Melissa’s Blog: I Love Getting Dressed Now
June 5th, 2009
I am quite pleased with how I look now, if I might say so myself! And I’m beginning to think my friends are, too. Initially, I felt a little apprehension coming from a handful of women. Some were a bit judgmental about surgery, which I could understand. Some were also a bit taken back as to why I would want to compromise my body. As I explained, after bearing three children and breast feeding them all, I no longer had shape, nor much breast tissue left. I know that I am not alone in this predicament following pregnancy. It became hard for me to shop for bras and even harder for me to shop for tops. There is just so much I can handle buying XXS small tops, before feeling like a pre-teen girl again.
Well, I concluded this rather awkward discussion, once it became apparent that we each had our own personal viewpoints by offering, “I’m sharing my story on this blog for everyone to read.” I jotted down www.nipntuck.wordpress.com on a piece of paper for them to check out. “My intentions are to help educate women about breast augmentations. I want to show and tell others that there is another side to why women get breast enhancements, other than to look and feel like cocktail waitresses in Las Vegas.” So now after my surgery, I’m finding out that what some women deem as an appropriate breast size varies greatly.
Please check back tomorrow to read the conclusion of my journey.
Cosmetic Surgery Larceny
June 2nd, 2009
Today The Orange County Register reported the surrender of the “Big Busted Bandit ” to the police. Allegedly she stole a breast enlargement surgery through identity theft. She was tracked down through her implant manufacturer serial numbers, according to the paper. It makes sense that with the advent of relatively inexpensive cosmetic medicine procedures popping up in some retail settings rather than established clinics and hospitals, this kind of thing has become more “popular.” I am sure that difficult economic times have played a role as well.
Cosmetic surgery larceny is nothing new. I first saw this occur in my practice some 20 years ago. A breast enlargement patient stopped payment on her check, on the very afternoon after having surgery. I was unable to re-collect the fee even though I tried. A difficult and expensive lesson to learn as a new plastic surgeon in practice.
All goods and services including cosmetic surgery and cosmetic medicine are at risk for theft. Most long standing plastic surgery practices have been victims at some level and recognize the risk. Measures are often taken to reduce the risk of this type of fraud. Requiring prepayment by 7-10 days if paying by check is a common practice and credit card payments may also be limited, as these charges can be contested by less than honorable patients. The last responsibility needed by a physician is chasing after a fee!
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