cosmetic surgery insanity

[Syrinx]

I can understand cosmetic surgery in some circumstances. I have a rather large nose, and I've sometimes idly thought about a little operation to correct the problem, but I've never really seriously considered it.

And I certainly understand people that have gone through some traumatic situation having reconstructive work done. That's a no-brainer.

But someone sent me this link to a young woman who wants to have "areola reduction surgery." I had never heard of anything like this before. And it has me a little creeped out. I had never heard of "areola reduction," and didn't know such a thing was possible, or in fact in demand.

But this woman is unhappy with her body.

I am 21 years old, 135lbs, no pregnancies. I am very unhappy with the look and shape of my areolas. I want a smaller more youthful look, but would rather wait to get a mastopexy later, after pregnancy. Am I a good candidate for a nipple surgery procedure?

The reply of Dr. Beverly Friedlander, MD just blows my mind away.

This photgragh demonstrates enlarged areola and breast asymmetry.

This is insanity. The young lady in the photograph looks entirely normal and attractive to me.

I'm not posting a direct link to the photo, but realize that the link I'm posting (to a cosmetic surgery site) does contain a photograph of a topless woman. This is not a sex thread. I just can't imagine what is wrong with the way this young woman looks, or why a professional person would tell her that she has some abnormal condition. It seems unethical to me. And just wrong.

http://www.realself.com/question/nipple-surgery-mastopexy-areola-size

[Odin2005]

9. Ditto, I don't see any problem.

Our society is really fucked up when it comes to women's appearence. No wonder anorexia is so pervasive!

[Demonaut]

13. I do, the left one is 0..2cm smaller than the right...big surgical scar should fix that right up

[DesertFlower]

2. i used to watch "doctor 90210". saw women

with great bodies wanting plastic surgery -- especially wanting larger breasts.

my granddaughter had breast augmentation last year. she had small, perky breasts, but she was unhappy with them and constantly padded her bra. she's happy with her augmentation, but i think her breasts are way to big for her small frame. she recently had her upper lip made fuller too. i'm wondering what's next?

i've had cosmetic surgery. had a facelift and eyes done when i was 50. also had a tummy tuck. i have small perky breasts too, but would never consider making them bigger.

now at age 70 i get botox in my forehead and fillers in my face. no more cutting.

nothing wrong with wanting to maintain a more youthful look, but some women go too far. i look "natural".

[Tx4obama]

3. There are 18 MALE doctors and only 3 FEMALE doctors replying on that thread ...

it's a shame that NONE of them said anything about the women looking 'perfectly normal' and that surgery is unnecessary.

And what the hell is up with the MD that said: "Your areolas appear slightly larger than ideal. "

What the hell is IDEAL?

And why are women listening to MEN in regards to their bodies!!! GRRRRRR !!!

[EOTE]

11. The first doctor said that she looked better than normal.

And that she should reconsider having such a surgery.

[madokie]

4. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Those look like fine, pretty tits to me. I thought they come in all sizes and shapes, colors too.

[RC]

5. That woman has problems and they are not physical.

She needs counseling, not surgery.

[dynasaw]

6. Body dysmorphic

Actually considered a form of mental illness:

"Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD, also body dysmorphia, dysmorphic syndrome; originally dysmorphophobia) is a type of mental illness, a somatoform disorder, wherein the affected person is exclusively concerned with body image, manifested as excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect of their physical features. . . .

individuals with BDD also do not possess knowledge or insight into the disorder and so regard their problem as one of a physical rather than psychological nature; therefore, individuals suffering from BDD may seek cosmetic treatment rather than mental health treatment."
DSM IV

[MineralMan]

7. A lot of cosmetic surgery is based on what the

patient wants, rather than on any need for such surgery. I noticed that most of the doctors mentioned the scar that would be present after the surgery. That's part of the ethical standard for plastic surgeons. They're supposed to disclose all aspects of the procedure. Some might minimize this aspect, but most in the answers made it pretty clear that the scar may be an appearance issue for the patient, post-surgery. Those who did not may be skirting the ethical issue.

Looking at the photo, I can't see any reason to do this surgery, but I'm not that woman. Will she be happy with the results? I don't know, really. She might, or she might later regret having the surgery.

The kind of cosmetic surgery she's considering is designed to make her feel better about herself. It's far from cheap. She could probably save money by consulting a counselor instead of a plastic surgeon. There's so much variation in the appearance of the human breast that I can't see the issue here, really. But, she does, apparently. She'll have no problem finding a surgeon to do this surgery if she decides to go ahead with it.

Disclaimer: I just finished writing all the content for a plastic surgeon's website. In the process, I had to do a bunch of research on ethical issues, etc.

[Odin2005]

8. Non-reconstructive plastic surgury is BS.

It encourages f'ed up views of women's bodies.

[truebrit71]

10. I'm with you...normal and attractive...

....no idea that chicks just took pictures of their boobies and sent them to you if you had 'M.D.' after your last name....

[warrior1]

12. being a woman

that would bother be too. I don't know if I would have surgery though. It's her body. I know why she would want smaller aureola's. For her they would be more attractive and she would feel better about her self. It made not be physically abnormal but she's not comfortable with the look of them. If she wants surgery who are we to tell her in different.