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tritium · 01-29-2004, 10:30 AM

I went to see a plastic surgeon today regarding a scar on the knuckle on the trigger finger of my right hand. The surgeon was quite honest in his appraisal that there were no guarantees that any known technique would make the scar any less noticeable or even *not* make it worse. In fact, with a skin graft technique, there would be a possibility that the grafted skin could adhear to the tendons in the joint and reduce my finger's mobility further. None of this came as any great surprise, since I'd done my research online ahead of time. Nonetheless, I am still extremely disappointed that my quest has ended.

But, more to the source of my frustration is the fact that this science (plastic surgery) has taken great measures to ensure that women of all shapes and sizes can have fifty pound breasts and thinner noses, but can do *nothing* to assist me. It just seems to me that society has driven this medical field into perverse¹ regions, and left *meaningful* areas unresearched.

Granted, my scarring is minor (4 sq. centimeters in total) and I am *not* annoyed with the surgeon. In fact, I am rather pleased that his honest approach did not lead me immediately to the operating room where he might have caused harm. He instructed me to seek a second opinion if I saw reason, but suggested that other surgeons very well could be out for my money and very well might not have *my* best interests in mind. Funny how I can't help but think that these surgeons are the ones installing breasts the size of 747 nose cones. Why does it feel like they proliferate this field? Why can Micheal Jackson have a new nose every week?

Sometimes I just don't understand society -- and don't delude yourself. Society *is* driving this medical field, beyond its original intent. It seems that the medical research in plastic surgery is behaving like research in the automotive industry; it is where the money is, and not where the genuine *need* is.

¹ Not saying that there isn't a necessary call for breast implants for women. Women with a genuine medical *pyschological* need should be the only ones that receive the implants and *not* the porn stars and attention whores of the world.

01-29-2004, 10:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
tritium Professor of Drinkology	plastic surgery I went to see a plastic surgeon today regarding a scar on the knuckle on the trigger finger of my right hand. The surgeon was quite honest in his appraisal that there were no guarantees that any known technique would make the scar any less noticeable or even not make it worse. In fact, with a skin graft technique, there would be a possibility that the grafted skin could adhear to the tendons in the joint and reduce my finger's mobility further. None of this came as any great surprise, since I'd done my research online ahead of time. Nonetheless, I am still extremely disappointed that my quest has ended. But, more to the source of my frustration is the fact that this science (plastic surgery) has taken great measures to ensure that women of all shapes and sizes can have fifty pound breasts and thinner noses, but can do nothing to assist me. It just seems to me that society has driven this medical field into perverse¹ regions, and left meaningful areas unresearched. Granted, my scarring is minor (4 sq. centimeters in total) and I am not annoyed with the surgeon. In fact, I am rather pleased that his honest approach did not lead me immediately to the operating room where he might have caused harm. He instructed me to seek a second opinion if I saw reason, but suggested that other surgeons very well could be out for my money and very well might not have my best interests in mind. Funny how I can't help but think that these surgeons are the ones installing breasts the size of 747 nose cones. Why does it feel like they proliferate this field? Why can Micheal Jackson have a new nose every week? Sometimes I just don't understand society -- and don't delude yourself. Society is driving this medical field, beyond its original intent. It seems that the medical research in plastic surgery is behaving like research in the automotive industry; it is where the money is, and not where the genuine need is. ¹ Not saying that there isn't a necessary call for breast implants for women. Women with a genuine medical pyschological need should be the only ones that receive the implants and not the porn stars and attention whores of the world. __________________ Blah. Last edited by tritium; 01-29-2004 at 01:46 PM..