Would you ever consider having Cosmetic surgery...

[AmberLee]

Yes, I've had cosmetic surgery. I had something called an amyloid (not sure I'm spelling that right... ) growing under my right eye. By the time it was discovered, my face was/is slightly distorted. Good news: the surgery successfully removed it, my eyesight was saved. Bad news: the work they did so the distortion would go away didn't work. It took a series of four mini-surgeries over several years. I've drug my feet over another attempt to correct it. Last one was pretty painful, I don't like the surgeon who is 'the best in the Western United States', and I was very discouraged by the final results.

But when I am tired or stressed, it does affect my sight. And I get very self-conscious when small children get in my face, studying it, and ask why it's crooked. (Just want to go home and howl... )

Carole, the news report might be true, but I doubt it. I have several friends and acquaintances in the service and know how difficult they find it to get medically required surgeries scheduled/ time off, what you say boggles my mind. I'll ask though.

[Freckles]

Cosmetic surgery for military CNN article.

[AmberLee]

Thanks, Freckles, that surprises me.

[sirrahved]

I would get my nose straightened if we had money to do it. I broke it two years ago and it's rather crooked now. We'll never have enough money where I could feel comfortable doing it and not guilty, so I'll be stuck with the crooked nose I have.

[Tonya]

Oh my gosh! I cannot believe that is true!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I told my husband from what I have seen of Southern California, if he wants me to live there he will have to buy me a pair of big fake boobs so I can fit in. (I am only kidding....about getting fake boobs NOT about the extensive number of them running around there!)

However, if it weren't for my irrational fear of medical procedures I would have my eyes done someday....

[moosmom]

I think people who dwell on their looks and are "excessive" with cosmetic surgery need serious counseling. Like that chick who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to look like Barbie?? She's a head trip if I EVER saw one!!

My best friend had a bit of cosmetic surgery. She looks great. That's fine. But I think that too much emphasis these days has been put on, especially women, with "perfect" bodies. Beauty comes from within.

Would I ever consider cosmetic surgery, not unless I was in a horrible accident and was disfigured and needed it. If people don't like the way I look, it's THEIR problem, not mine.

[Twisterdog]

Never. I would never have cosmetic surgery. I can think of few things more silly, frankly.

There are several women in town here who have had every cosmetic surgery known to man, several times. Sure, from a distance, they look great. But up close, they look plastic - as if their faces will crack if they smiled. Scary - truly.

I am not my body. I am my mind, my soul, my heart. My body is just the package I am currently living in. Having a smaller nose or larger breasts isn't going to change who I am inside, who I can become.

I find it terribly sad that people will spend so much time and money fighting aging, and altering their appearance when they won't devote a single dime or hour to helping those less fortunate or learning something new. We seem to becoming a culture of "Doesn't matter how I feel or what I do, just so I look good."

[carole]

Thanks Freckles , I did not think our media source was that unreliable.

Can I please just say I don't want this thread to turn into bashing people who do choose to have cosmetic surgery,(not that it has exactly) I really just wanted to know is it something you might or might not consider.

Seriously as much as I might have a wish list, its not for me, but I have no problem with those who choose to undertake plastic surgery.

However I do agree with Donna, someone who has so much to look like a Barbie Doll IMO does require counselling, either that or its just a publicity stunt, so she can be famous for it.

I am not sure why women want to have huge Boobs, is it so that men will take more notice of them, or are they extroverted people who just love attention, now I am talking about HUGE ones here folks.

I would be interested to hear from our fellow California PT members, Gini, and Richard to name two, does nearly everyone have a fake something in LA? being the hollywood capital, isn't it just the norm there.?,correct me if I am wrong please!!no offense mean't here.

If I were an american taxpayer I think I would be a little out-raged at paying for military staff to have themselves fixed up..

[buckner]

I've had cosmetic surgery before, but it was for health reasons. Late 2001 and early 2002, I noticed a bump on my nose. After a few months had passed, it hadn't gone away. The dermatologist had guessed it was a tumour. A small benign tumour, indeed it was. It was removed and classified and cosmetic surgery.

Sure, if I had the money or the guts, I'd get cosmetic surgery. I've never been happy with the way I looked. Even when I was considered "skinny", I wasn't happy with the way I looked. My body, my hips, my legs, my face, my nose, etc. The thing I've been hoping for most in my life, ever since I was a little girl, is that they came out with some miracle surgery to fix my ears. I'd give anything to have normal ears that function properly without ear tubes. I hate being different, and having so many people ask "what're those?" when I'm swimming.. at least, trying. I've never been able to swim. :/ That's not cosmetic surgery.. but I'd give anything to have that. Oh well.. I'll just keep hoping.

[joycenalex]

last september i had gastric bypass surgery, and my body form has changed dramatically. as i've lost the weight, and exercised, (fairly faithfully for the last 3 months) my muscle layers under the very lose skin are firming up nicely, but the loose skin looks and feels awful. i'm planning on having the skin on my upper arms, stomach, hips and thighs and buttocks removed, possibly next year, a breast reduction, but no implants though, i'm a mammographer, and i realize how difficult it is to get good breast images. i also want a face/jaw lift so i look as good as i feel inside. the gastric bypass surgery has saved my life, without it, i really believe that i would have died from the co-morbidities at an early age. as a very heavy woman for years the taunts, judgements and plain rude comments and stares from many ignorant people have been hurtful. i have the opportunity now to change my external self to the always there internal self, so i'll go for it.

[Samantha Puppy]

I would, but it would be to fix the disgusting scar on my back left by a stupid intern that jabbed me with surgical scissors when I was 4 months old. It's hideous and I'm extremely self-conscious of it. I can't wear low-cut panties or jeans or bathing suits... I would love to be able to wear hip huggers.

[CatMama78]

I see nothing wrong with a few nips and tucks here and there if it helps you to feel better about yourself. I'm actually pretty satisfied with my features, so I would not have surgery on any of those. But, I don't see a problem with those who do. To each their own and everything in moderation. Yeah, I agree that Barbie woman is a few screws shy and has some serious issues.

BUT, if I could afford it and was a good candidate for it, I would have liposuction in a second. Sorry, but it's the truth!! More realistically, I'm on Jenny Craig and working out - so I'm going to lose weight the good way .

And a lot of you youngsters may indeed change your mind as you grow older. I know you think you're set in your decision now, but things change.......

And of course, there is a definite difference in surgery for vanity's sake (still I see no problem with it) and surgery out of necessity.

And I want to stress I'm for cosmetic surgery in MODERATION. One nose job and one face lift is moderate. But the people who have surgery after surgery!!! That's a disease.

Tonya, we'll keep you in our prayers You're a strong woman!

[Tonya]

Originally posted by buckner
Sure, if I had the money or the guts, I'd get cosmetic surgery. I've never been happy with the way I looked. Even when I was considered "skinny", I wasn't happy with the way I looked. My body, my hips, my legs, my face, my nose, etc. The thing I've been hoping for most in my life, ever since I was a little girl, is that they came out with some miracle surgery to fix my ears. I'd give anything to have normal ears that function properly without ear tubes. I hate being different, and having so many people ask "what're those?" when I'm swimming.. at least, trying. I've never been able to swim. :/ That's not cosmetic surgery.. but I'd give anything to have that. Oh well.. I'll just keep hoping.

Oh, buckner, I am bawling right now. My son, Jaden, never had a (noticable) ear infection in his life. But, he never seemed to pay attention. I took him to his doctor time and time again and told her that I thought he couldn't hear. She told me "Get used to it, he'll be ignoring your for another 18 years."

Finally, when he was 3, his preschool teacher said "You know, Tonya, I don't think he's intentionally being bad...I don't think he can hear. I think he is reading lips."

So I changed doctors and insisted on a hearing test. In the doctors office, they don't have a way of testing really, so Jaden passed the standard test. Then, they sent him to an old fart audiologist. The guy got frustrated and said "This kid needs discipline, he can hear."

Finally, we got him to a child audiologist who would have him drop blocks in the bucket when he heard sounds and things like that. I could tell that Jaden was truly enjoying himself, so I knew the results wouldn't be fudged.

I bawled my eyes out during that test. I hated myself for all those times I lost my cool because he "wasn't listening". I hated myself for not being more persistant. I hated myself because he was now behind his age group socially. I hated myself for all those times he had stitches and staples from falling. (His equilibrium was affected.) His motor skills were behind.

Well, they told me that it was fluid build up. His ear drums may be damaged, but maybe not.

Well, fastforward to today...He is seven years old and they have had to replace his tubes a few times. And he's lost his hearing a few more times since he was three. He loves swimming and begs to be in swim lessons. Yet, everytime I let him swim, no matter how well we put the plugs in and his headband, he winds up with a horrible infection. His ears literally drain like a faucet.

He's at that age now, where he is becoming a bit self conscious. He is really bothered that he has to wear funny stuff when he swims. He's embarrassed because he can't dive to the bottom of the pool like the rest of the kids. He's always asking me when he won't have to wear tubes and his ears will be normal.

It breaks my heart because I really don't know if his ears ever will be normal. I wish that is was me instead of him. Anyways, sorry to ramble. Your post just really hit home.

[buckner]

Originally posted by Tonya
Oh, buckner, I am bawling right now. My son, Jaden, never had a (noticable) ear infection in his life. But, he never seemed to pay attention. I took him to his doctor time and time again and told her that I thought he couldn't hear. She told me "Get used to it, he'll be ignoring your for another 18 years."

Finally, when he was 3, his preschool teacher said "You know, Tonya, I don't think he's intentionally being bad...I don't think he can hear. I think he is reading lips."

So I changed doctors and insisted on a hearing test. In the doctors office, they don't have a way of testing really, so Jaden passed the standard test. Then, they sent him to an old fart audiologist. The guy got frustrated and said "This kid needs discipline, he can hear."

Finally, we got him to a child audiologist who would have him drop blocks in the bucket when he heard sounds and things like that. I could tell that Jaden was truly enjoying himself, so I knew the results wouldn't be fudged.

I bawled my eyes out during that test. I hated myself for all those times I lost my cool because he "wasn't listening". I hated myself for not being more persistant. I hated myself because he was now behind his age group socially. I hated myself for all those times he had stitches and staples from falling. (His equilibrium was affected.) His motor skills were behind.

Well, they told me that it was fluid build up. His ear drums may be damaged, but maybe not.

Well, fastforward to today...He is seven years old and they have had to replace his tubes a few times. And he's lost his hearing a few more times since he was three. He loves swimming and begs to be in swim lessons. Yet, everytime I let him swim, no matter how well we put the plugs in and his headband, he winds up with a horrible infection. His ears literally drain like a faucet.

He's at that age now, where he is becoming a bit self conscious. He is really bothered that he has to wear funny stuff when he swims. He's embarrassed because he can't dive to the bottom of the pool like the rest of the kids. He's always asking me when he won't have to wear tubes and his ears will be normal.

It breaks my heart because I really don't know if his ears ever will be normal. I wish that is was me instead of him. Anyways, sorry to ramble. Your post just really hit home.

My story is similar.

When I was born, my eustacion tubes were not fully developed. Normal drainage that runs down the back of your throat couldn't do that in me. So, it just backed up. Therefore, leaving me deaf. When I was 2 (give or take a few months), my mom realized that I wasn't hearing properly. My grandmother was scared to death that the daycare would punish me for not being able to here.. but they didn't.

My mom took me to the doctor, and he turned out to be a total jerk-off. Three months later, she walked out. We found an extraordinary specialist that I've been with for 14 years. Within 15 minutes of seeing me interact with toys in the playroom, he immediately knew why I couldn't hear and what was wrong. I've gone through 2 sets of regular ear tubes, and this current set (my third set) is permanant.

As a side note, before I continue on, if you were at an ENT specialist, they should've had their own room/section for an audiologist. My place does, and always have. The test should be hearing for faint tones.

No matter what, I'm not allowed to get water in my ears. Most people don't have what I have, and what Jaden has - which is direct access of water to the middle/inner ear. When water does get there, it hurt likes no other. Ear infections rise in every case, and in mine, I eventually go back deaf because it's all "backed up" again. I've gone several pairs of specially made ear plugs, probably about 8 or so in 14 years.

I have to say, the stares and questions don't go away. And the self-consciousness doesn't ever go away, because you just wish you were normal. But, it's just something I've learned to deal with. Don't be hard on yourself for not knowing or catching it early. Jaden will soon learn that his ear problem is a part of him, and there's nothing that he can do to change it.