana.
If notable scarring occurs after breast reduction, more than one procedure may be required. The patient may have partial or even complete loss of nipple sensitivity and the chance of nursing is decreased by fifty percent.
Eyelidplasty can result in blindness. It only occurs in half of one percent of all cases, but the patient should be warned about it, says Dr.Goldwyn. The surgeon can also remove too much tissue resulting in the "basset hound look" and excess scar tissue or prolonged swelling or discoloration.
As Dr.Eugene H. Courtiss, associate clinical professor, plastic surgery, Boston University says, "You cant bat 1,000 every time." But what, if any, is the selection process used to find out who makes a good candidate for a particular type of plastic surgery? It is important", Dr.Courtiss explains, "for a person to have realistic expectations and psychological and physical health." Even Christine says, "Anyone who goes into this thinking she's going to come out looking like Liz Taylor at twenty is in real trouble."
Dr.Sevinor says, "The best compliment a plastic surgeon can receive is when a face-lift patient tells him My friends say how rested I look and ask if I have been on vacation!" Since 1981 two new trends have evolved in cosmetic surgery: more and more men are having it performed and both sexes are having suction lipectomy.
Dr. Courtiss was one of the first doctors to perform a suction lipectomy in this country. Developed in Paris in the late 1970s, suction lipectomy removes fat in localized areas. It usually takes about an hour and a half and costs between $1,500 and $4,000.
Only a few of the more popular cosmetic procedures have been mentioned. There is also sanding, or surgical dermabrasion, collagen implants, chin surgery (mentoplasty), ear correction (otoplasty), breast reconstruction, tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) and other body contour surgery. Insurance does not cover many of these operations and fees are usually collected before surgery.
So if cosmetic surgery if expensive, painful, causes discomfort, and is potentially hazardous, why are so many people having it done?
Psychologist Judith Jordan of McClean Hospital says, "You have to look at the culture that causes this. Most of the patients are women. Women are raised to over-value their appearance. Their self esteem is tied up with whether or not they perceive themselves as attractive by society at large.
This is an age of narcissism and there is a strong pull for certain standards of beauty. Men are also subject to this." Youthfulness is paramount. Youthfulness that doesn't show wrinkles, sagging skin, or serve to remind us of any suffering that we may have experienced in our lives. I think people should be very cautious before taking this step."
But most of the people who have had cosmetic surgery are very happy that they did. "My patients say the results are very gratifying," says Dr.Sevinor. Christine says that she would do it all over again if she had to.
Susan, a fifty-two-year-old housewife from Marblehead, was so delighted with the outcome of her face-lift that four years later she had a suction lipectomy.
And Mario, a Newbury Street hairdresser, says he feels like a new man after having an eyelift. Well, that goes to show that they don't call it a "lift" for nothing.
You want a surgeon who is warm, honest, competent and easy to talk to. If you're not satisfied, go to someone else. He or she may be the doctor, but its YOUR body!
Ask your family doctor, gynecologist, friends, local hospital, county or state medical society.
Is he board certified? Does he publish? Does he teach and if so, where? What societies does he belong to? Where did he go to school? How many years did he train?
1. How often do you perform this operation?
2. Is it dangerous?
3. What are the complications?
4. Where will the incisions be?
5. Will there be scarring?
6. How is the operation performed?
7. How long is the operation?
8. Will it be performed on an out-patient basis?
9. Where will it be performed?
10. Am I a good candidate?
11. What anesthesia will be used?
12. Will anyone else be in attendance?
13. What are the limitations?
14. How much pain will there be?
15. How long will I be black and blue?
16. How long will the swelling last?
17. Will I see you after the surgery?
18. Will you take out my stitches?
19. When can I resume normal activities?
20. What is the cost?
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