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11/11/03 - Students seek to enhance looks - Surgerynews.net

By MATT MONEYHAN
Published , November 11, 2003, 06:00:01 AM EDT


Lauren Weil, a senior from Montgomery, Ala., poses wearing her black size A bra that fit before her breast enhancement two years ago. She now wears a size C cup. Weil said that the first time she thought of getting the surgery was when she picked up a pamphlet in the doctor's office. (SHAUNA INTELISANO * The Red & Black)

Cosmetic surgery is routinely performed on University students, some of whom will use any method to obtain the perfect body.

"It is common for us to perform cosmetic surgery on college age students," said Dr. Jamie Parker, of the Center for Plastic Surgery, located in Athens.

"Students are away from home and on their own for the first time and will often investigate options to correct areas they may not be happy with," he said.

Parker said the most popular procedures for college age males are liposuction, otoplasty (surgery of the ear) and rhinoplasty procedures (surgery of the nose).

For college age females, the most customary procedures are breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty.

Lauren Weil, a senior from Montgomery, Ala., had rhinoplasty and breast enhancement surgery in March 2002.

Weil originally met with Dr. John Hartley Jr. in Atlanta to reconstruct her broken nose.

While inside of his office, Weil said, she picked up a pamphlet containing information on breast enhancement surgery.

"I was small -- I was very small, but I never thought about it until I looked at the pamphlet," Weil said.

"We took pictures and he had me go out and find pictures of what I thought I wanted, and I did it and I do not regret a bit of it," she said.

Weil said the procedure increased her from a size 36A to a 36C.

"I can fit into my clothes, it made my waist look smaller, my body looks proportional. I have more confidence," she said.

Breast enhancement surgery carries risks and concerns such as losing sensitivity in the nipple area, the issue of future breast feeding and possible permanent scarring, Weil said.

"I actually gained sensitivity; I can breast-feed if I ever have a baby," Weil said. "There is only really small scars underneath. You can't even see them in a bikini."

Dr. James Moore of the Moore Center for Plastic Surgery on Prince Avenue said only a few of his breast enhancement recipients stay overnight in the hospital.

The first two days are the most painful but, he said, after a week they are driving, and after four weeks they can engage in full, unrestricted activity.

"After surgery there were two days that were moderate (in pain), not even bad," Weil said. "I didn't even take the pills. I had knee surgery; that was pain."

Moore said he turns possible cosmetic surgery candidates away if he believes their motivation or thought process is in the wrong place.

"The notion that anybody who has a pulse and a VISA card is a candidate for plastic surgery is just not right," he said. "If somebody wants to look like someone on TV, or if someone thinks this change, whatever it may be, will get them a job or get them a boyfriend or girlfriend, that is really the wrong signal.

"This is not like carving wood or stone, I can't tell you that you are going to have Elvis Presley's nose," Moore said.

Art Brady, a junior from Atlanta, said when he sees a woman with breast implants he immediately thinks they had surgery for the wrong reason.

"If they did it thinking it is going to make them more attractive, or to get guys, that is ridiculous," he said.

Moore and Weil said they both agreed on the correct motivation factor for cosmetic surgery.

"The whole issue of motivation for this has been given a lot of press and a lot of inquiry. The motivation has to come from within," Moore said. "The person can't be doing it to satisfy someone else. I consider it almost an extension of their lifestyle."

"You have to do it for yourself," Weil said.

While the breast enhancement procedure is very common, the breast reduction surgery is more popular in Moore's practice.

"Some of our younger women who have breast reduction said they feel self- conscious and feel overweight even though they may not be," Moore said.

"Having that surgery and bringing their breast size back into proportion to their frame can be a transforming experience," he said. "They sit up straighter, they feel better, they do more things."

Parker said that for many women, breast reduction surgery is covered by health insurance.

Morgan Ward, a senior from Marietta, said she has seen friends go through breast reduction and breast enhancement procedures.

"I think for the girls that had the reduction, I think everyone accepts that and is supportive," Ward said. "But for the girls who get implants, when there is a huge difference, that is when other girls talked about them behind their back."

Weil said she's confident with her decision.

"I am happy that I did it," she said.

Moore and Weil both agreed that cosmetic surgery has potential to raise self-esteem and boost confidence, but Brady said that changing a person's physical appearance does not change the person.

"It doesn't matter what you do on the outside -- it's still the same person. The inside is what counts," Brady said.