PHOTOS: The Distressing Worldwide Boom in Cosmetic Surgery
Photographer Zed Nelson traveled the world documenting how body improvement has practically become a new religion
- By Joseph Stromberg
- Smithsonian magazine, October 2012
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(Zed Nelson / Institute)
As cosmetic surgery has become more common, new uses for established procedures have emerged. In China, the Ilizarov procedure—which was originally developed to lengthen the legs of dwarves—has become popular for people who simply want to be taller (an Ilizarov procedure in Beijing). By severing the shinbones and stretching them apart with an implanted metal frame, up to three new inches of leg bone can be grown, but the operation comes with risks of deformation and weakened muscles.
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Comments (5)
It's as if the young beauty queen and the older woman in this picture are trying to look the same age. Our faces, hair etc all have to be the same. Can't we even be different ages now ? How sad for the little girl and for the older woman.
Posted by Mary Fletcher on February 8,2013 | 11:01 AM
Those are some nice puppies, err......I mean, knockers.
Posted by Ran on January 31,2013 | 07:35 PM
Sally Walker looks OK until you see her hands, which place her at least in her 70's
Posted by lynne Lance on October 31,2012 | 01:56 PM
The good doctor might consider a liposuction treatment of his own. His wife is no credit to his work either.
Posted by William Bergmann on October 30,2012 | 05:40 PM
I am going to defend my profession a little bit here. True, there are extremes. Cosmetic surgery is not for everyone. In my practice I have changed people's lives. I have had women run up to be in public thanking me. Of course, I work on ordinary everyday patients who just mostly want a little help to look better and enhance their natural beauty. I think what we have here is a systemic issue, as this photojournalist points out. Now that these procedures are possible, people will want them. Cosmetic surgery goes back to ancient times of Romans removing scars from their backs. The pursuit of beauty is not new. Dr Rhys Branman Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center
Posted by Dr Rhys Branman on October 24,2012 | 06:54 PM