Cosmetic Suicide
Orange County leads the way for plastic surgery in the U.S. But there are some downsides to all this glamour.
One of science fiction’s most enduring themes involves a future world where everyone looks perfect, but no one is happy.
Sadly, this dilemma has left the realm of universal fantasy and entered reality. In the Oct. 19 issue of New Scientist, Rachel Nowak reports on a growing trend in America: Women and men who have had cosmetic plastic surgery and other procedures are, as a group, more likely to commit suicide. Her article is a calm-yet-damning indictment of too-eager surgeons and too-eager patients.
In 2005, Americans had at least 10.2 million cosmetic surgery procedures, ranging from breast implants (291,000) to liposuction (324,000), and other implants, restructuring and Botox injections. None of these procedures is risk-free, and most surgeons make the physical perils clear before proceeding.
Far less clear are the psychological aspects. Indeed, the link between suicide and cosmetic surgery only now is beginning to be investigated.
According to one study, 18% of a sample of patients having these procedures also were taking drugs for psychiatric conditions such as depression. Only 5% of patients having non-cosmetic surgery were taking such medication.
According to another study, women having breast implants were two to three times more likely to commit suicide than women not undergoing the procedure. There also is evidence that these women are more likely to suffer from drug and alcohol abuse.
Perhaps this is because the psychological benefits of these procedures are transient. And after you’ve fixed whatever you thought was wrong with you,and you’re still unhappy,what next?
Clearly, cosmetic plastic surgeons and other health professionals who deliver everything from breasts to Botox need to pay far more attention to the psychological states of their patients, and recommend against or refuse procedures they feel are emotionally inappropriate. But we as a society also need to consider why this situation is blossoming now.
At the moment, baby boomers are the chief consumers of these procedures. It may turn out to be one more of that generation’s excesses and a passing fad. But if not, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether we really want a nation of perfect zombies, and are we willing to spend untold billions to achieve it. What people do with their bodies and their money is their own concern. But a society that confuses maturity with ugliness, as a norm, is everybody’s concern.
Michael Arnold Glueck
Newport Beach
Election, Cont.
The Dems taking control of Congress was a direct reaction to the failure of our Iraq policy. The conservative base itself was demoralized by runaway pork barrel spending and record deficits. The Dems will inadvertently bring fiscal discipline to Washington, as President Bush will have the political will to veto Democratic spending bills in a way he did not do with Republican spending.
In California, Arnold’s victory was a very personal one, as only one of the six down-ticket Republicans won. That was Steve Poizner, whose self-funded campaign has landed him the insurance commissioner spot. The governor helped secure passage for all of the state bonds, which promise immediate benefits but with a long term drag on future General Fund revenues. Can you say, “compounded interest?”
The other state measures all went down, including my favorite,Proposition 90. Reasonable protections on property rights and values were hammered by millions of dollars in hit ads. More narrowly crafted eminent domain controls, however, did pass in 13 states, reflecting continued nationwide reaction against the Supreme Court’s Kelo decision.
Here in Orange County, Anaheim, Dana Point and Villa Park voters all passed eminent domain limitations that preclude the use of condemnation for private development.
Former Assemblywoman Pat Bates survived millions in hit mail to be elected to represent South OC on the Board of Supervisors. Pat will be sworn in on Jan. 5, the same day I officially start my second term. Supervisor-elect Bates is a fellow Occidental College grad.
Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher lost to Supervisor Lou Correa for the 34th State Senate Seat in Central OC. To run, Daucher had to move far from her Brea political base, but what she lacked in name identification she made up in personal energy and a strong GOP funding edge.
La Habra and Buena Park saw no changes, as all incumbents were re-elected. In Placentia it was the opposite, as no incumbents sought re-election. The current council majority was damaged by the city’s financial bleeding because of mismanagement of the OnTrac rail undergrounding project. Fiscal watchdogs Greg Sowards and Joe Aguirre were elected to try to turn around Placentia’s financial crisis.
Incumbents lost in both Anaheim and Fullerton. In Anaheim, only slim margins separated the top three vote-getters, with challenger Lucille Kring elected along with incumbent Harry Sidhu. Incumbents in Fullerton aren’t nearly as safe as they used to be, either. Challenger Pam Keller edged out the sitting mayor, with Don Bankhead being re-elected.
Chris Norby
County supervisor
