Oh, Venezuela!

My favorite quote from this article in the New York Times today:

“I’ve never seen more silicone anywhere else,” Mireia Sallarès, a filmmaker from Spain who focuses on feminist issues and is working on a project about Venezuela, told the newspaper Tal Cual. 

I can't imagine.

Rain, rain go away

Ugh, this rainy, cold weather is really getting me down.  Being cooped up inside with windows full of dreary grayness is no fun.

After we moved down the Peninsula (and then even further to the South Bay), my husband often claimed that he missed the misty coolness of living in the Outer Sunset.  I was happy to claim a new Bay Area microclimate... but where's that Northern California sun now?

"Bargain plastic surgery". . .

. . . three words that shouldn't be seen together.

Dr. Weintraub forwarded me this article, and I continue to be equally fascinated and horrified not only by what some medical "professionals" out there continue to do, but also by the poor men and women who are susceptible to such fancy phrases and rock bottom price promises.

As a Bay Area plastic surgeon, I want to believe that our community is too well-educated and informed to fall prey to such things, right?

Why, hello again.

Wow, has it been a while.  2010 disappeared in a hurry, leaving me grasping at the beginnings of 2011.  So let's give this another try.

A few plastic surgery-ish things in the news lately (although lately is probably being overly generous):

• Cosmetic foot surgery?  As a plastic surgeon, I'm all for making things look better, but really?
• Following up on the freaky contact lens craze, some other ways to "enhance" your eyes - some slightly more conventional things, like surgery, Restylane, and Latisse.
• A very matter-of-fact opinion on improving how you look and feel.  Contrary to what some of the plastic surgeons out there would have you believe, not everyone needs plastic surgery, and not everyone should.   I guess I'm just conservative for a plastic surgeon...
• Men admitting to wearing makeup (more here too, with a hunky shot of Don Draper to boot).   Finally.
• So I guess Latisse (and all the other products out there) aren't just for women anymore.  Eyelashes for everyone!
• One theory on why plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery were suddenly everywhere and everything.  To blame?  Reagonomics, of all things.
• Plastic surgeons aren't all just boobs and Botox; we get called to sew up all sorts of things.  I love Martha; I hope she's doing okay.

Regarding the FDA's recent breast implant news

The headlines sound alarming; anything with "breast implants" and "cancer" in the same line certainly catches my attention.  Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) may have a possible association with breast implants.

But if you read the FDA communication, you learn that although there is cause for heightened awareness regarding this unusual cancer, thankfully, it seems to be relatively rare.  ALCL has been formally reported in 34 of the approximately 5-10 million women worldwide who have had breast implants.

Relatively rare, of course, is meaningless, if it's you; thus the recommendations for monitoring your breast and implant health with self exams, mammograms, and MRI (if you have silicone gel-filled implants).