I just read this sad article about a woman who can no longer close her eyes due to a plastic surgery procedure. And if you’ve been reading here this week, you’ll know that I have plastic surgery on the brain.
And while I *know* that bad things happen to people all the time, undergoing these kinds of procedures just seems like you’re opening yourself up to (unnecessary?) risk.
I guess I’m just a wimp.
Saw that one yesterday and thought of your thread, ironically enough.
This article speaks a little to why I have kind of a mixed view on the whole thing. I’m not really “into” elective plastic surgery myself – meaning I can’t see myself wanting to go in for one – but I have trouble making judgments on those who do, even for seemingly frivolous reasons. When I read about the case above on Gawker, a lot of the comments were just plain cruel, along the lines that she doesn’t deserve any sympathy or recompense because she chose to have the procedure, was told of the risks and really didn’t need to have it done.
We did a case study in one of my business school classes at the Y in which we discussed the round a lawsuits going on then against makers of leaky silicone implants. Much of the sentiment was the same. Women who got boob jobs shouldn’t have a right to sue over malfunctioning products, because they didn’t really “need” them. Besides being irrelevant from a legal point of view (product liability does not depend on presumed need for the product), it basically struck me as another way of making a harsh judgment – that the women suffering from malfunctioning implants deserved their suffering as a result of being shallow.
In the case above, I can’t really say what is the “right” outcome, as there are other issues to consider, such risk disclosure and the very real problem of soaring medical liability costs. But I’m kind of uncomfortable hinging an outcome of the case to the patient’s supposed motivations to seek out the procedure.
And how the hell does one never close her eyes?
Oh, I feel enormous sympathy for her–as well as puzzlement since I admittedly do not relate to her motivations. But wow, talk about the costs of beauty. So sad.
I think my sympathy is eroded by my skepticism towards litigation culture in general… over here I’d expect her to be pursuing some kind of corrective procedure prior to any kind of pay-out… but it’s certainly a good warning of the side effects of cosmetic procedures.
I do know people who sleep with their eyes open, though… it’s not the worst thing I’ve heard of! :s :)
We all take elective risks every day that aren’t necessary. I think Andy’s onto something – if you knowingly take a risk and it goes awry, who is responsible for the consequences?
Sure, we all take elective risks, but some are significantly riskier (more risky?) than others. For instance, Brent takes a risk every day when he gets in his car and drives 75 miles to work. He HAS to drive to work; there is no other way for him to get there.
But some of these cosmetic surgery procedures are very risky. Any time you go under, you’re taking on a huge risk.
I just can’t lump all risky behaviors into one big pool and say we all do it.
Some good friends of mine had a baby recently. At the shower before the baby was born, they were saying they sure hoped their baby would be pretty since it was going to be a little girl. So I added.. . yeah, pretty and smart. They laughed. . . and then the husband said – no, mainly just pretty.
I was thinking . . . if I had to pick between pretty and smart. .. I would choose smart. But. . . I guess for many. . . they choose pretty? Even if it means they have to get butt fat pumped into their lips and their eyes sealed shut.
Ouch. I read a YA novel with my daughter that involved this question, so we were talking with the girls and asked them which they would choose. Right away, they said “smart” (phew). But then they asked why they had to choose and said they wouldn’t want to be UGLY, but . . .
I’m guessing the people engaging in this level of cosmetic surgery don’t see it as a choice between smart and pretty, though.
This makes me think of my sister is raising 3 girls who are very “girlie”. They come down out dressed in all sorts of frills and sparkles and she said, “Wow. You look really smart today!”
Great line, Laurie! I love it.
Heather – I get your point for sure – it’s not a risk I want to take. Yet, it’s interesting to question my own judgments. I just got in my car and drove to the store. To buy chocolate. It’s a total risk every time I get in the car, people die or get hurt in car accidents every second, and I definitely didn’t need the chocolate. Shouldn’t be eating the chocolate. It wasn’t a healthy choice. Most people come out of elective surgery just fine, or people wouldn’t even consider the risk. Most people drive to the store just fine. Plastic surgery isn’t a risk I would want to take, but I wonder where my knee-jerk reaction to judge someone’s else’s risk decisions comes from.
Yes. Clearly I’m dealing with a lot of knee-jerk reactions/judgments here (from ME, not talking about anyone else).
But driving in a CAR seems qualitatively different than choosing to undergo plastic surgery. Sure, you may not have needed that chocolate. And I may not have needed my morning diet DP. Definitely. But my kids DO need to get to school every day and we DO need to buy groceries and get to work. And at least here, there is NO OTHER WAY to get to places. It’s either walking (miles upon miles) or driving your car. So I see that as being very different on the risk calculation front than plastic surgery . . .