Reason Magazine
- reason.com
- reason.tv
- reason.org
- Donate
- Site Search:
Reason on Facebook
Reason on Twitter
Reason on YouTube
Reason RSSGet Reason E-mail Updates!
Manage your Reason e-mail list subscriptionsadvertisements
Breast Implant Industry Urges Women to Stop Objectifying Themselves
The BBC reports:
A website where women can raise cash for breast implants using personal photos is unsafe and degrading, say UK cosmetic surgeons.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says this is frightening and potentially dangerous.
Consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS President Douglas McGeorge said: "This is a wholly inappropriate way to proceed with what should be a serious decision made by a fully informed patient.
"The site's promise that there are 'no right or wrong' cases is frightening - clearly there is no proper medical assessment of candidates, which at best could lead to disappointment, at worst, to someone's health being endangered."
Adam Searle, consultant plastic surgeon and former president of the BAAPS, said: "This is really quite shocking. The invitation for women to post suggestive photos, sell personal items and chat with strangers over the Internet in exchange for a breast augmentation is just plain degrading."
British surgeons claim the site is "dangerous," but the very classy myfreeimplants.com is just a networking tool. (It's an "online community!") The business model, premised on connecting men willing to pay for surgery and women willing to beg for it, bears little relation to the safety of a particular procedure. It's the doctors' responsibility to inform potential patients of risk, not the responsibility of the poor schlubs paying or the proprietors of the site affording them the opportunity. Of course, the surgeons won't be paying dues to BAAPS--they're all licensed stateside--which may explain some of the Brits' pursed-lip disapproval.
|6.15.07 @ 2:06PM|#
This is a perfect example of how morality and legality ought not to dovetail--It is disgusting, degrading, and appalling, yet justifiedly legal.
Jennifer|6.15.07 @ 2:08PM|#
Yes, when I think "professionals opposed to the objectification of women," the phrase "guys who make money doing tit implants" is always the first to spring to mind.
|6.15.07 @ 2:08PM|#
Adam Searle, consultant plastic surgeon and former president
of the BAAPS, said: "This is really quite shocking..."
Is it, though.
|6.15.07 @ 2:09PM|#
Something tells me this is all about fantasy and that no actual
operations will ever be done with the profits
donations.
Plastic Surgeon|6.15.07 @ 2:12PM|#
My God it's appalling, the way some women will objectify themselves. As if her appearance is what really matters! Have these women no self-esteem? By the way, honey, if you upgraded from an A cup to a C you'd be a lot more popular. I offer an easy financing plan.
The Spirit of Dan T.|6.15.07 @ 2:15PM|#
Kerry Howley will change her mind about this as soon as she has children who want breast implants.
|6.15.07 @ 2:18PM|#
The BBC writes:
A website where women can raise cash for breast implants using
personal photos is unsafe and degrading, say UK cosmetic
surgeons.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says
this is frightening and potentially dangerous.
Then Ms. Howley writes:
It's the doctors' responsibility to inform potential patients
of risk
So, uh, what's the problem again?
thoreau|6.15.07 @ 2:40PM|#
Warren, that was just funny.
I'm going to threadjack this and turn it into a defense of Warren.
Yeah, there was that other incident, but since then he's basically
owned up to his mistake by mocking himself good-naturedly.
I say we cut him some slack.
|6.15.07 @ 2:41PM|#
Can I be the new Warren? Jennifer, I'd nail my scrotum to a tree for a glimpse of your ankle.
Jennifer|6.15.07 @ 2:48PM|#
Good job. Now start humming stripper music as I slo-o-o-o-owly pull off my sock.
The Wine Commonsewer|6.15.07 @ 2:53PM|#
This chick I know that I sometimes like to refer to as THE
FLOOZE sure could have used a site like this. If anybody ever
deserved a boob job it was her. Just so you know what I mean, after
she spent the afternoon on a boat with the Stone Temple Pilots they
gave her an autograph that said Breast of Luck. Dude, I
thought that was unforgivably cold.........(assholes).
Took her ten long years to get the money together.
She was fine just the way she was, but I have to admit, she found
herself a good doctor. Unlike most fakery, if you didn't know she
had a boob job you'd never know Mother Nature didn't hand her a
full house.
Brian Sorgatz|6.15.07 @ 2:59PM|#
This chick I know that I sometimes like to refer to as THE
FLOOZE sure could have used a site like this. If anybody ever
deserved a boob job it was her. Just so you know what I mean, after
she spent the afternoon on a boat with the Stone Temple Pilots they
gave her an autograph that said Breast of Luck. Dude, I thought
that was unforgivably cold.........(assholes).
Took her ten long years to get the money together.
That's why Virginia Postrel is right to put so much emphasis on the
libertarian implications of this particular procedure. A freer
market brings lower prices.
|6.15.07 @ 3:12PM|#
So what exactly was the point of putting this on H&R? It seems to only involved two groups of private individuals - doctors criticizing the administrators of a website. It seems like nothing more than the exercise of free speech.
|6.15.07 @ 3:18PM|#
Dan T,
You're right. From now on, the staff should run every post by you
before they upload it.
Cool?
|6.15.07 @ 3:25PM|#
I think it was mostly to help meet the H&R daily quota of stories from big-government England. There are only three up today which means the staff has some work to do.
Sean Connery|6.15.07 @ 3:38PM|#
Lad, you are deficient in mental capacity. It's about teats, man, teats!
|6.15.07 @ 3:54PM|#
but since then he's basically owned up to his mistake by
mocking himself good-naturedly.
ARRRGGGHH. But I'm still not getting my point accross.
There is a double standard at work. Hot chicks get life handed to
them on a silver platter. Fugly guys like me get shit on by
everyone at every opportunity.
Hey, life's not fair. I get that. I accept the reality. All I want,
is to be allowed to bitch about it and get a little sympathy (and
some taste).
Jennifer|6.15.07 @ 4:06PM|#
There is a double standard at work. Hot chicks get life
handed to them on a silver platter.
Which reminds me, my secret hot-chick subsidy check is late again
this month. It's almost like the goddamned government expects me to
work for a living, or something.
|6.15.07 @ 4:29PM|#
Which reminds me, my secret hot-chick subsidy check is late
again this month. It's almost like the goddamned government expects
me to work for a living, or something.
Jennifer -- I direct your attention to section 305-14.1(a) of the
regs promulgated pursuant to the Defense of Hot Chicks Act.
Payments shall cease upon the recipient's death or 28th birthday,
whichever is earlier.
[Covers grown area with clipboard]
|6.15.07 @ 4:46PM|#
You know, the BAAPS stance strikes me as ignoring their number one rule
regarding Plastic Surgery:
1. Make your own decisions: The real expert on your appearance and any concerns you may have is YOU. The only assistance you should need is to decide what, if any, surgery you might need, and you should ensure you get unbiased information regarding what might be technically possible and any associated risks and benefits. Do not let anyone talk you into doing anything for which you had little concern before the consultation.
Jennifer|6.15.07 @ 4:52PM|#
Jennifer -- I direct your attention to section 305-14.1(a)
of the regs promulgated pursuant to the Defense of Hot Chicks Act.
Payments shall cease upon the recipient's death or 28th birthday,
whichever is earlier.
Had you kept reading long enough to reach section 305-14.1(b) you
would have seen the clause about waivers, which can (if certain
criteria are met) be renewed yearly until the recipient's menopause
or 50th birthday, whichever is earlier.
My continued entitlement to hot-chick subsidies is owed to my
scrupulous avoidance of sunlight and children.
|6.15.07 @ 5:32PM|#
Has the BAAPS issued a statement about giving blowjobs to 5'3"
accountants who drive red Mercedes convertables and are 30 years
older than you?
No?
Then STFU.
The Wine Commonsewer|6.15.07 @ 6:08PM|#
Absolutely right Brian. The freer the market the easier it is
for regular people to get stuff done.
The Flooze could have gotten some MAN to pay the freight (even
before the boob job, if you wanted a date, you had to take a number
just to get a place in line to get your name in the hat).
To her credit she went her own way, saving here and there while
raising her kids.
|6.15.07 @ 7:24PM|#
I'm amazed that this business concepts works. I could see hot
chicks raising a lot of money AFTER the operation ...
And, Dan T., this wasn't put on H&R to stimulate a discussion
on free speech. It was the equivalent of a "Comedy Central" posting
... or a way of getting underaged geeks to quit posting annoying
comments because they're too busy 'batin to the pictures on the
linked site (assuming they haven't yet discovered
myfreepaysite.com).
|6.16.07 @ 11:42AM|#
The name list of women actively seeking breast implants would be valuable for a pimp to have. I can't enjoy looking if I think I'm looking at something NOT real. I'm sick of my first thought being, "Are they real?"
Site comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245