Saturday, November 18, 2006

Reaping What You Sow

How truly nice of you who worried for my safety!  Thank you!   But of course as you may know, the tornado got "wind" of New Jersey and decided to fade out, never visiting my State, I should be more grateful somehow.  Speaking of things that go awry, the FDA has lifted the ban on silicone breast implants.  Remember the class action suit against Dow Chemical which bankrupted that particular chemical giant?  What's changed?  If anything it's the introduction of more research results showing the harmful effects on the auto-immune system not the mention cancer due to leaking implants. They leak.  My sister went ahead a few years ago and had saline implaints stuffed into her perfect body (which had already won awards for fitness in Maine).  She just felt under-"something", less than "something" I don't know.  If larger breasts would somehow instill more self-assurance well then, who am I to criticize?  She felt she was being safe, even though I explained how the bags they insert are constructed of silicone, even though they pump saline into them once placed.  (Is this turning off any male-type persons?  Beg pardon, but whatever affects women will eventually sit at your doorstep - and sometimes wallet).  

Why do we need these back?  After all that exhaustive research, double blind testing, and the victims themselves completely scarred - need anyone be reminded of Jenny Jones, the talk-show hostess?  She was brave enough to show the world what leakage has done to her body, how it was cut into horrifying edges.  A woman has curves of every sort, and is hopefully comfortable in her body, yet those curves are not what she sees in the media so her measure of what is beautiful becomes malleable, changeable - after all, remember Twiggy?  The opposite?  A woman couldn't get herself flat-chested fast enough, and so be it for that time - it was the rage and it was dutifully followed.  Anerexia nervosa was born.  Bulemia came into vogue.

So why do they do it - why do women insist on pumping their streched skin to its limits, now filled with dangerous silicone once again,and by the way, has any man reading this ever been fooled when he sees overly sized breasts?  None of my male friends even have.  Men always seem to know right away, and they're looking but not really caring - because they're false.  I could go into detail here but something on a woman's body which is supposed to move when she walks, but doesn't, to me looks as false as it is. 

How dare I talk this way?  I know better.  Woman scarred and diminished from having one or both breasts removed need the cosmetic surgery to help them reclaim their personage, their "womanliness" I understand and applaud that.  I AM PRO THAT.  I AM FOR THAT.  My own aunt HAD that procedure after a masectomy.  Those procedures aren't in sizes too far into the alphabet, they're natural-looking as were meant to be, and desired by the patient.  But when a healthy woman has implants pumped under her breast tissue in sizes like double H (with lips to match) isn't it a bit, well, what are we trying to tell woman anyway?  And when the pendulum swings as it inevitably does, it may be too late for those whose bodies had been ruined and scarred and sickened by leaking silicone into every inch of a once-healthy person.  Men are getting pectoral implants, penile implaints, cheeks, lips, foreheads, just every part of the human body is being carved and re-sculpted to look like ... what?  Women bring pictures of several media stars to the doctor.  "I want Angolina's lips, Demi's cheeckbones, Jennifer's nose ..." and they're being obliged.  There should be some kind of limit here, no?  Should it just be anyone's right and leave it be?  I don't know, I just feel conflicted for the health of these women.   

I'm confused, I really don't know.       

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think cosmetic surgery is mostly a matter of a person's self image.  I think a lot more people are affected with body dysmorphic disorder than we realize. I see beautiful people changing things that shouldn't be change. Women my age lifting, tucking and being sucked to try to turn the clock back.  Plus it's also a matter of Instant gratification.  Hopefully the majority of plastic surgeons out there will stop when a patient doesn't NEED any more procedures and send those BDO patients to a shrink.
Barb  

Anonymous said...

I saw a Twilight Zone episode once where every man and woman looked the same, up to and including their personalties.  You reached a certain age and off you would go to the plastic surgeon for a complete makeover, inside and out.  It was scary.  It is so sad that so many of us strive to be perfect.  Not only with breast implants, but with anything and everything that has to do with plastic surgery.  And, it doesn't stop there.  It seems that no matter how perfect you look, it's never perfect enough.  So sad.  
People always make such a thing about saying, "I look at whats inside, not on the outside!"  BS!  That's all I'm going to say about THAT!  This world has become completely plastic and artificial.

Like you, I am not referring to people who have had breast cancer and opt to have reconstructive surgery.  That's a whole other issue.

Hugs
Jackie

Anonymous said...

Hello Cathie... well I have an artistic side in my body that is well developped or would fancy hours of looking at what I find beautiful, in arts or others, furniture, decoration, colours... even some Models do look to me beautifully ugly sometimes...individual, unique, perfect in their own ways with their own flaws, natural or not, this is an expression of their own make up and who they are. if I were not that sensitive (i saw many programs on breast implants and OMG I would not give my body for that, or for any suction) I am for any change ... don't care. It makes you feel good whilst YOU ARE ALIVE then DO IT. I would not care about whether or not we live in an artificial world, I would certainly not if it were my choice and were happy with the changes... often those who complain are those like us thinking about the health side, or being scared going under the scalpel, or the shrinks "beauty inside before beauty outside": a little schizo in my opinion, I am for integrity and perhaps this is a personal expression that is needed for the internal to develop in positive ways too... I am just too sensitive and if it is not safe, then I won't pay for it; but I am for looking good as long as I am alive, and what "good" means is up to me.
Valerie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/iiimagicxx/surreality/

Anonymous said...

after watching a couple episodes of Dr 90210 I was shocked at some of the "enhancements" men can make -- and do make -- of their "manhood".  adding inches this way and that way.  
totally understand about the fake boobs.  I don't have much but I'm ok with what God gave me.

Kathy

Anonymous said...

Cathy,
I do not believe in cosmetic surgery. I only accept plastic surgery if there is a demonstrated clinical need. A woman after a mastectomy falls into that category. A woman who is not content with the size of what nature gave her - hardly. Sorry. Same applies to blokes who aren't content with the size of their who-you-know-what. They allowed silicon implants back? They're off their rocker.

Anonymous said...

Why indeed do we need these back. I remember jenny Jones; was  proud of her courage. It wasn't easy for her to do what she did. I'd hoped, truly thought it would make a difference. I'm sure it did, to some, just not to enough. I would love to look the way I looked when younger. lol, but am quite content with myself at my present age, yes, even considering gravities impact upon my person. lol
Great entry....but then, never read one that wasn't.
Have a great weekend,
Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK

Anonymous said...

Well said Cathy, Well said indeed.  I think it may be something that they are missing from thier childhood or something. Maybe those woman were with out a man around while they were growing up or something. lol. Maybe they think that they need something like that to get the attention that they have missed there whole life growing up. Heck i don't know. Any way just a though. But hear is another one as well. What does this story say about the men in our society? Awww to just be able to go back in time when the world was more care free. But then maybe it never was. I am just amazed more and more every day by the things that go on. Ok now I want to say thanks so much for this story it really got me to thinking I will tell you that. I seen some of the horror stories that you mentioned in that article and  its scary to me. I bet you don't see any pamplets in those Dr. offices tell women what can and has happened to other women that has had the implants though, You think? I know one thing that would be enough to make me change my mind thats for sure, lol. thanks hun for interesting reminder this story brings to me, Hugs, Ruth

Anonymous said...

Just stopping by to wish you a nice night & lovely day tomorrow. ;)
Sugar

Anonymous said...

You're a woman. if you can't understand them how can you expect us to

And I don't care what senseless grammer that makes.

Anonymous said...

It is a sad state of affairs when women feel the need to alter their appearance by radical surgery!
Kate.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/bobandkate/AnAnalysisofLife/

Anonymous said...

I'm a get what you see kind of gal which took years to figure out and get to, but I  understand the need of some to change what they feel and live as imperfections.  

Anonymous said...

I hate big boobs.
Why would anyone want a forehead implant anyway. I didnt know that the Herman munster look was in fashion!
:o)