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XTEND-15sec-NEWSt
10th March 2004

Please click on the summary link of interest:

Donated bodies blown up by US Army...n1

The truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. According to theage.com in Australia seven bodies that were donated to National Anatomical Service, a New York Company were sold to the US Army for around $25,000. The Army then fitted some new protective footware to them and proceeded to 'blow them up'. For more details click here.

Warren Matthews comments: I would have thought that in these days of high technology that there would be other less distasteful methods of testing equipment rather than 'blowing up grandma'! If you are thinking of donating your body to science and you want to avoid the risk of potentially being blown up it might be as well to put a caveat in the consent document.

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Plastic surgery continues to surge in popularity...n2

According to a report just released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and printed in 'Newswire', plastic surgery procedures increased by 32% in 2003. This brought the total number of Americans who went 'under the knife' to 8.7 million. For more information and the statistics for various procedures click here .

Warren Matthews comments: These figures certainly indicate that a large number of people believe the best route to beauty is via the surgeons knife. As many of our readers know I don't at all subscribe to this belief. Granted, there is no doubt that in some cases there may be no other option than a surgical procedure, but they all carry a risk and what you end up getting may not be what your are expecting.

True beauty comes from having a healthy body. It reflects in the texture and toning of your skin, the clarity of your eyes and the sharpness of your mind. No surgical procedure or, any amount of make up can create that effect. If you are thinking of plastic surgery, first ask yourself if you are doing all that you can to create beauty from the inside out by optimizing your health? If not, work on that first as the long term dividends are MUCH greater…and it costs a lot less. For example you could take the full dose of our Total Balance and Omega 3/DHA for years before you equaled the cost of one minor plastic surgery procedure. In addition, you also greatly minimize the risk of cancer, heart attacks, Alzheimer's, and a host of other potential ailments.

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New reality show...n3

Whilst on the subject of plastic surgery you may be interested to learn of a new reality show in Italy in which the actual surgery is filmed and becomes part of the show in which the relatives are involved and the subject is shown in both the before and after stages. Many Doctors are up in arms about it, as it trivializes the serious nature of surgery. An article has just appeared in the British Medical Journal about this. To read it click here.

Warren Matthews comments: Well, it was only a matter of time before something like this surfaced! Like so many 'reality' shows, the 'reality' is not in the presented program as that has been severely cut and edited! What else can I say? Nothing I guess.

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Important notice: All material provided within XTEND-15sec-NEWS is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.



US army explodes donated bodies (Full Article)f1

Seven cadavers donated to a US university's medical school were sold to the Army and blown up in land mine experiments, officials said.

Tulane University said it has suspended dealings with a national distributor of donated bodies.

Tulane receives up to 150 cadavers a year from donors but needs only between 40 and 45 for classes, Mary Bitner Anderson, co-director of the Tulane School of Medicine's Willed Body Program, said.

The university paid National Anatomical Service, a New York-based company that distributes bodies nationwide, less than $US1,000 ($A1,343) a body to deliver surplus cadavers, thinking they were going to medical schools in need of corpses.

The anatomical services company sold seven cadavers to the Army for between $US25,000 and $US30,000, said Chuck Dasey, a spokesman for the Army's Medical Research and Materiel Command in Fort Detrick, Maryland. The bodies were blown up in tests on protective footwear against land mines at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Tulane said it found out about the Army's use of the bodies in January 2003. It suspended its contract with the anatomical services company this month. The company did not immediately return calls for comment.

"There is a legitimate need for medical research and cadavers are one of the models that help medical researchers find out valuable information," Dasey said. "Our position is that it is a regulated process. Obviously it makes some people uncomfortable."

Cadaver remains are routinely cremated, he added.

For years military researchers have bought cadavers to use in research involving explosive devices. In the last five years, that research has been used to help determine safe standoff distances, on how to build the best shelters, and to improve helmets, Dasey said.

Michael Meyer, a philosophy professor at Santa Clara University in California who has written about the ethics of donated bodies, said the military's use is questionable because it knows donors did not expect to end up in land mine tests.

"Imagine if your mother had said all her life that she wanted her body to be used for science, and then her body was used to test land mines. I think that is disturbing, and I think there are some moral problems with deception here," Meyers said.

The market in bodies and body parts is under scrutiny after two men, including the head of the Willed Body Program at the University of California at Los Angeles, were arrested for trafficking in stolen body parts.

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More Than 8.7M Cosmetic Plastic Surgeries in 2003, Up 32 Pct. Over 2002; For 12th Year, American Society of Plastic Surgeons Reports Statistics (Full Article)

To: National Desk, Medical and Health Reporters

Contact: Theresa Hill, LaSandra Cooper, or Brian Hughes, all of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 847-228-9900 or media@plasticsurgery.org

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., March 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- More than 8.7 million procedures were performed on people who took action to proactively manage signs of aging or enhance their appearance by choosing cosmetic plastic surgery in 2003, according to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), up 32 percent from nearly 6.6 million in 2002.

ASPS, a non-profit organization, supports members in their efforts to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research and advocacy. Founded in 1931, the ASPS is the only organization with more than a decade of plastic surgery statistics.

The number of surgical procedures grew by five percent, while minimally invasive procedures jumped 41 percent over 2002. This past year's growth may be attributed to the attention plastic surgery received from the entertainment industry, which spotlighted plastic surgery and perhaps, created a larger interest from the public.

"It is gratifying to see that more and more people are choosing plastic surgery, knowing the surgery can produce the outcome they desire," said ASPS President Rod Rohrich, MD. "It's important for the general public to understand, however, the serious nature of elective cosmetic surgical procedures. At the highest level of care, every surgery has risks as well as benefits."

Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

The overall top five surgical cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2003 were nose reshaping (356,554), liposuction (320,022), breast augmentation (254,140), eyelid surgery (246,633), and facelift (128,667).

Women made up 82 percent of those who had cosmetic plastic surgery. Women chose liposuction most often in 2003, followed by breast augmentation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery and facelift. The men's top five cosmetic plastic surgery procedures for 2003 were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, hair transplantation for male-pattern baldness and facelift.

The 35-50 age group made up 40 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgery with liposuction being their most popular procedure. People 19 to 34 made up 26 percent of cosmetic surgeries, and nose reshaping was their number one procedure. For patients 51 to 64, who made up 24 percent of cosmetic surgeries for 2003, eyelid surgery was the top procedure.

Interesting Facts

-- The number of breast augmentations increased seven percent from 2002 to 2003, even while the FDA debated the safety of silicone breast implants - a public endorsement to the safety of saline-filled implants.

-- Other surgical procedures that increased included lip augmentation (21 percent), tummy tucks (18 percent), breast lifts (17 percent), liposuction (13 percent) facelifts (nine percent) and eyelid surgery (seven percent).

-- Forehead lifts were down 24 percent, reflecting the growing popularity of Botox(r), which could be a factor in the decreased number of people having surgery and the increasing number choosing to have minimally invasive procedures instead.

-- More than 52,000 post-bariatric plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2003. In the past year buttock lifts, thigh, upper arm and lower body lifts, all of which are common procedures for contouring the body after losing a large amount of weight, increased significantly.

-- Procedures being done in an office-based surgical facility rose to 56 percent, with only 28 percent of procedures being conducted in a hospital. This trend reflects the safety of many procedures and the expertise of board-certified plastic surgeons to conduct them in their accredited office-based surgical facilities.

"It is positive to see that 41 percent more procedures were performed on people who chose board-certified plastic surgeons last year for both cosmetic surgical and minimally invasive procedures, ensuring that they will receive the level of expertise, safety and treatment they deserve as patients," added Dr. Rohrich.

One of the most important steps a person can take in preparation for any cosmetic plastic surgery procedure is to carefully research and select a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). ABPS is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. Careful selection of the plastic surgeon can greatly enhance the possibility of a successful surgical outcome.

ASPS offers the most comprehensive, reliable statistics on plastic surgery procedures. In 2003, statistics were collected through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures called Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data combined with the annual survey sent to more than 17,000 boarded physicians in specialties most likely to perform plastic surgery procedures resulted in the most authoritative report on plastic surgery procedures.

ASPS is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. With nearly 5,000 members, ASPS is the definitive voice of the plastic surgery specialty. Viewed throughout the world as the pinnacle of information for new techniques, advances and plastic surgery trends, the society represents 94 percent of all the board-certified plastic surgeons in the U.S. Ninety-four percent of all ASPS members perform cosmetic plastic surgery and 89 percent of all ASPS members perform reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS, founded in 1931, represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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Plastic surgery reality show angers doctors (Full Article)f3
Viewers given false impression of risks, they say
By: Sophie Arie, freelance journalist

Italy's medical professionals are in uproar over a television show in which people desperate to change parts of their imperfect bodies are filmed having plastic surgery in front of their loved ones.

Scalpel: Nobody's Perfect, broadcast once a week on Italia 1, one of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's channels, is a kind of Jim'll Fix It for ordinary Italians, making their dreams of improving their defective bodies come true by giving them free surgery.

Each week people are shown before, during, and after having operations on their breasts, faces, bottoms, stomachs, or ears. Their teary relatives are brought into the studio to watch their loved ones being remodelled in front of the camera and give a verdict on the final result.

The prime time show is presented by Italy's best known drag queen, Platinette, and a former speaker of parliament, Irene Pivetti, in a game-show style studio complete with flashing lights, dramatic music, and mirrors. At least three million people watch the show each week.

In a recent broadcast, 20 year old Annamaria had a breast implant in front of her boyfriend, Elis, to increase her breast size by two cups. Surgeon Roy de Vita drew lines on her bare chest to mark the size of the desired breasts. On the same show, Giada had five litres of fat sucked from her bottom and twin men had their noses fixed.

In each case, moments of the surgery are filmed close up before the patient reappears "transformed." The after effects of surgery, like bruising and swelling, are not shown.

Pivetti has described the show as a "very Latin, family show." Italia 1 director Luca Tiraboschi has defended the show, saying it is in line with the channel's tradition for "experimental television."

"Plastic surgery is part of our times. It is pointless to pretend that is not the case," he said. "We could not ignore it. And we take these stories seriously, even if we tell them in an entertainment context. We avoid, for example, hiding the fact that a surgical operation has bloody moments."

But parents' associations have lodged formal complaints against the prime time programme and even firms such as Ferrero and Nestlé have announced that they will withdraw their advertising, unwilling to be associated with the bad taste of Scalpel.

Doctors and surgeons across Italy are concerned that the show is turning serious surgery into a vulgar show, presenting it as a quick fix and failing to warn the public of the risks involved.

"There is nothing more disgusting than this show," said Dr Giuseppe del Barone, president of the Federation of Italian Doctors, which is assessing the professional standards of the televised operations.

"One patient came to me after seeing the show and asked if we could arrange a 'nose job' in the morning so she could show her husband her new nose that night," said Rome plastic surgeon Emanuele Bartoletti. "The danger is that people will get the wrong message. Having plastic surgery is not the same as going to the hairdresser."

"People who don't need any surgery are getting the idea that they do, after watching this programme," said Professor Alessandro Massei of the 800 member Italian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery (SICPRE). "And since the programme began we have seen a return of the demand, which had died out in the past 15 years, for much bigger breast implants."

Italian surgeons are advised not to practise on television if there is any conflict with the ethics of their profession. But there is no legal provision to prevent them from doing so.

SICPRE is considering introducing new regulations on "show surgery" in future.

Mr Berlusconi has not commented on the programme, which has boosted ratings for his Mediaset channel in competition with state broadcaster Radiotelevisione Italian (RAI).

Mr Berlusconi himself took a month out from his political duties over the Christmas holidays to have the bags surgically removed from under his eyes. Professor Massei said that the demand for facelifts had "doubled" since.

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