Patient Perspectives: Gina’s Blog
July 17th, 2009
Hello. My name is Gina.
I am a personal trainer and instructor in Minneapolis. I am coming up on my 40th birthday in October. I have been struggling with a fibrocystic breast for the past 7 years. The fibroids are painful when I work out (which is 2-3hrs/day) and they have caused my left breast to become noticeably larger than my right one. As a trainer, symmetry is very important to me, so I set out on a quest to remedy this problem.
I consulted several doctors about a solution and the most common answers were #1-Quit all stimulants, such as caffeine, chocolate, wine, etc. for 6 months and #2-Be happy with my body just the way it is. I am willing to try anything as long as I get my desired end result, so I quit stimulants and gave up my dark chocolate and my white wine for the 6 months. Let’s just say that my husband did not find me pleasurable to around for the first month of this experiment! It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, but I thought it would be worth it. Well, it wasn’t. Nothing changed. The fibroids didn’t dissipate, which means I still had one large, painful breast. Needless to say, I am once again enjoying my caffeine!
With the first suggestion checked off of the list, I was left with #2. For the most part, I’m pretty happy with my body and how it looks and also, how it performs on an athletic level. All in all, I’m pretty satisfied. Although, I’m also of the mindset that if you can change something and better yourself physically and mentally, than why not!? Accept what you can’t change and change what you can. So three years ago, I saw Dr. Bashioum for liposuction on my left breast, in hopes that if we took the size down with that procedure, it wouldn’t be so heavy and, therefore, not as painful. Not to mention, the size would maybe match better! It was one of the possible treatments and that approach worked for some time. However, over the past few years, the fibroids have gotten bigger and are pretty much making up almost all of my breast tissue on the affected side. At this point, I am considering additional surgery to correct my asymmetry. I’ll tell you more after my consultation with Dr. Bashioum about my decision whether or not to have a reduction on my left breast.
Stars Not Scars
June 20th, 2009
Sky News report of a Belgian teenager getting a facial tattoo is remarkable. The teenage girl claims she asked for three stars on her face, but ended up with more than 30 after she fell asleep at the tattoo parlor. She is now stuck with the permanent marks prominently displayed on her face. Even with the best laser removal, there will most likely be some form of scarring of her face and shadows from incomplete ink removal.
Tattoos are a cultural phenomenon. Traditional cultures in the South Pacific have utilized this permanent skin marking for centuries. It is an integral part of who they are. Tahitian tattoos frequently will chronicle a person’s life journey, including particularly notable events. Maori mokos are a sign of social status worn on the face. These are the cornerstones of social acceptance. Captain Cook’s discovery of this practice and subsequent introduction into the western world is relatively recent when compared to these ancient Polynesian traditions. The recent appearance in our pop culture during the past 10 years, can only be described as a fashionable fad. It is hardly part of our cultural fabric and tradition.
The real problem arises when tattoos are chosen outside a real tradition or cultural significance. In the West, relatively little thought is generally given to the ramifications of a tattoo. They may often be chosen on a whim, due to peer pressure or possibly consent given under the influence of chemicals. Ask any World War II veteran about their tattoo and you will usually hear a story of alcohol consumption as part of the ritual. However, for the soldiers, these occasions served as a symbol of their military service and a bond of fraternity.
The young lady who ended up with stars on her face is an extreme example of bad judgement and while certainly tragic, I am skeptical of her story. It is very difficult to fall asleep as she reports, when facial skin is stimulated in this way, unless she was medicated or intoxicated. The account given by the tattoo technician doesn’t match her story, so the actual sequence of events is unclear. None the less, she must live with the consequences.
Tattoos are a personal choice. Just like any cosmetic surgery procedure, really. The long-term implications must be weighed within the society and culture you reside. Gang tattoos are no exception. This was brought home to me while I was removing gang related tattoos as a volunteer, free of charge. The tattoos symbolized the membership in a gang. The people I saw were those trying to break away from gangs. Any visible signs of gang association hindered them in their goal to get a job and start a fresh life. Once the telltale markings were removed, they had a much greater chance at life outside the gangs. Removal is painful and very expensive lasers are needed to lighten the tattoo ink. Several visits are required, making the final bill to remove a tattoo costing several hundreds of dollars.
Unless culturally consistent (Tahitian life event tattoos or Maori mokos), the long term connotation and denotation meanings must be carefully weighed before making any long term or permanent physical changes.
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